St. John Chrysostom on Knowing One’s Self

St. John Chrysostom

 Accordingly, let us each day be concerned with the value of this exercise, let us scrutinize our conduct and not lose heart; let us render an account to ourselves both of what comes in and of what goes out-what we utter that is of some use and what words we pronounce to no effect, and again what value there is to our soul in what we receive through hearing and likewise what has the capacity to harm in what we are responsible for. Let us impose some rules and regulations on our tongue so as to initially to keep a check on our speech and only then deliver what we have to say. Let us train our mind not to give vent to harmful thoughts; instead, should something of that kind gain entry from outside, banish it as unnecessary and likely to cause harm, or if it rises inside us, expel it rapidly with a pious thought, and let us not think that fasting only till evening suffices for our salvation.

*Taken from Homilies on Genesis 1-17.