"And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod" Mt 2: 12.

The advice is for us also and in time for the beginning of New Year. Let us listen to the advice and never come back to Herod of the Old Year. Let us carefully watch the event of New year! First of all on the job front, for it is our most important duty: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the earth " Gen 3:19. At the end of Holy Scriptures we read: "if any man will not work, neither let him eat." 2 Tes 3:10. Our Lord was a craftsman Himself and later He became tireless teacher, promising Heaven to His faithful servants (Matt 25:21). So we must also work but not to please other people, not for the wages only, but for the sense of duty, for this is the will of God. This will be followed soon by diligence, joy and satisfaction. Then our worn out hands or tired minds will become addmision ticket to Heaven. May our motto will be like that of St Francis of Assisi: "I want to work!" Next there will be a struggle, for such is the law of humanity: "The life of man upon earth is a warfare" Job 7:1. "For he also that striveth for the mastery, is not crowned, except he strive lawfully" 2 Tim 2:5. And the promised heavenly crown is indeed worth of every effort to eradicate vices, attachments, addictions; to struggle with envy and scorns of the wicked, to struggle with the world and Satan. Let us be always on our guards, as St Gregory wrote: "expected missiles hurt less" . Also let us keep in mind the words of St James: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive a crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him" Jas 1: 12.