Church as Hospital
Therapeutic Life of the Church
The Orthodox Church is
herself a hospital for the soul, and a living, therapeutic organism that
can make us whole, and bring healing of body and soul. It is not a
legalistic or juridical institution wherein we are expected to plead our
case before an angry judge, trying to convince him we are worthy of
mercy. The Church is not about rules or ritual, but about participating in the
spiritual therapy intended to cure us of the sickness of sin and to
restore us to spiritual wholeness and health.
This spiritual therapy is to be found in the ascetic and mystical (sacramental) life of Orthodoxy. Just as a hospital treats physical health and sickness with the individual in mind, in order to maximize the benefit, so does the Church offer her therapy in a way that meets individual needs. This therapy leads to transformation of self and the restoration to holiness.
It's all about becoming, not being, about transformation of ourselves and our restoration to holiness, not making God keep a bargain with us to give us what we want or expect. This is because each one of us has a different complex of illnesses and we respond in different ways to the various spiritual therapeutic regimens available to us in the Church. The bottom line is that we avail ourselves to the healing, therapeutic life of the Church. Just as a hospital would be worthless to us if we failed to show up for a scheduled surgery, so too must we avail ourselves for the therapy the Church of Christ has to offer us.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
This spiritual therapy is to be found in the ascetic and mystical (sacramental) life of Orthodoxy. Just as a hospital treats physical health and sickness with the individual in mind, in order to maximize the benefit, so does the Church offer her therapy in a way that meets individual needs. This therapy leads to transformation of self and the restoration to holiness.
It's all about becoming, not being, about transformation of ourselves and our restoration to holiness, not making God keep a bargain with us to give us what we want or expect. This is because each one of us has a different complex of illnesses and we respond in different ways to the various spiritual therapeutic regimens available to us in the Church. The bottom line is that we avail ourselves to the healing, therapeutic life of the Church. Just as a hospital would be worthless to us if we failed to show up for a scheduled surgery, so too must we avail ourselves for the therapy the Church of Christ has to offer us.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Sunday August 5, 2012 / July 23, 2012
9th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone eight.
"Pochaev" (1675) Icon of the Mother of God.
Martyrs Trophimus, Theophilus, and 13 others in Lycia (305).
St. Theodore of Sanaskar (Glorification 2001).
New Hieromartyr Michael priest and Martyr Andrew (1938).
Hieromartyr Apollinaris, bishop of Ravenna (75).
Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Joy of All Who Sorrow" (with coins) in St. Petersburg (1888).
Righteous Anna (Hannah), mother of the Prophet Samuel.
Translation of the Relics of St. Herman (Germanus), Archbishop of Kazan.
250 martyrs killed by Bulgarians (802-811) (Greek).
Eight Martyrs of Carthage (Greek).
St. Anna of Leucadia (919) (Greek).
New Hieromartyr Nectarius (Trezvinsky), bishop of Yaransk.
Repose of St. John Cassian the Roman, abbot, of Marseilles (435).
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.
THANK
YOU, to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support
of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have
impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate,
have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and
kindness.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:Abbot Tryphon
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
1 Corinthians 3:9-17
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According
to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I
have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one
take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each
one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it
will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of
what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Matthew 14:22-34
Jesus Walks on the Sea
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
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