Turning to Christ as our refuge from the storm
These difficult times are causing more and more people to lose hope. The struggle just to stay the course has become increasingly stressful for ever increasing numbers of people, and Christians are no exception.
When we are down it is good for us to turn our face towards Christ, remembering the words from the Gospel of Matthew, “Thou art indeed the Son of God”. This world promises us nothing, but in Christ we have everything, for He is the only refuge in Whom we can turn in times of trial.
“Here on earth there is nothing that can give us inner peace. For neither riches, nor glory, nor honour, nor position, nor family, nor neighbors can give us unshakable inner peace. There is only one giver of life, peace and joy – God (Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica).”
As Christians we must not allow anything to disturb our peace of heart, for we know that this life is transitory. “If you think to find paradise on earth, even in a monastery, then you are very mistaken. Paradise—full blessedness—does not exist on earth, and cannot, because man was not created for earth, but for heaven (Abbess Thaisia of Leushino).”
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Wednesday May 6, 2020 / April 23, 2020
Third Week of Pascha. Tone two.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Holy Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George(303).
Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Second finding of the copy 2012).
New Hieromartyr Priest Egor (George) of Spas Chekriak village, Russia (1918).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1940).
New Hieromartyr Priest Sergius Zacharczuk of Nabroz (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1943).
Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian (303).
Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St. George.
Venerable Sophia (1974).
Martyrs Glycerius, Athanasius the Magician, Valerius, and Donatus at Nicomedia.
Martyr Therinus of Bothrotus in Epirus (250).
New Martyr George of Ptolomais (1752).
New Martyr Lazarus of Bulgaria, who suffered at Pergamus (1802).
Blessed George of Shenkursk, fool-for-Christ (1462).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 12:2-12
2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Jesus Teaches the Fear of God
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men
8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Acts 8:18-25
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perishes with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
John 6:35-39
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
Beautiful gardens! They represent a lot of hard work which is good for the body and the soul.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – St. John 14:27
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17
Nice garden area! I raise bed ( and “square foot/ French intensive method”) too. To a bountiful harvest!
Blest day , Father.
Lovely gardens! I am thinking to make a tub garden (cloth containers) on my balcony but have some concerns since I only get 3 hrs of direct sunlight in early morning hours. Not enough? Will check it out.
As for gardens – we must cultivate our souls – we are tilling the soil – turning it over and over again – until it produces good fruit (and veggies.)
God bless! Enjoy you gardening…..
He is our shelter in the storm, our peace. “Be still and know that I am God. ” Psalm 46:10.
We may not be in the heavenly realm for full blessedness – but our Lord came to earth and gave us the Holy Spirit to comfort us. “On earth as it is in heaven.” As Christians – we are His children, right here, right now. And He is with us, in our joys and sorrows. I have experienced complete peace and blessedness not only outside of the the monastery but during my extended stay at an Orthodox monastery. It is not something that we control – but in surrender, there is no limitation to what the Lord can do or to where He can take us in prayer. Or how He can bless us or how intimately He allows us to drawn near.
thank you everyone for those words of encouragement.
GOD bless you all