The needs of our soul
While observing our chickens and ducks laying eggs for the monastery’s table, it crossed my mind that a chick, while approaching life in the world, must first peck at the inside of the egg, break it open, and thus enter into the sunlight. If we, as spiritual beings, give ourselves over to worldly concerns, and things of a material nature, and ignore the needs of our soul, we would be like a chick who refuses to peck at the inside of the egg, break it open, and gain life. Eternal life can only be gained with effort.
Love and blessings,
Abbot Tryphon
Thursday January 18, 2018 / January 5, 2018
33rd Week after Pentecost. Tone seven.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Eve of the Theophany (Kreshchenskyi Sochelnik).
Fast Day.
Martyrs Theopemptus, bishop of Nicomedia, and Theonas (303).
Venerable Syncletica of Alexandria (350).
New Hieromartyr Joseph and with him 37 Martyrs (1921).
Virgin-martyr Eugenia (1933).
New Hieromartyr Sergius priest (1934).
Martyr Matthew (1938).
Venerable Symeon of the Pskov Caves (1960).
Prophet Micah (9th c. B.C.).
Venerable Apollinaris of Egypt (470).
Sts. Phosterius the Hermit and Menas of Sinai (6th c.).
Venerable Gregory of Crete, monk (820).
Martyr Theoidus.
Martyr Sais.
St. Tatiana.
New Monk-martyr Romanus of Carpenision, who suffered at Constantinople(1694).
New Hieromartyr Romanus of Lacedaemonia (1695).
St. Menas of Sinai (6th c.).
Translation of the relicts of St. Rumon, bishop, to Tavistock.
The Scripture Readings
Acts 13:25-33 Royal Hours: 1st Hour
Matthew 3:1-11 Royal Hours: 1st Hour
Acts 19:1-8 Royal Hours: 3rd Hour
Mark 1:1-8 Royal Hours: 3rd Hour
Romans 6:3-11 Royal Hours: 6th Hour
Mark 1:9-15 Royal Hours: 6th Hour
Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 Royal Hours: 9th Hour
Matthew 3:13-17 Royal Hours: 9th Hour
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 3:1-18
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Blessing of Waters, Epistle
Mark 1:9-11 Blessing of Waters, Gospel
Thank you
May the prayers of St Eugenia be with you
Panteleimona
Thank you Abbot Tryphon, for that lovely analogy! It helps us to grab onto lessons from nature!
Abbot Tryphon, what exactly do you mean by effort? Is it not Christ himself who has cracked the shell of our isolation from God, thus allowing the light of eternal life to flood into our very being? Or is it that we have been birthed into the realm of light already in Christ, yet apart from our diligent repentance, we remain isolated in our own self imposed shell which hides us from the reality of eternal life?
I’m simply speaking of the need for us to cooperate in our salvation.