The Two Great Commandments
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| Lecturing to a Graduate Class at Seattle Pacific University (click to enlarge) |
"Love thy God with all your heart, mind…"
and secondly, "Love thy neighbor…"
We
live in a world bombarded with thousands of messages, some subtle and
some not-so-subtle, of merchandising that impact the way we interact
with others, and the way we relate to God. Much of what we glean from
these messages is narcissistic in nature, estranging us from one
another.
We become so self absorbed that we fail to live authentically as Christians, being peace-makers, working towards justice, failing to forgive those who've wronged us, and not being compassionate towards those in need of mercy and charity. "Those who hear the word ought to give proof of the work of the word in their own souls" (St. Macarius the Great).
We become so self absorbed that we fail to live authentically as Christians, being peace-makers, working towards justice, failing to forgive those who've wronged us, and not being compassionate towards those in need of mercy and charity. "Those who hear the word ought to give proof of the work of the word in their own souls" (St. Macarius the Great).
If we wear a cross around our neck, make the sign of the cross in perfect order, keep the fast periods, but have not the love of the poor we have gained nothing. Christ Himself told us that we can not love God Whom we've not seen, if we do not love our neighbor. If we do not give alms to the poor and speak out for human justice, we will have gained nothing. If we do not treat everyone with respect and love, and show mercy to all, we have not Christ in us.
We must put on Christ with the rising of the sun, and with it's going down. Christ must be in every word we speak and in every action of our heart. He must reign supreme in our lives, that all see Christ in us, just as we must see Christ in every person with whom we come in contact. "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20).
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Wishing Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, a blessed and joyous celebration of his Name Day. God grant him many years!
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| Graduate Class in Theology, SPU click to enlarge |
Wednesday February 27, 2013 / February 14, 2013
Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. Tone five.
Fast-free Week. Fast-free
Venerable Auxentius, monk of Bithynia (470).
St. Cyril, Equal-to-the-Apostles, teacher of the Slavs (869).
St. Raphael, bishop of Brooklyn (1915).
New Hieromartyr Onisimus bishop of Tula (1937).
New Hieromartyr Tryphon deacon (1938).
Venerable Isaac, recluse of the Kiev Caves (1090).
12 Greek Master-Builders of the Dormition Cathedral in the Lavra of the Kievan Caves (11th C).
Translation of the relics of Prince-martyr Michael and his counselor, St. Theodore of Chernigov (1578).
Venerable Maron, hermit of Syria (423).
St. Abraham, bishop of Charres in Mesopotamia (ca. 423).
Hieromartyr Philemon, bishop of Gaza.
New Martyr George the Tailor of Mitylene, at Constantinople (1693) (Greek).
New Martyr Nicholas of Corinth (1554) (Greek).
St. Peter, patriarch of Alexandria (380).
New Monk-martyr Damian the New of Philotheou, who suffered at Larissa (1568).
St. Ilarion the Georgian of Imeretia and Mt. Athos (1854) (Georgia).
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
2 Peter 3:1-18
God’s Promise Is Not Slack
3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that
you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy
prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and
Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For
this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of
old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not
willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord
10 But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be
burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the
heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Be Steadfast
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as
also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which
are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Mark 13:24-31
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And
then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the
four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of
heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
28 “Now
learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already
become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
I invite my readers to listen to my Ancient Faith Radio podcasts.
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