By Saint John Chrysostom
“…We must move away from this, and clearly know that there is no evil except one sin, and there is no good except one virtue and pleasing God in everything. Joy comes not from drunkenness, but from spiritual prayer, not from wine, but from an edifying word. Wine produces a storm, but a word produces silence; wine causes noise, but a word stops confusion; wine darkens the mind, but the word enlightens the darkened; wine instills sorrows that were not, but the word drives away those that were. Nothing usually leads to peace and joy as much as the rules of wisdom – to despise the present, strive for the future, not to consider anything human permanent – neither wealth, nor power, nor honors, nor patronage. If you have learned to be wise in this way, then you will not be tormented by envy when you see a rich man, and when you fall into poverty, you will not be humbled by poverty; and thus you will be able to celebrate constantly.
It is common for a Christian to celebrate not in certain months, not on the first day of the month, not on Sundays, but to spend his whole life in a celebration appropriate to him. What kind of celebration is appropriate for him? Let us listen to Paul about this, who says: let us celebrate in the same way, not with the leaven of alcohol, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but without the leaven of purity and truth (1 Cor. V, 8). So, if you have a clear conscience, then you have a constant holiday, feeding on good hopes and being comforted by the hope of future blessings; if you are not calm in your soul and are guilty of many sins, then even during thousands of holidays and celebrations you will feel no better than those who cry.
So, if you want to benefit from the beginning of new months, then do this: at the end of the year, thank the Lord for preserving you until this limit of years; Contrite your heart, count the time of your life, and say to yourself: the days run and pass; the years are ending; We have already completed a lot of our journey; what good have we done? Are we really going to leave here without everything, without any virtue? The court is at the door, the rest of life tends to old age.
So be wise at the beginning of new months; Bring this to memory during annual circulations; Let us begin to think about the future day, lest someone say about us the same thing that the prophet said about the Jews: their days perished in vanity, and their years were spent with care (Psalm LXXVII, 33). Such a holiday as I have spoken about, constant, not awaiting the cycle of the years, not limited to certain days, can be celebrated equally by both rich and poor; because what is needed here is not money, not wealth, but one virtue. Don’t you have money? But there is the fear of God, a treasure better than all riches, which is not damaged, does not change and is not exhausted. Look at the sky, at the heaven of heavens, at the earth, the sea, the air, the various animals, the various plants, the whole of human nature; thoughts about angels, archangels, higher powers; remember that all this is the wealth of your Master. It is impossible for the servant of such a rich Lord to be poor if his Lord is merciful to him. Observing the days is inconsistent with Christian wisdom, but this is a matter of pagan error.
You have been assigned to the highest city, accepted into the local citizenship, entered into the society of angels, where there is no light turning into darkness, no day ending in night, but always day, always light. We will strive there continuously. Seek those on high, says (the apostle), where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God (Colossians III, 1). You have nothing in common with the earth, where there is the flow of the sun and the rotation of the seasons and days; but if you live righteously, then the night becomes day for you, just as for those who spend their lives in debauchery, drunkenness and intemperance, the day turns into night darkness, not because the sun has darkened, but because their mind is darkened by drunkenness . Noticing the days, finding special pleasure in them, lighting lamps in the square, weaving wreaths, is a matter of childish senselessness; and you have already emerged from this weakness, reached manhood and are inscribed in heavenly citizenship; Do not illuminate the square with sensual fire, but illuminate your mind with spiritual light. Thus, said (the Lord), let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. V, 16). Such light will bring you great reward. Do not decorate the doors of your house with wreaths, but lead such a life as to receive the crown of righteousness on your head from the hand of Christ…”
Source: St. John Chrysostom, From the Sermon for the New Year, January 1, 387.
