We should not remain static
Anyone who is Orthodox knows that no Orthodox church is ever really finished. From the grandest cathedral to the simplest village church, there is always change taking place. Either a new icon is introduced to the church, or a new fresco is completed. Grander vestments are worn by the priest, replacing the older, cheaper vestments of years past. A gold altar cross replaces the tin cross that was placed behind the holy table when the church was first constructed, and new rugs adorn the floors of the temple, replacing the old rugs that have become worn after years of standing worshipers. Our churches are never really finished, for there is always something new that adds to the beauty of God’s house.
This is much the same as that which takes place within the hearts of her parishioners, for there is always spiritual growth that is taking place. Like our temples, we don’t remain static, for the therapy we receive within the life of the Church changes us, and brings on inner healing. The hospital that is the Church transforms us, and makes us whole (holy). We are renewed by the therapy we receive through the action of frequent confession, and nourished by the communion of the Holy Mysteries, when we receive Christ’s Body and Blood. Our hearts are uplifted by the Word of God, read to us during the Divine Services, and healed by the therapy we receive by our immersion in the sweet mystery of our life in Christ.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: Judge Scott (Reader Peter) and Hilarene Stiller, members of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Harrisburg, PA, joined us for the Sunday Liturgy. As well, Alexander Eager, doing an internship at Microsoft, spent a few days in retreat at the monastery.
Monday August 1, 2016 / July 19, 2016
7th Week after Pentecost. Tone five.
Venerable Macrina, sister of St. Basil the Great (380).
Venerable Dius, abbot, of Antioch (430).
Uncovering of the relics (1903) of Venerable Seraphimof Sarov.
Synaxis of All Saints of Kursk.
Blessed Romanus, prince of Ryazan (1270).
Venerable Paisius of the Kiev Caves (14th c.).
Blessed Stephen Lazarevich, king of Serbia (1427), and his mother St. Militsa (Eugenia in schema) (1405).
Sts. Demetrius, metropolitan of Rostov (1709), Metrophanes (1703) and Tikhon (Tychon) (1783) of Voronezh.
Icon of the Mother of God “Umileniye” (“of Tender Feeling”) (1885) of Diveyevo, before which St. Seraphim reposed.
Venerable Abba Diocles of The Paradise (Greek).
St. Theodore, bishop of Edessa (848) (Greek).
New-Martyr Victor, Bishop of Glazov (1934).
Scripture Readings
1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11
Immorality Must Be Judged
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
Do Not Sue the Brethren
6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to yourbrethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Matthew 13:54-58
54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses,[a] Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57 So they were offended at Him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.