We must pay attention when the Lord is calling us to slow down. It is easy to resist taking care of oneself if we run at full speed as though we are the only one who can get things done. We all need to set priorities, making sure we focus on Christ and not let that which is transitory rule our lives. If we pay attention to our health, family and spiritual life, everything else will take care of itself. We shouldn’t let life be so full of work that we don’t have time to focus on the things that bring us joy.
We are often tempted to focus only on the things that haven’t been done while ignoring the little things that bring joy to our life. If we are constantly thinking of where we’d rather be living, or the job we’d rather have, or the work that still needs to be completed, we’ll wake up one day and realize all we’ve needed for happiness has been right in front of us. Why wait to enjoy what we already have?
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Saturday September 28, 2024 / September 15, 2024
14th Week after Pentecost. Tone four.
Saturday after the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Great-martyr Nicetas the Goth (372).
New Hieromartyr John priest and Virgin-martyr Eudocia (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Andrew, Gregory, Gregory, John priests (1921).
Venerable Ignatius confessor (1932).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1935).
New Hieromartyrs John, Jacob, Peter priests and Nicholas deacon, Martyrs Mary and Ludmila (1937).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Acacius the Confessor, bishop of Melitene (257).
Martyrs Theodotus, Asclepiodotus, and Maximus of Adrianopolis (305-311).
Martyr Porphyrius the Mime of Caesaria (361).
Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (415).
Venerable Philotheus the Presbyter of Asia Minor (10th c.).
St. Joseph, abbot, of Alaverdi in Georgia (570) (Georgia).
“Novoniketas” Icon of the Mother of God (372).
St. Symeon, archbishop of Thessalonica (1430).
Sts. Bessarion I and Bessarion II (1540), metropolitans of Larissa (Greek).
New Martyr John of Crete (1811) (Greek).
Venerable Gerasimus, abbot, of Sourvia (1740).
St. Joseph the New of Partos, metropolitan of Timisoara (1656) (Romania).
St. Mirin, abbot of Paisley.
The Scripture Readings
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1 |
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. |
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2 |
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. |
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3 |
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. |
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4 |
For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. |
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5 |
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. |
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1 |
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, |
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2 |
saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. |
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3 |
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. |
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4 |
For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. |
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5 |
But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. |
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6 |
They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, |
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7 |
greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ |
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8 |
But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. |
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9 |
Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. |
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10 |
And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. |
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11 |
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. |
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12 |
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. |
2 Timothy 2:1-10 Great-martyr Nicetas
1
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
5
And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6
The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
7
Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9
for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10
Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Matthew 10:16-22 Great-martyr Nicetas
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16 |
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. |
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17 |
But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. |
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18 |
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. |
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19 |
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; |
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20 |
for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. |
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21 |
Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. |
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22 |
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. |
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Saturday After
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26 |
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. |
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27 |
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; |
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28 |
and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, |
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29 |
that no flesh should glory in His presence. |
John 8:21-30 Saturday After
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21 |
Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” |
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22 |
So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” |
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23 |
And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. |
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24 |
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. |
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25 |
Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. |
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26 |
I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him. |
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27 |
They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. |
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28 |
Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. |
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29 |
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. |
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30 |
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. |
https://rumble.com/v5gmdt8-correct-your-own-sins.html
https://old.bitchute.com/video/dQkNtzLX2HWD/