The Morning Offering

 All Things to All Men

A Contemporary Man in an Ancient Church

As a modern, educated man, I have a rather broad interest in the arts, music, poetry, literature and history. My father was a golf pro and my mother was a professional church pipe organist and piano teacher. My maternal grandmother played honkytonk piano, the banjo and taught ballroom dancing. I was formally trained in classical oil painting, but prefer to paint in impressionistic freestyle. 

My photographic interests are directed toward traditionally expressed scenic photography. I love opera and country western, equally. I hold to liberal views when it comes to the environment, ecology and universal health for all. I'm conservative in regards moral and fiscal issues facing our country today, yet rather libertarian when it comes to individual freedom of expression.

My conservative religious views are tempered by a strong love of people that has afforded me a wide range of friendships, spanning religious, political, cultural and racial barriers. I'm perfectly comfortable enjoying a cup of coffee with a rabbi in the morning, listening to opera with an elderly shut-in the afternoon and spending time with college students in the evening.

These personal things about me are worthy of sharing because they demonstrate the great truth that in Christ, there is room for everyone in the Orthodox Church. I attribute my ability to be comfortable with a wide variety of people to the universality of Orthodoxy. 

The Church is a living organism that brings healing to the world as a hospital of the soul and as one of her therapists (priests) I am called to be all things to all men (and women). The Christ that I've invited to reign supreme in my life is Lord of all. He loves everyone equally and has called me, as his creature, to emulate this love for all those who cross my path.
 
In these days of great polarization not seen in this country since the Civil War, it is imperative we Christians not allow political and religious differences to impact the way we interact with others. We must have hearts that are filled with love, not fear. In Christ there is only hope. Economics, politics, governments and all earthly catastrophes are transitory. A life in Christ is eternal.

With love in Christ,

Abbot Tryphon

 

Thursday February 28, 2013 / February 15, 2013
Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. Tone five.
Fast-free Week. Fast-free
Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy (109).
New Hieromartyrs Michael Piataev and John Kumin priests (1930).
New Hieromartyrs Nicholas, Alexis, Alexis priests, Simeon deacon, New Hieromartyr Paul and Virgin-martyr Sophia (1938).
Venerable Paphnutius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (13th c).
Venerable Paphnutius, monk, and his daughter St. Euphrosyne, nun, of Alexandria (5th c.).
Venerable Eusebius, hermit of Syria (440).
"Vilensk" (transferred to Vilnius in 1495) and "Dalmatian" (1646) Icons of the Mother of God.
Venerable Dalmatus, abbot and founder of the Dormition Monastery in Siberia (1697).
Martyr Major of Gaza (304).
St. Oswy, king of Northumbria (670) (Celtic & British).
Venerable Anthimus of Chios (1960) (Greek).
Synaxis of St. John the Theologian at Diaconissa.
St. Theognius, bishop of Bethelia near Gaza (523).

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:

All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA

1 John 1:8-2:6

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

The Test of Knowing Him

³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Mark 13:31-14:2

³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³² “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. ³⁴ It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. ³⁵ Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— ³⁶ lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. ³⁷ And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

14 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. ² But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

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