The Non-Orthodox
What about people who are not Orthodox?
It
is always a pity when people who claim to be Orthodox make judgements
against fellow Christians. In the tradition of Orthodoxy, wherever we
find beauty and truth, it is of God, and it is our calling, as Orthodox
Christians, to rejoice when we see others have at least some portion of
the Truth. Slamming others for what they do not have, does nothing to
further their journey into Orthodoxy, and in fact may delay or sideline
their journey towards the fullness of Truth.
There
is the wonderful true story of Saint Silouan the Athonite who was
traveling by train with an archimandrite, a zealot who was quick to
correct others about the True Faith. Coming upon a group of traveling
Roman Catholics, Saint Silouan's traveling companion proceeded to tell
them that they must become Orthodox because their faith was without
grace. The saint asked him if it were indeed a fact that the Roman
Catholics believed that Christ was true God, and that He was present in
the Eucharist. The saint asked was it not true that these Catholics
believed in the Trinity, and venerated the Holy Virgin and the relics of
the saints. The archimandrite answered yes to all the questions. Saint
Silouan responded that of all humility's faiths we must know that we
have perhaps more, but not to judge those who are not Orthodox. We must
rejoice in the knowledge of what they do have. The saint told him that
we should not be filled with such pride as to think we have the right to
judge, correct or teach others.
This does not mean that we see
the Church as divided, or that the Orthodox Church is anything less than
the Church Christ founded. What it does mean is that we do not allow
ourselves to think we have the right to correct or teach anyone. We must
honor other peoples beliefs and not give in to the prideful stand that
we have the right to teach or correct them. The truth that is found
within Orthodoxy must be shared by living our faith in love, not in
judging or correcting others. Truth, where ever it is found, is Orthodox
Truth. If other religions embrace some of these truths that are
Orthodox, we must rejoice and give thanks for what they do have.
People
who love God and are trying to live holy lives pleasing to Him,
according to the knowledge they have been given, are to be respected.
They may not have the fullness of Apostolic Truth, but if they are
believers in God and are trying to live a life pleasing to God, we must
give thanks to Christ for what they do have. They have God as their
Father, just as do we. They can have the Church as their Mother only if
they see in us the difference Orthodoxy has made in our lives. Being
arrogant in our evangelism does nothing to express the truth of
Orthodoxy, and makes us no different than the pushy salesman at the
door.
That arrogant archimandrite would better have shared the
beauty of Orthodoxy had he embraced those Roman Catholics as fellow
disciples of Christ. Then they would have seen Christ in him and known
that Orthodoxy was indeed a faith centered in Christ. They would have
known the truth of Orthodoxy by seeing in him, the love of Christ.
All this having been said, it is important that we remember Our Lord Himself has charged us to speak the truth. We must never fail to share the truth of our Orthodox faith for fear we might offend someone, for by "Speaking the truth in love, let us grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head (of the Church), even Christ (Ephesians 4:15)."
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Tuesday September 23, 2014 / September 10, 2014
16th Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora at Nicomedia (305).
New
Hieromartyrs Ismail, Eugine, John, Constantine, Peter, Basil, Gleb,
Basil, John, Nicholas, Palladius priests, Hieromartyrs Meletius and
Gabriel, Martyr Symeon, Virgin-Martyr Tatiana (1937).
New Hieromartyr Warus bishop of Lipetsk (1938).
Venerable Paul the Obedient of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).
Venerable Prince Andrew, in monasticism Joasaph, of Kubensk, Vologda (1453).
Synaxis of the Holy Apostles Apelles, Lucius, and Clement of the Seventy..
Martyr Barypsabas in Dalmatia (2nd c.).
Blessed Pulcheria, the Empress of Greece (453).
Sts. Peter (826) and Paul (9th c.), bishops of Nicaea.
Venerable Ioasaph, monk, of Kubensk (Vologda) (1453).
Venerable Cassian, abbot of Spaso-Kamenny and St. Cyril of White Lake Monasteries (1469).
St. Salvius, bishop of Albi (584) (Gaul).
Venerable Finian of Ulster (Ireland), abbot (579) (Celtic & British).
St. Theodaard of Maastricht (668) (Neth.).
Translation of the relics of St. Egvin, bishop of Worchester.
Translation of the relics of St. Ethelwold, bishop of Winchester.
You can read the life of the saint by clicking on the highlighted name.
"Blogs
and social networks give us new opportunities for the Christian
mission...Not to be present there means to display our helplessness and
lack of care for the salvation of our brothers (His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia)."
The Scripture Readings for the Day
Galatians 5:11-21
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For
the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things
that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Mark 7:5-16
5 Then
the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk
according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed
hands?”
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There
is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the
things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
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
New Martyr Alexander Jacobson at Solovki (1930).
