GOODNESS IS STRONGER
THAN EVIL
THAN EVIL
In Remembrance of the Norwegian Tragedy
Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
hope is stronger than despair.
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
hope is stronger than despair.
The whole world is still in a state of shock following the bomb attack that took place in Oslo and the evil and senseless slaughter of innocent young people on the island of Utoya. The crazed and evil man who committed this atrocity has shown absolutely no remorse and the evidence is that he'd been planning this act of terror for a very long time.
Terrorist attacks, whether based on religious or political ideologies, are clearly horrendous acts of evil and have no place in a civilized world. For this crazed man to think he could reverse the foreign immigration that has changed the societal map of Norway by slaughtering native Norwegian youth demonstrates the magnitude of the madness that has befallen our world.
Evidence has been found that this Norwegian national took some of his inspiration from the Oklahoma bombing of the Federal Building and many Western leaders are now concerned that there may be other deranged people who are, or will be, planning similar attacks in countries around the world.
As we contemplate the horror of this terrorist act and remember the people of Norway in our prayers, it is imperative that we let peace reign in our own hearts and not let this present darkness take hold of our world. The God of light calls each of us to bear witness to the light.
Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
hope is stronger than despair.
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
hope is stronger than despair.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
______________________________
On July 20th I posted an appeal for funds, explaining that the monastery is in dire straights, and asking for help. I want to thank all of you who've been able to help, and ask those who can not afford to help us financially to please pray for the monastery. By your holy prayers, and with the help of Almighty God, we will get through this present crisis.
With a grateful heart,
Abbot Tryphon
______________________________
Wednesday July 27, 2011 / July 14, 2011
7th Week after Pentecost. Tone five.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Apostle Aquila of the Seventy, and St. Priscilla (1st c.). New Hieromartyr Constantine priest (1918). New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1933). Venerable Stephen, abbot of Makhrishche (Vologda) (1406). Martyr Justus at Rome (1st c.). Venerable Ellius (Hellius) of Egypt (4th c.). Venerable Onesimus, of Magnesia (4th c.). Martyr John of Merv (Turkmenistan). Venerable Nicodemus of Mt. Athos, spiritual writer (1809). Sts. Vladimir and Agrippina wonderworkers of Rzhev. St. Marcellinus of Utrecht, priest (8th c.) (Neth.). St. Joseph the Confessor, archbishop of Thessalonica (Greek). St. Heraclius, patriarch of Alexandria (246).
The Scripture Readings for the Day:
1 Corinthians 7:12-24
12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
Matthew 14:35-15:11
35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
Matthew 15
Defilement Comes from Within
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
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