The true self versus the false self
Reformed theology focuses on forensic justification, whereas the mystical theology of the Orthodox Church focuses on restoration to God through healing of the darkened soul alienated from Him. These are two very different models, but not really equal, because one can have faith in Christ’s sacrifice, but still not be healed and restored.
Our restorative healing is not about some terrible legal “remedy” which requires that God’s righteous wrath, aimed at our depravity, be “satisfied” by the substitutionary death of His Son. Rather, it is about the cleansing of the nous that has been darkened, and thus restoring us to health and wholeness. The nous in communion with God is all about our real self, and is the true seat of our personhood. The ego, which is nothing but the ultimate disconnect from our Creator, is the false self.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: Tamara Pawloff of Albany, New York, visited the monastery on Thursday. Tamara has been a regular reader of this blog for many years.
Friday July 21, 2017 / July 8, 2017
7th Week after Pentecost. Tone five.
Fast. Food with Oil
Appearance of the “Kazan” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1579).
Holy Great-martyr Procopius of Caesarea in Palestine (303).
St. Procopius, fool-for-Christ, wonderworker of Ustiug (Vologda) (1303).
New Hieromartyrs Alexander and Theodore priests (1918).
Righteous Procopius, fool-for-Christ of Usya (Vologda) (17th c.).
Miracle of the Annunciation Icon of the Mother of God at Ustiug (1290).
Reverence list of an “Kazan” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos: at Moscow (1612), Kazan (1579), Petersburg (1721) and Shlisselburg(1702); “Iaroslav” (1588), “Viazniky” (1624), “Nizhnelomov” (1543), “Tobolsk” (1661), “Kaplunovka” (1689), “Tambov” (1695), “Penza” (1717), “Peschanka” (1754), “Chimeev” (1770), “Vysochinovsky”(18th c.), “Vyshensky” (1812).
“Jacobshtad” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (17th c.)
Venerable Theophilus the Myrrh-gusher of Pantocrator Monastery, Mt. Athos (1548) (Greek).
New Martyr Anastasius at Constantinople (1743) (Greek).
Martyrs Epictetus and Astion at Halmyris in Scythia Minor (290) (Romania).
Blessed King Edgar the Peaceable (975) (Celtic & British).
Martyr Theodosia, mother of Great-martyr Procopius. (Greek).
Martyr Mirdat the King of Kartli (410) (Georgia).
Translation of the relics (1779) of Venerable Demetrius Basarbov of Bulgaria (1685).
Synaxis of Saints of Diveyevo: Alexandra, Martha, and Helen.
St. Grimbald, hieromonk of Winchester.
Translation of the relicts of St. Withburga, hermitess of East Dereham.
Virgim-martyr Urith (Hieritha) of Chittlehampton.
The Scripture Readings
Luke 1:39-49
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The Song of Mary
46 And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
Luke 1:56
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Philippians 2:5-11
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Luke 10:38-42
Mary and Martha Worship and Serve
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 11:27-28
Keeping the Word
27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”