Artificial Christianity
Avoiding Hypocrisy in our Journey to God
It is very easy to live our lives in hypocrisy if we are not mindful of the pitfalls of the spiritual life. We can become Pharisees without even noticing, if we let our Christianity be artificially lived. Living our lives as though we have been rehearsed by a stage director, we will have accomplished nothing, and will remain no more than an actor. Putting on the mask of Christianity, is not living in Christ. An honest, daily examination of our conscience, together with regular guidance by our confessor, is the only way we can live a Christian life that will lead to transformation of the heart.
If we simply put on a show of being a Christian, without any true repentance, we will remain mired in false religiosity, and our heart will grow dark. Christ must be invited into the heart on a daily basis, through prayer, and honest examination of our conscience, without which there can be no spiritual growth. We can not play at being a Christian, for to do so will lead to spiritual death.
We must "put on Christ', daily, and make sure our public expression of our faith is not being acted out for others, but is ever entering into a deeper relationship with this very Christ. Playing at spirituality only leads to spiritual death. If our life does not give witness to Christ in us, and if our attention is given over to self promotion, or a desire to please others, but avoids honest examination of our sins, we will be like fruit that dies on the vine.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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Saturday April 28, 2012 / April 15, 2012
Second Week of Pascha. Tone one.
New Hieromartyr Alexander priest (1930).
Martyrs Basilissa and Anastasia of Rome, disciples of Apostles Peter and Paul (1st c.).
Martyr Suchias and his companions: Andrew, Anastasius, Thalaleus, Theodoretus, Ivchirion, Jordan, Quadratus, Lucian, Mimnenos, Nerangius, Polyeuctus, James, Phocas, Domentianus, Victor, and Zosima (Chorimos), in Armenia (123).
Martyr Sabbas the Goth of Buzau in Wallachia (Romania) (372).
St. Mstislav Theodore, prince of Kiev (1132).
Venerable Ruadhan, founder and abbot of Lothra, Ireland (ca. 584) (Celtic & British).
St. Leonidas, bishop of Athens (Greek).
St. Basil of Poiana Marului (1767).
St. Daniel of Achinsk, Siberia (1843).
Martyr Pausilipus of Thrace (2nd c.).
Martyr Crescens of Myra (3rd c.).
St. Paternus, bishop of Llandbadarn Fawr.
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.
Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
Acts 5:21-33
21 And when they heard that,
they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high
priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all
the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have
them brought.
Apostles on Trial Again
22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying,
“Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing
outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one
inside!” 24 Now when the high priest, the
captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they
wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
26 Then
the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence,
for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying,
“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look,
you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this
Man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.
John 6:14-27
14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Jesus Walks on the Sea
15 Therefore
when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force
to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So
when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking
on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
The Bread from Heaven
22 On
the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side
of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which
His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when
the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples,
they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do
not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures
to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the
Father has set His seal on Him.”
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