Advice for the New Year from Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Basil the Great
“This whole year will be fortunate for you, not if you are drunk on the new moon (New Year’s Day), but if both on that day and each day, you do those things approved by God. For days come wicked and good, not from their own nature; for a day differs nothing from another day, but from our zeal and sluggishness.
If you perform righteousness, then the day becomes good to you; if you perform sin, then it will be evil and full of retribution. If you contemplate these things, and are so disposed, you will consider the whole year favorable, performing prayers and charity every day; but if you care careless of virtue for yourself and you entrust the contentment of your soul to the beginnings of months and numbers of days, you will be desolate of everything good unto yourself.”
Saint John Chrysostom
“Let your demeanor, your dress, your walking, your sitting down, the nature of your food, the quality of your being, your house and what it contains, aim at simplicity. And let your speech, your singing, your manner with your neighbor, let these things also be in accord with humility rather than with vanity.
In your words, let there be no empty pretense, in your singing, no excess sweetness. In conversation be not ponderous or overbearing. In everything refrain from seeking to appear important. Be a help to your friends, kind to the ones with whom you live, gentle to your servant, patient to those who are troublesome, loving towards the lowly, comforting those in trouble, visiting those in affliction, never despising anyone, gracious in friendship, cheerful in answering others, courteous, approachable to everyone, never speaking your own praises, nor getting others to speak of them, never taking part in unbecoming conversations, and concealing where you may whatever gifts you possess.”
Saint Basil the Great