Personal Effort
Personal Effort and God's Grace
Without our personal effort, God's grace can not be activated in our lives, for we have been created with free will, and God never forces a relationship upon us. Without God's grace, we can have no salvation, for we can not active salvation of our own accord. Salvation is a gift freely offered by our loving Creator. This gift does require our response, however, and if we do not put forth effort, we will find His grace insufficient. This relationship with God is like all relationships based in love, it must be two way.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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Photo: Twenty students and faculty visited the Monastery on Friday, from Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, WA.
Saturday May 10, 2014 / April 27, 2014
Third Week of Pascha. Tone two.
Hieromartyr Symeon the Kinsman of the Lord (107).
New Hieromartyrs Paul and John priests, Martyrs Peter, Nicholas, Auksentius, Sergius and Virgin-martyr Anastasia (1922).
Virgin-martyr Mary (1938).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1941).
Venerable Stephen, abbot of the Kiev Caves and bishop of Vladimir in Volhynia (1094).
St. Eulogius the Hospitable of Constantinople (6th c.).
Venerable John, abbot of Cathares Monastery at Constantinople (832).
Venerable Simeon the New Stylite of Cilicia.
New Hieromartyr Seraphim, bishop of Phanar (1601).
Burning of the relics of Venerable Sava I of Serbia by the Turks (1595).
New Martyr Elias (Ardunis) of Mt. Athos (1686) (Greek).
St. Pollion the Reader of Cibalis in Pannonia (306).
St. Nicon, abbot of the monastery of St. Gerasimus (6th c.).
St. Floribert, bishop of Luik (746) (Neth.).
Holy Martyrs Poplionus and Lollionus the New.
St. Machalus, bishop of the Isle of Man.
You can read the life of the saint by clicking on the highlighted name.
The Scripture Readings for the Day
Acts 9:20-31
Saul Preaches Christ
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Saul Escapes Death
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.Saul at Jerusalem
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.The Church Prospers
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.John 15:17-16:2
The World’s Hatred
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’The Coming Rejection
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.16 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
I invite my readers to listen to my
Ancient Faith Radio podcasts:
http://ancientfaith.com/
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery is a monastery of the Western American Diocese, under the omophor of His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America. The Monastery is a non-profit 501 C3 organization under IRS regulations. All donations are therefore tax deductible. We depend on the generosity of our friends and benefactors. You can donate to the monastery through PayPal, or by sending donations directly to the monastery's mailing address.
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
Abbot Tryphon's email address:
frtryphon@vashonmonks.com
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