When your heart is constrained by pity for earthly goods for someone, say to yourself inwardly: Will the breasts of the Lord the Nourisher become poor? He is our Feeder. Let us be only with Him: He makes us happy and will give us everything.

Great is the man who, in order to preserve the unity of love among the brethren, neglects material interests. He will receive a great reward from God as a sage who has come to know the truth of things, who has always revered the Divine in man above the material, above the whole world and its riches.

How insignificant is that which is destroyed before him who destroys, food and drink before man! The very purpose of the exterminated – for destruction by man or animal – clearly shows how insignificant is the destruction before the destroyer, the nourishing – before the nourished.

At present, in secular and, it seems, in religious institutions, punishments for disciples have been abolished. Recklessly. Is it possible to get a good person out of a disciple who has not been punished? After all, the old man, carnal, sinful is in the disciple, and he cannot do without punishment. The Lord Himself uses punishment for the correction of His faithful. And the Lord loves him, he chastens him: but he beats every son, and receives him. Who is the son, whom the father does not punish? If you were without punishment, if you were a partaker of it, then you were adulterers, and not a adulterer... (Heb. 12:6-8.) How does it feel? Does this agree with your opinion, gentlemen progressives? And where did you get the idea that students should not be punished? "Do you think it's from humanity?" No, from the devil, not from humanity. The devil pats all his servants on the head: just walk, they say, on my broad path, but later I will feed you plenty of all kinds of crowds, especially in hell. And how does the Lord lead to the Kingdom of Heaven? A narrow and rough path. Remember: what were His followers like in the first centuries: the apostles, martyrs, hierarchs, venerable saints, the righteous and all the saints? What, without punishment, tea, have they reached the Kingdom of Heaven? Did the most humane Lord allow them to suffer and die so cruelly in vain? "Oh, progressives! [359]

From their fruit, it is said, "Ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:16). If, praying with faith to the Lord or the Lady or the Angels or the saints, you feel peace of heart during and after prayer, then it is a sign that the Lord or the saints have heard you and have given you the desired good. From their fruit you will know them. Peace of heart also confirms the truth that the Lord is in every place, and the saints, by His grace in the Holy Spirit, hear our prayers.

Miracles from the Communion of the Holy Mysteries. The boy recovered from the undertaker the same day. Fr. Matthew's old mother apparently felt better after receiving the Holy Mysteries.

When thou seest the abundance of earthly goods at thy table, not luxurious, but moderate in value, do not lift up a wicked and miserly heart, and do not say: Ah! How many! Why so many? But give thanks to the Lord for the generous gifts of His goodness and say: "Glory to Thee, O most generous God,[360] for I have ever filled my table with the inexhaustible treasures of Thy goodness; may it also be filled with Thy good things for the nourishment and delight of all who are and come at my table; let it never be poor because of the avarice of my unsatisfied heart. Amen."

My god! How narrow is the heart of another person; what a small number of people it contains in love; two or three people, and he had eaten too much. And the Lord? "He contains everyone in His loving heart, there is a spacious place for everyone, just turn to Him.

Give us this day our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). These words of prayer are directed against those who are overly concerned about what to eat and drink and what to wear (cf. Matt. 6:31). Do not be anxious, says the Saviour, for he is anxious about the mornings: his wickedness prevails day (Matt. 6:34). The bird sleeps this night on a branch, and being foolish, it does not sow, it does not reap, it does not know what it will eat tomorrow, but the Heavenly Father feeds it every day (cf. Matt. 6:26).

It is necessary, they say, when one asks someone to give or do something to one's neighbor. See, what vanity! Though it is necessary, but sacrifice to your neighbor out of love for him: sacrifice love for yourself to love for your neighbor.

Hallowed be the name. Thine (Matt. 6:9). Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. 1 Peter. 3, 15; 4, 14 et seq.

Self-denial is necessary for a person at every step in the performance of any good deed: it often and very often happens that in order to do a good deed it is necessary to sacrifice one's tranquility and even one's health; if you do not sacrifice, you will not do the deed, or you will do it unscrupulously, and you will not receive the crown that the Lord would reward for a good deed done conscientiously. Apply this, pastors, to your preaching labors.

And I must pray with David: "Set up, O Lord, a guard over my mouth, and a door of protection over my mouth" (Psalm 140:3). One word, carelessly spoken, causes a storm in the house: you will regret that you have spoken a rotten word (Ephesians 4:29), but it is too late (belly).

One should not pay attention to the enmity, malice, and malicious antics of others against you, especially if you conscientiously admit that you do not deserve all this, because all this is the work of the devil, who, through people who do not fear God, pours out his wrath on you and comforts his old malice against you. Do not respond with enmity to those who offend you, but conquer with love; Likewise, do not be troubled in spirit, as if from something important, but be calm and laugh at the intrigues of the enemy; but have pity on those who are at war as if they were sick members.