Living our lives in total commitment
Christianity is a religion of asceticism, instructing us to store up our treasures in heaven, where the benefits have eternal value. Throughout the New Testament we read of the importance of struggle, where focus on the acquisition of a humble and contrite heart is paramount to what it means to be a Christian. The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that if we are to be worthy of Him, we must be willing to take up our cross and follow Him. We are to be a people whose true homeland is Christ’s Kingdom, which is within. Christ Himself calls us to holiness, and this change of heart can only be brought about through struggle.
Our world places a great deal of emphasis on being comfortable, and we tend to avoid anything that does not bring pleasure. If being open about our Christian faith invites ridicule, we remain silent. If keeping the fasting rules of the Church prevents us from enjoying evenings out with our friends, we ignore the fast. If voicing disapproval when hearing our Christian faith being trashed, makes us appear less cool, we choose to go the route of the politically correct. Is it any wonder we are therefore unprepared to stand firm when faced with real trials that come our way, having avoided the very things that would transform us into strong, committed Christians?
If we embrace Christianity with dedication of heart and mind, we will receive the power to live in this world, filled as it is, with temptations and disappointments, yet remaining true to our vocation as a holy people. Committing ourselves to being full time Christians, empowers us to live our lives in such a way that we give glory and witness to the very Christ Whom we worship.
If, however, we avoid ascetic struggle, and choose to keep our Christian faith sidelined, and rejecting real commitment, we will ultimately have become Christian in name only. For those who, out of laziness or personal selfishness, choose to relegate fasting, private prayer, and even church attendance, as something done only when we feel “in the mood”, we will stand before the Throne of God, in the end, with a darkened heart that can not withstand the power of God, and eternity will be for us, a lake of fire.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Saturday February 11, 2017 / January 29, 2017
Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. Tone eight.
Fast-free Week. Fast-free
Translation of the relics of Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, bishop of Antioch (107).
New Hieromartyrs John and Leontius priests, Constantine deacon and with them 5 Martyrs (1920).
St. Laurence, recluse of the Kiev Caves and bishop of Turov (1194).
Sts. Gerasimus (1441), Pitirim (1455), and Jonah (1470), bishops of Perm.
Martyrs Romanus, James, Philotheus, Hyperechius, Abibus, Julian and Paregorius at Samosata (297)
Martyrs Silvanus, bishop of Emesa, Luke the Deacon, and Mocius (Mucius) the Reader (312).
Synaxis of All Saints of Yekaterinburg.
New Martyr Demetrius of Chios (1802) (Greek).
Venerable Aphrahates of Persia, monk (370).
St. Barsimaeus the Confessor, bishop of Edessa (2nd c.).
Martyrs Sarbelus and his sister Bebaia of Edessa (115) (Greek).
Venerable Sulpicius Severus, disciple of St. Martin of Tours (406) (Gaul).
Venerable Gildas the Wise, abbot of Rhuys, Brittany (ca. 570) (Celtic & British).
St. Ashot Kuropalates of Tao-Klardjeti (829) (Georgia).
St. Ignatius, bishop of Smolensk (1210).
Venerable Andrew (Rublev) of Russia, iconographer (1430).
The Scripture Readings
2 Timothy 3:1-9
Perilous Times and Perilous Men
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
Luke 20:46-21:4
46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
The Widow’s Two Mites
21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
Thank you Abbot Tryphon…I like the way you do not sugar coat things.
About fasting…it was suggested to me that during fasting periods, if invited to dinner and are served food that is to be avoided, out of respect for the host, you eat it. Breaking a fast is also alluded to in The Lives of the Desert Fathers and the Abba gives his reasons. Because I am a new convert, and because I tend to take things literally, that is, either you do it or you don’t, and because my conscience would be in conflict, I would just simply adhere to the fast. My understanding of ascetic struggle is that it is the path to victory in the ongoing warfare against the flesh, which in turn strengthens the spirit, all by the grace of God. The goal being humility…and a life-long process.
I’d like to know your thoughts on this, if you would, Father.
I remember the story of a young German nun living in Jerusalem who approached her abbess, asking her blessing before leaving for Germany, where she would be spending time with her non Orthodox family for Western Christmas. The nun assured her abbess that she would strictly adhere to the Nativity Fast, while with her family. Known for her holiness and wisdom, the abbess told the young nun to eat whatever was placed before her, and take up the Nativity Fast upon her return to her monastery. Charity and hospitality are more important than fast periods.
I once knew a new convert to Orthodoxy who proudly related to me how he had kept the Fast strictly while visiting family for a major holiday feast. He kept strictly the fast to the point of eating virtually nothing, since even the vegetables had butter in them. Can you imagine the image he left concerning his new faith, with his mother, and other family members, who had gathered together to celebrate a meal that had so lovingly been prepared? Had he been the host for the meal, he could have made sure everything conformed to the Fast, and everything would have been fine with the family. But, he allowed his unbridled strictness to bring focus on his own “piety”, while making his family members sad that he was eating virtually nothing.
Thank you very much…I see, charity (love) and hospitality are more important…they should always trump. Better to keep my intentions first towards the welfare of others over my own sense of “piety”. A mental image of the family who lovingly made that meal only to be rejected by the “pious” one says it all.
A blessed day to you, Abbot Tryphon
:-)!