A Defeatist Attitude is a Prescription for Defeat
As Christians we must believe that our ultimate welfare is in the hands of God and recognize that our life, although filled with many difficulties and struggles, is a journey of anticipation to the Eternal Life that is to come. Because this journey is not without sorrow and pain, worry and anxiety, it is easy to surrender to a defeatist attitude, and act as though we have no hope.
Our attitude, and even our speech, reflect on the health of our soul, and should be a key sign as to the wellness of our heart. If we are prone to complaining about our lives, or complaining about those around us, it is unlikely we will be prepared to choose a positive direction when the choice is before us.
The way we relate to others has an affect on their lives, and ours. If we make an effort to be positive, and live our lives with hope and faith, those around us profit, and everyone becomes healthy in spirit and in heart. Giving ourselves over to anxiety and fear does nothing but bring us down, and it pulls those around us down as well. Allowing ourselves to speak negatively does nothing to promote well-being, and can in fact be the cause of a worsening situation. Approaching life with a defeatist attitude is a surefire way of being defeated in the end.
The great King Solomon said, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven: A time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7)”. Negative speech contributes nothing to the heart but death. Receiving everything that comes our way with joy is the only way to bring about the healing of the heart. Negative speech is a reflection of a heart that is in need of healing, but joyful speech is like water for a thirsty plant that brings forth fruit for all around.
“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25).”
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photos: Our monastery’s Saint John the Wonderworker Chapel. Saint John is the main Patronal Saint of our monastery.
Friday October 20, 2023 / October 7, 2023
20th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Fast. Food with Oil
Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus in Syria (290-303).
St. Jonah, bishop of Manchuria (1925).
New Hieromartyr Priest Valentine Sventsitsky of Moscow (1931) and Priest Nicholas Kazansky (1931).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1942).
Venerable Sergius the Obedient of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).
Venerable Sergius, abbot of Nurma (Vologda) (1412) , disciple of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh.
Uncovering of the relics (1514) of Venerable Martinian, abbot of Byelozersk (White Lake) (1483).
Martyrs Julian, presbyter, and Caesarius, deacon, at Terracina (1st c.).
Virgin-martyr Pelagia of Tarsus (287).
Martyr Polychronius of Gamphanitus (4th c.).
Pskov Icon of the Mother of God named “Tenderness” (1524).
Martyrs Eusebius and Felix at Terracina.
St. Dubtach, bishop of Armagh (Scotland) (513) (Celtic & British).
Holy Martyr Princess Osyth of Chich (England) (ca. 700) (Celtic & British).
99 Fathers of Crete (Greek).
St. Leontius the Governor (Greek).
Venerable Joseph, elder of Mokhevi, wonderworker of Georgia (1763) (Georgia).
The Scripture Readings
Philippians 3:8-19
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same [e]rule, let us be of the same mind.
Our Citizenship in Heaven
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
Luke 7:31-35
31 And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not weep.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”