Complaining Bears the Fruit of Bitterness
Instead of complaining, do something about your complaints. Make a difference in your life, and the lives of those around you, by keeping focused on making a difference. If there is reason to complain, change your complaint into a positive action that changes your perspective. Complainers never change a thing by their constant negativity, other than make those around them want to take a cab to the other side of town. Complaining seems to many like such a little sin, and nothing to be worried about. Yet the impact of a complaining heart is spiritually ruinous, for when we complain we bear bitter fruits that destroy our peace and the peace of those around us.
When we refuse to fill our lives with complaints, we live our lives knowing that opposing the evil that is the root of our complaints, means we preserve our inner peace. Some live as though avoiding complaining will make everything worse, for by doing so they ignore the reality of negative things. Yet when we complain, we are returning evil for evil, and giving the fallen spirits the very thing they thrive upon.
Complaining never changes a thing, but only strengthens the power of the evil that is the very basis of our complaints. When we face every bad situation with a positive response, we empower the heart to good, by diminishing the power of negativity. By keeping a positive mindset, the sin of complaining is banished from our life, and everyone around us is bathed in a healing and healthy setting.
With love in Christ,Abbot Tryphon
Photos: Kosin Cain, abbot of the Puget Sound Zen Center, visited the monastery on Tuesday afternoon. Father Mo’een Hanna, a Palestinian priest from the Bay Area of California, along with Father Seraphim Majmudar, rector of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma, WA. (together with his adorable two boys, Nicholas and Thomas), visited the monastery on Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday September 19, 2013
13th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.Commemoration of theMiracle of the ArchangelMichael at Colossae (Chonae) (4th c.).
Martyr1,104 soldiers in Melitene (311).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Constantine, John and Vsevolod priests (1937).
VenerableArchippus of Hierapolis (4th c.).
MartyrsRomulus and 11,000 others in Armenia (2nd c.).
HieromartyrCyril, bishop of Gortyna (3rd-4th c.).
Martyrs11 others at Alexandria (250).
VenerableDavid of Hermopolis in Egypt (6th c.).
Kiev-Bratsk (1654) and Arabia Icons of the Mother of God.
MartyrsSarapabon the Senator, in Egypt (256).
St. Beya, virgin, first abbess of Copeland in Cumbria (7th c.) (Celtic & British).
St. Magnus of Fussen, enlightener of the Allgau region of Germany (750-772).
You can read the life of the saint in blue, by clicking on the name.THANKS to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
The Scripture Readings for the Day
2 Corinthians 10:7-18
Reality of Paul’s Authority
7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that heis Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so weare Christ’s.8For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—9lest I seem to terrify you by letters.10“Forhis letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, buthis bodily presenceis weak, andhis speech contemptible.”11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, suchwe will alsobe in deed when we are present.
Limits of Paul’s Authority
12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.14For we are not overextending ourselves (as thoughour authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;15not boasting of things beyond measure,that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope,that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,16to preach the gospel in theregions beyond you,and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”18For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Mark 3:28-35
The Unpardonable Sin
28“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;29but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”—30because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him
31Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.32And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”
33But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”34And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!35For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”