Abide Within Oneself
Forests and mountains have always been associated with prayer for me and monks the world over. My first chapel was at the end of a hidden trail in a forest that was only a short walk down the beach from our home on Lake Pend Oreille. I’d constructed a small altar out of driftwood, and nailed a cross made out of tree branches on a tree behind the altar. When we built our monastery on Vashon Island, we cut down as few trees as possible to preserve the solitude they naturally supply.
Our temples are like forests in many ways. When we enter into an Orthodox temple we are encompassed in the living presence of God, and our spiritual lungs are filled. It is oxygen for the soul that we breathe in, and the forest that surrounds us is none other than the cloud of witnesses, the saints, who join us in worship before the Throne of God. The oxygen we breathe in is God’s Grace that flows out to all who would seek the safety and sanctuary that awaits us in God’s Holy Temple.
There is a time for solitude, and there is a time for socializing. So wherever you go, and whatever the season of your soul, keep the Kingdom of God within your heart, and you will always be at home.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Quote of the Day
“Every soul has, to a greater or lesser degree, a yearning for solitude, for abiding within oneself. Only base souls are satisfied with the luster and fuss of vain life and place all their satisfaction in ceaseless conversations, in laughter, and in all manner of distractions. The Lord Jesus Christ was True God, but was also a Man, and therefore, rendering human nature its due, He at times would seclude Himself from the surrounding din.”
– St. Barsanuphius of Optina
Sunday, August 12, 2024 (7532) / Sunday, August 25, 2024
9th Sunday after Pentecost; Tone VIII
Fast: Wine and oil allowed
Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Martyrs Photios and Anicletas of Nicomedia and many with them († 305-306)
Martyrs Pamphilius and Captonus
Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Comana (3rd C)
Venerable Palamon of Egypt
Venerable Castor, Bishop of Apta
New Martyrs of Belgorod: Barlaam, Sergius, Elija, Vyacheslav, Ioasaph, John, Anthony, Micah, Vissarion, Matthew, Euthemius, Barnabus, Dimitry, Savva, Hermogenes, Arcadius, Euthemius, Marcellus, John, James, Peter, James, Alexander, Theodore, Peter, Sergius, and Alexey († 1918)
Daily Scripture Readings
(Matins) (9th Sunday after Pentecost)
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
(Liturgy) (9th Sunday after Pentecost)
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.