At Least Try
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). When we seemingly can’t stop the bad behavior that we confess over and over, almost like a litany, we are tempted to despair. Our captivity to this bad behavior seems permanent, and change, impossible. Yet, if we make a concerted effort to change that is motivated by our love for God, then, little by little, we will find we really can master those stubborn behaviors that once seemed insurmountable. Instead of beating ourselves up each time we fall in a legalistic focus on ourselves, we take little baby steps in humble love, and little by little, we make progress to become more like our Father in Heaven. That cake we consumed becomes our last piece, because this time we don’t go near the row in the grocery store where we know the bakery goods are displayed. We manage to curb our temper because we made a commitment to get through just two hours around that person in the office who pushes our buttons, and when the two hours pass, we have reason to rejoice. We pass half a day without inventing a new story about ourselves, and before long, we are no longer confessing that sin. Little by little, we find that behaviors can change. We are not destined to sin, and our sins do not define us. We are Christians made in the image of God, and we can do all things through Him Who strengthens us.
“A man cannot correct himself all of a sudden, but it is like pulling a barge – pull, pull, and let go, let go! Not all at once, but little by little. Do you know the mast on a ship? There is a pole to which is tied all of the ship’s lines. If you pull on it then everything gradually pulls. But if you take it all at once, you will ruin everything.”
– St. Ambrose of Optina
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Quote of the Day
“If you cannot labor with your body, at least make efforts in your mind. If you cannot fast for two days, fast at least till evening; If you cannot fast till evening, be careful not to overeat. If you are not a peacemaker, at least do not be addicted to strife. If you cannot close the mouth of a man who is judging his brother, at least refrain from joining him in this.”
– Saint Isaac the Syrian
Tuesday, August 14, 2024 (7532) / Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Tuesday of the 10th week after Pentecost; Tone VIII
Food without oil
Forefeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God
Prophet Micah (8th C BC)
Translation of the relics of the Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves (1091)
Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Apameia († c. 389)
Venerable Arkady of Noviy Torg
New Martyr Simeon of Trapezund
Holy New Martyr Basil, bishop of Chernigov († 1918)
Daily Scripture Readings
(Liturgy) (Tuesday of the 10th week after Pentecost)
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
(Tuesday of the 10th week after Pentecost)
24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
(Wednesday of the 10th week after Pentecost)
5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
11 Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.
12 As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.
(Wednesday of the 10th week after Pentecost)
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
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