The Morning Offering

Living the evangelical life of Orthodox monasticism in witness to the salvific truth of the Gospels of Our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!

The Morning Offering
Monday, November 16 / 3 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

November 3 / 16. Martyrs Acepsimus the bishop, Joseph the presbyter, and Aeithalas the deacon, of Persia Dedication of theChurch of the Great-Martyr George in Lydda. (services combined) Martyrs Atticus, Agapius, Eudoxius, Carterius, Istucarius(Styrax), Pactobius (Tobias) and Nictopolion, at Sebaste. St. Acepsimas, hermit of Cyrrhus in Syria. St. Snandulia of Persia. St Elias of Egypt. St. Achaemonides, confessor of Persia. St. Anna, daughter of Prince Vsevolod I Yaroslavich. (Greek Calendar St Theodore, confessor, Bishop of Ancyra. Martyrs Dacius, Severus, Andronas, Theodotus, and Theodota. New Hieromartyr George of Neopolis.)

Photo of the Day:

 

Nun Anna, on the right, has joined Nun Photini, at Saint Seraphim of Sarov Skete, here on Vashon Island. (Click to enlarge.)

Quote of the Day:

"Don't criticize or judge other people-regard everyone else as an angel, justify their mistakes and weaknesses, and condemn only yourself as the worst sinner.  This is step one in any kind of spiritual life."

Blessed Seraphim of Platina

Scripture Readings for the Day:

1 Thessalonians 2:20-3:8

²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 3

Concern for Their Faith

 ¹ Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, ² and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, ³ that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. ⁴ For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Encouraged by Timothy

⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— ⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

Luke 11:29-33

Seeking a Sign

 ²⁹ And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.^{[a] 30} For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. ³¹ The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body

³³ "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.