Lasting Joy
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| Quarter Master Harbor, near the Monastery (click to enlarge) |
Replacing Temporal Joy with Lasting Joy
We all have certain things in our
lives we feel passionate about. When I was a young man, long distance
running was my passion, and nothing gave me more joy than the run.
Every day was organized around running. I'd even plan vacations around
my runs, often heading to Vancouver, B.C., so I could run around Stanley
Park. I'd stay in a cheap hotel near the park, figuring the room was
needed for sleeping only, so why waste money on a nice hotel. Every
morning and evening, I'd be out for a run around that magnificent park,
spending the rest of the day touring the city on foot. During days I was
teaching, I'd take a two hour lunch break, and spent an hour and a half
running. Sometimes I'd run to work and run home. My friends soon
learned
any time spent with me was likely to be scheduled around a run.
Some years ago I had hip replacement surgery, my surgeon suggesting I'd likely worn down the hip during all those years of pounding my hip had taken. Sometimes, when I see a runner, a flood of wonderful memories return. A friend once asked if I felt any bitterness over the fact that I could no longer run, age having slowed me down. I answered that the joyful memories of running are still with me, but now I have other joys that sustain me, central of which is my life in Christ. My only regret would be, it took me so long to discover the depth of joy I've found in Christ, for this world offers only fleeting joy.
If I could, I would still run. But, like all of life, some things are meant to be temporal in nature, confined to particular portions of our life. The things of God are meant to be eternal, and should be central to this life we are living in the now!
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Some years ago I had hip replacement surgery, my surgeon suggesting I'd likely worn down the hip during all those years of pounding my hip had taken. Sometimes, when I see a runner, a flood of wonderful memories return. A friend once asked if I felt any bitterness over the fact that I could no longer run, age having slowed me down. I answered that the joyful memories of running are still with me, but now I have other joys that sustain me, central of which is my life in Christ. My only regret would be, it took me so long to discover the depth of joy I've found in Christ, for this world offers only fleeting joy.
If I could, I would still run. But, like all of life, some things are meant to be temporal in nature, confined to particular portions of our life. The things of God are meant to be eternal, and should be central to this life we are living in the now!
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
I am happy to report my younger brother, Dwayne, is doing much better. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Abbot Tryphon
Wednesday October 16, 2013 / October 3, 2013
17th Week after Pentecost. Tone seven.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Hieromartyr Dionysius (Dennys) the Areopagite, and with him Martyrs Rusticus and Eleutherius (96).
New Martyr Agathangel, metropolitan of Yaroslavl (1928).
Finding of the relics (1988) of Venerable Ambrose of Optina (1911).
St. Jerome of Aegina (1966).
Venerable Dionysius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (15th c.).
Venerable John the Chozebite, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine (532).
Blessed Hesychius the Silent of Mt. Horeb (6thc.).
Hieromartyr Dionysius, archbishop of Alexandria and eight martyrs with him (257-8).
St. Leger of Autun (679) (Gaul).
Hieromartyrs Hewald the White and Hewald the Black, at Cologne.
Martyr Theoctistus (Greek).
Martyr Theagenes (Greek).
New Martyr Agathangel, metropolitan of Yaroslavl (1928).
Finding of the relics (1988) of Venerable Ambrose of Optina (1911).
St. Jerome of Aegina (1966).
Venerable Dionysius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (15th c.).
Venerable John the Chozebite, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine (532).
Blessed Hesychius the Silent of Mt. Horeb (6thc.).
Hieromartyr Dionysius, archbishop of Alexandria and eight martyrs with him (257-8).
St. Leger of Autun (679) (Gaul).
Hieromartyrs Hewald the White and Hewald the Black, at Cologne.
Martyr Theoctistus (Greek).
Martyr Theagenes (Greek).
You can read the life of the saint by clicking on the highlighted name.
THANKS 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
The Scripture Readings for the Day
Ephesians 3:8-21
Purpose of the Mystery
8 To
me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been
hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to
the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by
the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Appreciation of the Mystery
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that
He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Luke 6:46-7:1
Build on the Rock
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He
is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on
the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against
that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But
he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the
earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently;
and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
7 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.
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