The Morning Offering

Friday

May 13, 2011 / April 30, 2011

Third Week of Pascha. Tone two.
Fast. Fish Allowed

Holy Apostle James, the brother of St. John the Theologian (44).
Uncovering of the relics (1558) of St. Nicetas, bishop of Novgorod (1108).
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus and Stavropol (1867).
St. Donatus, bishop of Euroea in Epirus (387).
Uncovering of the relics of Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea (322).
Martyr Maximus of Ephesus.
New Martyr Argyra of Prussa (1725).
Venerable Clement the Hymnographer, abbot of the Studion (9th c.).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Passion".
Translation of the relics of Venerable Sabbas, abbot of Zvenigorod Monastery.
St. Erconwald, bishop of London ( 693) (Celtic & British).
Martyrs Eutropius and Estelle of Saintes (3rd. c.) (Gaul).
Sts. Quintian and Atticus (Greek).

 

 

A Word from the Abbot:

If we subjugate ourselves to material things, and do not give ourselves over to a life in Christ, we also, ultimately, are subjugated to sadness, despondency, despair, fear of loss, and alienation.

I've been thinking a lot about the disasters that have been befalling the various parts of our planet. We are seeing terrible earthquakes, floods and storms of epic proportions, the rapid melting of the ice caps, and new diseases that medical science has not seen before. We who dwell upon this planet earth, are being humbled with the knowledge that all our science and technology is, ultimately, unable to withstand the ravages of nature. Our levies can't keep back the floods, our buildings can not withstand huge earthquakes, our knowledge of fire fighting can not stand against the blazes that rage out of control, and, just as we thought we could cure just about any disease, we are finding new ones that seem to defy medical experts.With the fall of the Soviet block, we proudly announced a new age where peace would reign. How wrong we were.

What does this all mean? Why is God allowing these calamities to befall us? Our youngest monk, Father Moses (a native of Mississippi,) observed, just yesterday, that the worst of what has befallen our nation, seems to be concentrated in what is known as America's "Bible Belt." So, where is God in all this?

The real question should be, "Where are we with God." In an age of increased materialism, atheism, and self absorption, is it any wonder that nature is in rebellion against us? It is almost like the planet is trying to expel us, like so much vomit. We have, as creatures made in the image and likeness of God, turned against Him. We have removed Him from the central place in our communities, and our family life. We have made God, IF we still believe in Him, secondary to our daily living. Where is God? We asked Him to leave us alone.

Lord have mercy.

Abbot Tryphon 

 

Photos of the Day:

A beautiful, sunny day on the island, and a perfect time to start putting up the deer fencing, and finish other "fair weather" projects around the monastery.

 

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Acts 8:40-9:19

⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Acts 9

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

 ¹ Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ¹² And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
¹³ Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
 
John 6:48-54

⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. ⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
⁵² The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Click photo to enlarge.