Lest You Remain

ing the days of a longer life, weakening and depriving their bodies of strength and causing numerous diseases; the one who keeps away from these things which are forbidden by God’s commandments and the admonitions of the evangelical instruc- tions, and avoids them, more than a dog or a snake, will not suffer any of the above mentioned sicknesses or weaknesses. But God’s lessons should be guarded more strongly and zealously, because they give to our souls eternal and immortal life. To understand them more easily, ask God to keep you away from any deed against His law and teaching. You, Lord, say that you are a Samaritan, that means, a guardian: you neither corrected the name thrown at you as an insult by the scoundrels nor denied it, making yourself a guardian of the entire human race. So “keep me as the apple of your eye” (Ps 16:8) from any evil, from a fall. Hide me in the shadow of your wings (cf. ibid.) from the flame and attacks of Myrmidons from Hell. Make me respect your instructions in return and by keeping them, may I achieve and receive eternal life. Amen. Topic XI : RELIGIOUS LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH The Word of the Lord (Ga 2:1-10) The Council of Jerusalem. Then after fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. I went up in accord with a reve- lation, and I presented to them the gospel that I preach to the Gentiles—but private- ly to those of repute—so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. Moreover, not even Titus, who was with me, although he was a Greek, was compelled to be cir- cumcised, but because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, that they might enslave us—to them we did not submit even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain intact for you. But from those who were reputed to be important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those of repute made me add nothing. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised, for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Kephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do. Program of Vigils 59