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.

God's omnipresence is spatial and mental, that is, God is everywhere in the spatial relationship and everywhere in the mental: wherever I go bodily or mentally, everywhere I meet God, and everywhere the Lord meets me.

Do not disturb your spirit for anything material, neither with pity for sensual goods or avarice, nor with suspicion of theft or theft of your property: cleave to the Lord (cf. Psalm 72:28; 1 Cor. b:17), and the Lord will either preserve all that is yours or preserve your heart from the devil's deadly wiles. Worry about nothing. The Lord is near (Phil. 4:b, 5), that is, about nothing that concerns bodily things.

To the miserly frequent visits of guests seems untrue on their part, and he considers himself justified in not tolerating them and breathing hatred towards them, as if for their untruth. But does not the Christian faith teach him meekness and patience — in cases of injustice to us others, does it not bless those who suffer unrighteousness from men, does it not say: "Thou shalt not torment him who oppresses thee" (cf. Luke 6:30), does it not point to Christ the Avenger: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" (Rom. 12:19; Deut. 32:35); does it not make Christ Himself indebted to him instead of them: blessed art thou, for thou hast nothing to repay... (Cf. Luke 14:14.)

The devil showed to the Lord Jesus all the kingdoms of all the sloths in the line of time, and the devil said to him: "Unto thee will I give all this power and their glory: for it is delivered unto me, and if I will, I will give it: for if thou hast bowed before me, they shall be unto thee" (Luke 4:5-7). This temptation of the Savior by the devil is an image of our temptation: the enemy tempts us with the honors of this world. And see how the sons of this world (Luke 16:8), enchanted by the enemy, hunger for these honors, and for their sake bow down to their enemy, the devil? What means are not used in order to attain the highest honor, in order to receive a cross or an order, instead of seeking the honors of the highest calling of God (cf. Phil. 3:14). How each one is tickled by the selfish and proud desire to become higher than others or to compare with those who are higher than the past! How many raise their heads, having become higher than their brethren! How much inner delight in its advantages! How much secret joy there is that they are no worse than others, that they are better than many, that they have outstripped their most worthy comrades, who, with all their conscientiousness, with all their zeal for their service, with all their excellent gifts, have not yet received what we, thanks only to fortunate circumstances and, perhaps, to our own intrigues, have received! About! This is the devil's consolation! This is the worship of the devil: these people fall down and bow down to the devil. For if thou wilt worship me, all shall be unto Thee (Luke 4:7). Fraternity! Be careful: do not bow down to the enemy of God, lest the Lord and Judge of all turn away his face from you on that day.

July 23, 1861. These include, in addition to honors, magnificent clothes that serve vanity, and exquisite decoration of apartments, dinner parties, and everything with which a person wants to gain the vain glory of this world. All who exquisitely dress and decorate their apartments for the sake of vain glory bow down to the devil, who cherishes them as his children and zealous worshippers, and induces them to do these shameful deeds, inflaming their desires and whims. But how is this power over the universe all its (temporary) glory given over to the devil (Luke 4:6)? Are these words of the enemy true? The King of the universe is One, the Lord Who created it. Mine is the universe, and the fulfillment thereof (Psalm 49:12), He says in the Psalm; in the same way, glory is His one in heaven and on earth (cf. Psalm 148:13), which is why He is called the God of glory: the God of glory roars (Psalm 28:3). "Therefore, the words of the enemy are false from this side. "Aren't they just from some side?" If by the universe we understand the world lying in evil (cf. 1 John 5:19) and zealously serving it the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (cf. 1 John 2:16), then the words of the devil are just: for God Himself really allowed the enemy to tempt the sinful human race, which had given itself over to him through sin, and gave it over, so to speak, into his power: Behold, I deliver him up, but keep his soul (Job 2:6).

Receive one another, as Christ also received you to the glory of God (Romans 15:7) (it is especially said about the weak). You see how necessary unanimity and cordiality are in receiving each other. You see what a basis for such a way of life! What is it? That Christ Himself received us, weak and sinners, to the glory of God: from this, brethren, learn not to despise the weak or anyone else, but to receive all with joy and readiness to help one another, just as Christ also received you for the glory of God, into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Push, and it shall be opened unto you (Matt. 7:7). Knock at the door of God's mercy, no matter what sin you sin, no matter how flaming the arrows of the enemy, no matter how strong his stubbornness is in your heart: and you will surely be opened. I knocked: and the doors of God's mercy were always opened to me. Remember this always when you pray to the Lord or His Most Pure Mother, or to the saints.