Tuesday, October 1 (September 18), 2024
Gal. 2:21-3:7; Mk. 6:1-7                                                 

“From whence hath this Man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him?” [Mk. 6:2] ─ asked the neighbors of Jesus in the city of Nazareth who had known Him before He began preaching.  Similarly react the people to all genuine followers of the Lord.  If you follow His path with firm resolve and spare no efforts in fighting evil in yourself, then, sooner of later, you will change quite significantly: your countenance, demeanor, bearing, speech, ─ everything will get a hallmark of a wonderful harmony and dignity, no matter what is your origin and social status.  Then you might also hear people wondering: “From whence hath this Man these things?...”

If our material, visible appearance undergoes such a profound change, then what can be said about our inner substance, about the soul, for which the external appearance is only an expression and outcome?  Of course, the soul is much closer to the source of the transforming grace, and its effect upon the soul is yet deeper.  Thoughts and concepts become clear, precise and certain; judgments accurate and lucid; intelligence superior.  Plans, motivations, endeavors, ─ everything is clean, everything shines with heavenly brightness.  Truly this is a new man!  Having no advanced degrees, nor any kind of elite education, he is an example of culture, civility and wisdom.

How can that be done?  By keen attention to yourself, by hard work, by prayer and cleaving to the Lord, ─ but primarily by the Divine grace which comes in response to human efforts.  And how exactly ─ no one can say for sure.  Hence the question: “From whence hath this Man these things?...”

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