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

Wednesday, May 19  / 6 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

May 6 / 19. Righteous Job the Long-suffering . St. Job, abbot and wonderworker of Pochaev. Martyrs Barbaruldier, Bacchus, Callimachus, an Dionysius, in Morea. Martyr Barbarus in Thessaly. Translation of the Relics of St. Pachomius of Nerekhta. (Greek Calendar Saints Mamas, Pachomius and Hilarion, monks. Martyrs Demetrius, Danax, Mesiurs, Therin, and Donatus. St. Seraphim of Mt. Domvu.) Birthday of Royal Martyr Tsar Nicholas II.

Photo of the Day:

Wisteria and temple.

(click for enlargement)

Quote of the Day: 

...Of course, after all that skipping around and all those outings, there is no sense expecting spiritual joy, which is alien to lovers of the world and completely unknown to them. But still, you have the advantage that although you are not a participant of light, the darkness does not deceive you either; already you sense in your heart the meaningless gloom of worldly pleasures. And it is not everyone who is able to grasp this truth, but he to whom it is given from on high. "No man can come to Me, except My Father draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day" (Cf. John 6:44). And this knowledge and this feeling are not given to all, but to those who are chosen, who have been, so to say, begged from God by our Saviour Himself: "I pray not for the whole world, but for them which Thou hast given Me . . . Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are" (Cf. John 17: 9,11).

 

St. Anatoly (Zertsalov) of Optina

"A Collection of Letters to Nuns"

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Acts 23:1-11

 ¹ Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." ² And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?"
⁴ And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"
⁵ Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"
⁶ But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"
⁷ And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. ⁹ Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God."
¹⁰ Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

The Plot Against Paul

¹¹ But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

John 16:15-23

¹⁵ All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

¹⁶ "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
¹⁷ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" ¹⁸ They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."
¹⁹ Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? ²⁰ Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. ²¹ A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²² Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
²³ "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.