Conversion of Heart
 |
| A Vashon Island dwelling |
Remembrance of God leads to Conversion of Heart
The importance of having a regular confessor can not underestimated. Most of us find it uncomfortable to think upon our faults, failures, and sins, because we like to "feel good" about ourselves. We puff up our image around others, brag about our accomplishments, and feign humility. We try to keep a good public image with our friends and coworkers, while refusing to examine, closely, those behaviors in need of change.
Having a regular confessor is the very best way to orchestrate conversion of heart, for if we meet regularly with a priest who knows us, we have an ally who can help us see those sins we'd like to ignore. A regular confessor can help us work through the sins that have become habitual, and help us attain true conversion of heart. He can direct us into a deeper prayer life, one that is based in repentance, and, by God's grace, bring about transformation of heart.
Living a life of repentance allows us to have a relationship with Christ which enables conversion of heart, for only in the remembrance of God, can conversion of heart can take place. "Very few men can accurately recognize all their own faults; indeed, only those can do this whose intellect is never torn away from the remembrance of God (St. Diadochos of Photiki)".
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
 |
| Vashon Island scenes (click on photo to enlarge) |
Wednesday May 9, 2012 / April 26, 2012
Mid-Pentecost or Prepolovenie. Tone three.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Fast. Fish Allowed
Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea (322).
St. Stephen, bishop of Perm (1396).
New Hieromartyrs John priets and his childrens Martyrs Nicholas and Peter (1918).
Righteous Virgin Glaphyra of Nicomedia (322).
Venerable Ioannicius of Devich (Serbia) (1430).
Venerable Jusca, righteous.
St. Nestor the Silent (Greek).
Venerables Andrew and Anatole, disciples of St. Euthymius the Great (5th c.) (Greek).
St. Richarius, abbot in Picardy (645).
St. Calantius of Tamaseos on Cyprus (8th c.).
St. George of Cyprus (1091).
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 14:6-18
6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Idolatry at Lystra
8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
John 7:14-30
14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He
who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory
of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”
20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”
21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses
therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from
the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If
a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses
should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man
completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Could This Be the Christ?
25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”
28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You
both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of
Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
I invite my readers to listen to my Ancient Faith Radio podcasts.
No comments:
Post a Comment