Thursday, August 8 (July 26), 2024
1Cor. 7:24-35; Mt. 15:12-21                                         

“Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts” [Mt. 15:19].  And where do they come from before that?  The origin of the evil thoughts is sin rooted deep in our soul, while their proliferation and spreading depends on our own will.

How to fight them?  First of all, cut off everything within your free will: this is like cutting off leaves, branches and the trunk of a big tree.  Next thing, make sure that no fresh sprouts shoot off from the root ─ that is, do not allow your heart to produce evil thoughts, reject and repulse those which still do come out, ─ and the root itself will eventually wither: your inner sin, without external nutrition, will wane and lose most of its strength.

Such is the essence of the commandment: “Be sober, be vigilant; take heed to yourselves, girdle the loins of your thoughts”.  Make sure to couple your vigilance with discernment: for it is not only evil which comes out of the heart.  There is also good coming from there, but not every good thought has to be followed.  It is your discernment which will tell you what should and what should not be done in any given case: discernment is like gardener’s knife which cuts off some of the shoots and grafts others into right places.

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