Obscuring the Message
Acknowledging Warts and Wrinkles
If
we do not live in repentance and humility, we clergy betray Christ,
Whom we claim to serve. We
must be willing to put aside all intellectual and romanticized notions
of the Church, acknowledge the many warts and wrinkles and
institutional flaws that have accumulated over the centuries, and live
in imitation of Christ, Who came as but a humble servant. We must cast
aside the baggage that has diluted the message of the Gospels, and give
witness to the humble Saviour Who has saved us.
If we clergy live as though we are a special class of nobles, and avoid true repentance, lording priestly authority over others, we will have betrayed the Gospels, and cause people to turn away from the promise of salvation. If we are not truly humble, others will fail to see Christ in us, and will turn away from the Church.
If we clergy live as though we are a special class of nobles, and avoid true repentance, lording priestly authority over others, we will have betrayed the Gospels, and cause people to turn away from the promise of salvation. If we are not truly humble, others will fail to see Christ in us, and will turn away from the Church.
We priests must
meditate upon the words of the Elder Anthony of Optina, who said, "...without
humbling oneself in spirit one cannot be saved. Humility cannot be
learned from mere words; it is necessary to practice it, and someone has
to hammer us flat. Without humility it is hard to enter into the
Kingdom of God, which is obtained through many sorrows."
The world needs Christ, and we must not allow ourselves to obscure this message by becoming professional clerics. We are but servants of the Lord most high, and we'd best remember our humble place. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him John 13:16."
The world needs Christ, and we must not allow ourselves to obscure this message by becoming professional clerics. We are but servants of the Lord most high, and we'd best remember our humble place. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him John 13:16."
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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Monday May 14, 2012 / May 1, 2012
Fifth Week of Pascha. Tone four.
Venerable Paphnutius, abbot of Borovsk (1477).
Virgin-martyr Nina (1938).
Hieromartyr Macarius, metropolitan of Kiev (1497).
Venerable Gerasimus, abbot of Boldino (1557).
Martyr Batas of Nisibis (395).
St. Tamara, queen of Georgia (1213).
New Martyrs Euthymius, Ignatius (1814), and Acacius the Serbian of Mt. Athos (1815).
The Tsarevokokshaisk, or "Myrrh-Bearing" (1647), Andronikos (14th c.), "Unexpected Joy" and Byzantine Icons of the Mother of God.
Asaph or Asa Bishop of Llanelwy (6th - 7th c.) (Celtic & British).
St. Panaretus, archbishop of Paphos in Cyprus (1791) (Greek).
Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, monk (1821) (Greek).
Martyr Sabbas (1821) (Greek).
St. Ultan, founderof Fosse (680) (Neth.).
St. Zosimas, bishop of Kumurdo (15th c.) (Georgia).
New Monk-martyr Romanus of Raqqa (780).
New Martyr Maria of Merambelos on Crete (1826).
St. Brioc, abbot of Sain Brieuc.
St. Corentin, bishop of Quimper.
Translation of the relicts of St. Walburga, abbes of Heidenheim.
St. Pholosophos.
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.
With love and blessings,
Abbot Tryphon
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 12:12-17
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
John 8:42-51
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your
father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was
a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
Before Abraham Was, I AM
48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
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