The Morning Offering

View From Abbot's Cell

November 24 / 11

Glory to God! Thank you for your prayers! Our power came on at 12:15 a.m., so I'm sending off my daily blog after all! Please continue to pray for the rest of the population of Vashon Island, that power be restored to everyone, before Thanksgiving.
Love to all,
Abbot Tryphon

27^th Week after Pentecost. Tone one.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)

Martyr Menas of Egypt (304). Martyrs Victor at Damascus (160) and Stephanida (Stephanis) of Spain (161). Martyr Vincent of Spain (304). Venerable Theodore the Confessor, abbot of the Studion (826). Repose of Blessed Maximus of Moscow Fool-for-Christ (1434). Venerable Martyrius, abbot of Zelenets (1603). Great-martyr Stephen-Urosh III of Dechani, Serbia (1331) (Serbia).Quote for the Day:
"Begin to fulfill the commandments relating to small things, and you will come to fulfill the commandments relating to great things: small commandments everywhere lead to great ones."

St. John of Kronstadt

"Letter to a Young Girl"

Photos of the Day: 
The view from my cell.

Scripture Readings of the Day: 
1 Timothy 5:22-6:11

²² Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.
²³ No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
²⁴ Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men²⁵ Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. follow later.

1 Timothy 6

Honor Masters

 ¹ Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. ² And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Error and Greed

³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, ⁴ he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, ⁵ useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.^[b]
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Good Confession

¹¹ But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Luke 12:48-59

⁴⁸ But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Christ Brings Division

⁴⁹ “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! ⁵¹ Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. ⁵² For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. ⁵³ Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Discern the Time

⁵⁴ Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. ⁵⁵ And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

Make Peace with Your Adversary

⁵⁷ “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? ⁵⁸ When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”