Lenten Weekday

CAST YOUR CARE UPON THE LORD
From a sermon by St Leo the Great 4
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Apostolic teaching, Beloved, exhorts us that we put off the old man with
his deeds, and renew ourselves from day to day by a holy manner of life. For if
we are the temple of God, and if the Holy Spirit is a Dweller in our souls, as the
Apostle says: You are the temple of the living God; we must strive with all our
vigilance that the dwelling of our heart be not unworthy of so great a Guest. And
just as in houses made with hands, we see to it with praiseworthy diligence that
whatever may be damaged, either through the rain coming in, or by the wind in
storms, or by age itself, is promptly and carefully repaired, so must we with
unceasing concern take care that nothing disordered be found in our souls, that
nothing unclean be found there. For though this dwelling of ours does not
endure without the support of its Maker, nor would the structure be safe
without the watchful care of the Builder, nevertheless, since we are rational
stones, and living material, the Hand of our Maker has so fashioned us, that
even he who is being repaired may cooperate with his Maker.

Let human obedience then not withdraw itself from the grace of God, nor
turn away from that Good without which it cannot be good. And should it find
in the fulfillment of His commands something that is difficult to accomplish or
beyond its powers, let it not remain apart, but rather turn to Him who
commands us, and Who has laid on us this precept that He may both help us
and awaken in us the desire of Him, as the Prophet tells us: Cast your care upon
the Lord, and He will sustain you. Or perhaps there is someone who prides
himself beyond due measure, and who imagines himself to be so untouched, so
unblemished, that he has now no need to renew himself such a belief is wholly
deceiving, and he will grow old in folly. All things are filled with dangers, filled
with snares. Desires inflame us, allurements lie in wait for us, the love of gain
beguiles us, losses frighten us.

But in holding fast to virtue, so faltering is our control, so uncertain our
discernment, that though a person may observe with the utmost fidelity the
lines between what is good and what is bad, it is difficult for the person of
upright conscience to escape the wounding tongue of the slanderer, or for one
who loves justice to avoid the reproaches of the wicked.

When, dearly beloved, should we more fittingly have recourse to the
divine remedies than when, by the very law of time, we are once again reminded
of the mysteries of our redemption? And that we may the more worthily
commemorate them, let us earnestly prepare ourselves by these days of Lent.
For as the apostle says: Whoever thinks that he stands, let him take heed lest
he fall, no one is sustained by such strength of mind that he can be certain of
his own constancy in virtue.

4 The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers – vol. 2 – Henry Regnery Co – Chicago – 1958 – pg 125.