The Morning Offering

The Dawn's Light Shines Over the Temple

Friday

May 20, 2011 / May 7, 2011

Fourth Week of Pascha. Tone three.
Fast. Fish Allowed

Commemoration of the Apparition of the Sign of the Precious Cross over Jerusalem in 351 A.D.
Martyr Acacius the Centurion at Byzantium (303).
Repose of Venerable Nilus, abbot of Sora (1508).
Venerable John of Zedazeni in Georgia, and 12 disciples: Venerables Shio Mgvime, David of Gareji, Anthony of Martq'ophi, Thaddeus of Urbnisi or Stepantsminda, Stephen of Khirsa, Isidore of Samtavisi, Michael of Ulumbo, Pyrrhus of Breta, Zenon of Iqalto, Jesse (Ise) of Tsilkani, Joseph of Alaverdi, and Abibus of Nekressi (6th c.) (Georgia).
Uncovering of the relics (1815) of Venerable Nilus the Myrrh-gusher of Mt. Athos.
Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos "Zhirovits" (1470) and "Lubech" (11th c.).
New Martyr Pachomius of Patmos (1730) (Greek).
St. Domitianus, bishop of Maastricht (560) (Neth.).
St. John of Beverley, bishop of York (721) (Celtic & British).
St. Lydia of Philippi (1st c.).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Euthymius the Great.

 

A Word from the Abbot:

As Christians, we are always finding ourselves struggling against the passions, and trying, with Christ's help, to live according to the commandments. Our Lord told us that we must love our neighbor, whom we've seen, if we are to love God, whom we've not seen. Yet, the struggle to really love others is often the most trying and difficult, when it comes to loving fellow church members.

We've all experienced the strife and anger that can take place on the parish level. Some of us have even contributed to the strife and disunity, by gossiping against our priest, making his job even more difficult. Not even the demons are as destructive in their collective attacks against the Body of Christ, as we often are. Unlike the demons, who would never attack another demon, we attack other humans on a regular basis. We sometimes even criticize our bishops, whom Christ has called to be as fathers to us, treating them with disrespect.

Under the influence of Satan, we give in to the pressure of Satan's malice,  and turn against our brothers, Christian against Christian. Unless we truly seek out God's redemptive grace, we have no hope in winning the battle against the passions. It is only with the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit, and the gaining of a humble and contrite heart, will our lives on this earth, have been successful. Christ stands before us, with arms outstretched. Let us not turn away.

Photo of the Day:

My dear friend, Father Christopher Swanson, acting rector of St Elizabeth Orthodox Mission in Poulsbo, WA., spent part of Thursday with us.

 

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Acts 10:44-11:10

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 11

Peter Defends God’s Grace

 ¹ Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ² And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, ³ saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
⁴ But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ ¹⁰ Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

John 8:21-30

Jesus Predicts His Departure

²¹ Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”
²² So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”
²³ And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
²⁵ Then they said to Him, “Who are You?”
And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
²⁷ They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.
²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” ³⁰ As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

Click photo to enlarge.