The good doctor versus the bad doctor
The good doctor stands beside the hospital bed, offering the warm touch of his gentle hand, giving comfort to his patient, while explaining in simple detail his diagnosis, and his plan of action. This doctor lends compassionate support to his patient, realizing the hope he imparts will go a long way toward bringing about the full recovery they both desire. The bad doctor, clipboard in hand, keeps a “professional” distance from his patient, all the while addressing the charge nurse about the prognosis of his patient, as though the patient wasn’t even in hearing distance.
The good priest attends to his parishioner with complete attention, knowing the warmth of his caring voice, and his willingness to be there for this person struggling with doubt, needs the loving support of his priest, struggling as he is with the passions, and even with faith itself. The good priest, with gentleness and loving kindness, guides his parishioner to make a complete confession, without judgement or harshness. The bad priest remains aloof from his parishioner, preferring instead to limit his priesthood to the formal services, all the while keeping himself apart from the everyday cares and needs of his people. He has no office hours, makes no home visits, and spends little time preparing for the Sunday homily. He gives little attention to the day to day struggles of his people, while compartmentalizing his priestly service into those few hours per week when he serves in the altar. The bad priest, like the bad doctor, puts no effort into reaching out to the person who is in need of healing. Distancing himself, he sees the parishioner as holding all the responsibility, and therefore failing to see the pain that might be keeping the person from seeking help.
The good priest, like the good physician, works hard at helping his parishioner attain spiritual health, and attain wholeness of both body and soul. The good priest, like the good doctor, puts all his effort into bringing about healing for the person who has been put in his care.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: A few of our Saturday visitors to the monastery.
Sunday August 16, 2015 / August 3, 2015
11th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone two.
Dormition (Theotokos) Fast. Food with Oil
Venerables Isaac, Dalmatus, and Faustus, ascetics of the Dalmatian Monastery, Constantinople (5th c.).
Venerable Anthony the Roman, abbot (Novgorod) (1147).
New Hieromartyr Viacheslav deacon (1918).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1938).
Protomartyr Rajden of Tsromi and Nikozi, Georgia (457) (Georgia).
Venerable Cosmas, eunuch and hermit of Palestine (6th c.).
Holy Myrrh-bearer Salome.
Venerable John, confessor, abbot of Patalaria Monastery (Greek).
Venerable Theoctistus the Wonderworker of Optimaton (Greek).
Venerable Theodora of Thessalonica (Greek).
Nine Kherkheulidze brothers, their mother and sister, and 9,000 others, who suffered on the field of Marabde, Georgia (1625) (Georgia).
Scripture Readings
1 Corinthians 9:2-12
2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
Matthew 18:23-35
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”