Labor is Enlivening
Saint John Chrysostom tells us that when we fail in our spiritual journey towards transformation, it is not due to “the nature of the trial, but by your own laziness”. Since we were created by God with free will, the Lord does not force salvation on us, but offers it freely to us as a gift. The only thing that is required of us is that we cooperate with His offer of communion with Him.
When our sins block the pathway to God, it is not because He does not open the way, but because our laziness keeps us off the path. Daily we must face up to our part in this journey, and force ourselves to make an effort at becoming like Christ. We must imitate the Lord in every aspect of our life, for it is in how we love, how we are quick to forgive, how we reach out to others in charity, how we become the peacemakers, that progress is made.
If we are serious about our relationship with Christ, we must remember that everything we do will reflect upon Him. If we have indeed been crucified with Him and raised again with Him then we are to seek those things that are of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is in Christ’s Kingdom that we are to have our affections (Col. 3:1, 2, Phil. 3:20), because, if we have our focus here, on earthly things and affections, then it reflects upon Christ Whom we profess.
Christianity has developed a bad name in our world today because many professing Christians live the same way as the world, and sometimes living worse than the world. If we have been joined to the Lord then we are one spirit (I Cor. 6:15-17), and others see Christ in us. If I take the Lord’s name in vain, it reflects on Christ. If I lose my temper, it affects the Body of Christ. Our behavior is important because we represent Christ to a lost and dying world. What we do and what we say, is seen by the world as representing Christ.
God has opened the Gates of Paradise to us, but our movement towards the Gates requires the navigation of a straight and narrow path. This journey requires commitment on our part, and this commitment begins with repentance, for it is only in repentance that we are given the grace needed to navigate the dangerous road that is before us. Through love of God, and love of neighbor, we will enter into the Kingdom of God, and live forever.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Quote of the Day
“Most of all, beware of arguments, and forgive one another when someone offends you. Remember that when you get into fights, you please the devil, but when you reconcile, you cause Jesus to rejoice. Those who are peacemakers are doing the work of Christ, and will be received in the Kingdom of Heaven as children of God.”
– St John Maximovitch
Tuesday, July 31, 2024 (7532) / Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Tuesday of the 8th week after Pentecost; Tone VI
No Fast
Forefeast of the Procession of the Venerable and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia (9th C)
Righteous Joseph of Arimathea (1st C)
Righteous Ehud, a Judge of Israel (Judg 3:15)
Holy Hierarch Herman, Bishop of Auxerre
Martyr Judith of Cæsarea
New Hieromartyr Benjamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd and Gdovsk († 1922) and those with him: Archimandrite Sergius and the laymen: Yuri and John
New Hieromartyr Nicholas (1941)
Saint Vasily the Confessor, bishop of Kineshemsk (1945)
Daily Scripture Readings
(Tuesday of the 8th week after Pentecost)
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
(Righteous Eudocimus)
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Chapter 6
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.