Depression

Giving of ourselves over to the noonday demon

There are times when we are tempted by what has been called the Noonday Demon, and give ourselves over to depression.  This tendency can often find life in an almost chronic habit of complaining. We complain about our health to the extent that it becomes the chief focus of our life. Money worries lead us to complain about what we don’t have, or what we might lose. We may become known as the office complainer and find that people want to avoid us. Being a complainer can give fodder to the Noonday Demon that leads to depression.

Depression is, of course, sometimes a matter of a chemical imbalance that may need the attention of a physician. However, it can also be a case of setting ourselves up as an idol, worshiping self. We avoid a relationship with God, focusing instead on our own needs. Ignoring the needs of those around us, we build a wall around our own personal city, with a temple dedicated to self. Being alone in this City of Self, we wonder why we sink into an ever deepening depression.

Yet when we give ourselves over in service to others, the self focus disappears. In service to others, we are once again able to see the unfathomable love our God has for us. With this heavenly vision of love, there can be no room for hopelessness, despair, or despondency. The Lord united our nature with His Divine Nature, and we are forever changed. We are made the children of the Most High, and our sins are washed away by His Blood. The sorrows and burdens of this world, if we but endure in this life, will lead to inexpressible and incomprehensible joy in the next life.

When we set aside self, and see the beauty of the world around us, and the image of Christ in our neighbor, we can put aside all despair, pain, and depression, and the Noonday Demon can be banished. The giving of ourselves over to depression only empowers the enemy of our soul, for in doing so we forget the power of darkness has been destroyed by the storming of hell by Our Lord’s descent. Death is conquered by death, and the Lord’s resurrection becomes our own.

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Photo: Taken from our nearby county dock.

Tuesday October 6, 2015 / September 23, 2015

19th Week after Pentecost. Tone one.

The Conception of the Honorable, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.
Canonization (1977) of St. Innocent Metropolitan of Moscow.
New Hieromartyr John priest (1937).
New Hieromartyr Arsenius archbishop (1937).
Venerables Xanthippa and Polyxena (109), disciples of the Apostles, who died in Spain.
Virgin-martyr Irais (Rhais) of Alexandria (308).
Martyrs Andrew, John, Peter, and Antoninus of Syracuse, martyred in Africa (886).
“Slovensk” Icon of the Mother of God (1635).
“Hawaiian” Myrrh-streaming Iveron Ikon of the Theotokos (2007).
New Martyr Nicholas Pantopolis at Constantinople (1672) (Greek).
New Martyr John of Epirus (1814).
Venerable Adamnan, abbot of Iona, biographer of St. Columba (704) (Celtic & British).

Scripture Readings

Philippians 1:8-14

8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Luke 3:23-4:1

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27 the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Satan Tempts Jesus

4 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,