Monday
II Cor. 8:7-15; Mark 3:6 -12
The Lord forbade both people and demons to praise Him when He was on the earth, but required that people believe in Him and fulfill God's commandments. The Lord has the same law now, and it will be the same at the Judgment: Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doth the will of My Father which is in heaven (Matt. 7:21). This is why in church (the great doxology) begins with "Glory to God in the highest," and toward the end it says, "Heal my soul...Teach me to do Thy will." Without this, praise of God has no worth. For then it does not proceed from the soul, but is only sent up from the tongue in someone else's words, and that is why the Lord pays no attention to it. One must arrange things so that others praise the Lord when they see our works, so that our life will be praise to God, for He does all things in all people, as long as you do not get in the way. It is to Him that praise for one's deeds ascends. Each person must become the fragrance of Christ; then even without praise there will be unceasing glorification of the Lord. A rose does not speak, but its fragrance spreads far in silence. This is how all Christians ought to live.
-From St. Theophan the Recluse
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