Repentance and
Holiness
Holiness
Holiness must be Our Chief Goal
In all our busyness, and with all the
distractions that come our way on any given day, it is easy to forget
that repentance is the only possible way we can embrace holiness. Since
we sin daily and fall short of the glory of God, repentance is that
necessary ingredient that allows us to grow spiritually. The holiness
that we seek is not unattainable, for a saint is not someone who never
sins, but rather someone who is constantly cleansed of sin, by
repentance.
Repentance is not just about telling God we are sorry. To be truly repentant we must push aside all our selfishness, cast aside all pride, and admit that we have done wrong. Since we know that "no man shall see the Lord" without first becoming holy, the attainment of holiness must be the first priority in our life.
A good step towards holiness is to practice being grateful for everything, demonstrating our gratitude to God for all that comes our way. Both the pleasant and the unpleasant things that come into our lives must equally be embraced with a joyful and contrite heart. We must never blame anyone for our misfortune, for to do so brings on spiritual death. We must never blame God, for that was Adam's sin ("if You had not given me this woman"). We must, rather, "in everything give thanks", and take full responsibility for all the wrong we do.
Holiness is not an unattainable goal, but a necessary one that can be attained over a lifetime of struggle. The attainment of holiness must become the chief goal of each and every day, unto the end of our life.
Repentance is not just about telling God we are sorry. To be truly repentant we must push aside all our selfishness, cast aside all pride, and admit that we have done wrong. Since we know that "no man shall see the Lord" without first becoming holy, the attainment of holiness must be the first priority in our life.
A good step towards holiness is to practice being grateful for everything, demonstrating our gratitude to God for all that comes our way. Both the pleasant and the unpleasant things that come into our lives must equally be embraced with a joyful and contrite heart. We must never blame anyone for our misfortune, for to do so brings on spiritual death. We must never blame God, for that was Adam's sin ("if You had not given me this woman"). We must, rather, "in everything give thanks", and take full responsibility for all the wrong we do.
Holiness is not an unattainable goal, but a necessary one that can be attained over a lifetime of struggle. The attainment of holiness must become the chief goal of each and every day, unto the end of our life.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photos: The youth group of Maple Valley Presbyterian Church visited the monastery.
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| click on photo to enlarge |
Tuesday August 7, 2012 / July 25, 2012
10th Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.
Holy Women Olympias (Olympiada) the Deaconess of Constantinople (409), and the Virgin Eupraxia of Tabenna (413).
Venerable Macarius, abbot of Zheltovod and Unzha (1444).
New Hieromartyr Alexander priest (1927).
St. Gregory (Kallidis), metropolitan of Thessalonica and Heraclea (1925).
New Hieromartyrs Vukosav Milanovic and Rodoljub Samardzic of Kulen Bakufa, Serbia (1941-1945).
New Hieromartyr Theodore Tonkovid, priest of Lovets (Pskov) (1942).
St. Iraida confessor (1967).
Commemoration of the Holy 165 Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council (553).
Martyrs Sanctus, Maturus, Attalus, Blandina, Vivlia, Vetius, Epagathus, Ponticus, Alexander and others at Lyons (177) (Gaul).
Venerable Christopher, abbot of Solvychegodsk (Vologda) (1572).
New Hieromartyrs Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, Nicholas (Johnson) and Peter (Remes).
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
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
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
1 Corinthians 15:29-38
Effects of Denying the Resurrection
29 Otherwise,
what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not
rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
A Glorious Body
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
Matthew 21:23-27
Jesus’ Authority Questioned
23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
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