Cross to Paradise
It is imperative that Christians endure the internal “crosses” that fall upon us through loving prayer to Christ, our Co-Suffering Saviour, Who alone can strengthen us to endure all in His love. It is only by God’s grace that we can see the dangers that lurk in our heart, and threaten to destroy whatever good we have done. Demons would lay waste all virtue, and it is only God’s grace that can give us insight as to how dark and devoid of all good is our heart. Our fallen nature, and our pride, keep us from uniting ourselves with Christ, and leave all our attempts at virtue as if nothing.
Bearing one’s cross does not just include those laid on us by others, or sent to us by God, but must include those we’ve taken upon ourselves by keeping various vows and promises that may be burdensome or troublesome for our heart, but of which we have taken upon ourselves in our desire to please God. We must be willing to conform to the Word of God by looking for ways to take up the burdens of others, such as tending to the sick, reaching out to the poor and homeless, and being meek and patient in our interaction regarding the welfare and salvation of others. We must bear the burdens of each other’s sins, annoyances, and sickness if we are to be like Christ. Thus, we must uproot all thoughts of pride regarding our “virtue”, lest our virtue be as nothing. We do not bear the cross for our ego, but for the good of all.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Quote of the Day
“The word “cross” means sufferings, sorrows and adversities. To “take up one’s cross” means to accept without complaint everything unpleasant, painful, sad, difficult and oppressive that may happen to us in life. In other words, to bear all laughter, scorn, weariness, sorrow and annoyance from others; to bear all poverty, misfortune, illness, without regarding yourself as offended. And if, when you are bearing your cross according to the will of God, a proud thought suggests to you that you are not weak like others, but that you are firm, pious and better, root out such thoughts as far as you can for they ruin all your virtues.“
– Saint Innocent of Alaska
Sunday, August 19, 2024 (7532) / Sunday, September 01, 2024
10th Sunday after Pentecost; Tone I
No fast
Afterfeast of the Dormition
✺ Martyr Andrew Stratelates and the 2,593 Martyrs with him in Cilicia († c. 284-305)
Martyrs Timothy, Agapios and Thekla († c. 304)
Venerable Theophanes the New, of Dochiariou, Mt Athos (15th C)
Finding of the Relics of Venerable Gennadius of Kostroma
Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Perm († 1456)
Icon of the Mother of God “of the Don”
New Martyr Nicholas the Presbyter († 1937)
Daily Scripture Readings
[Matutinal Gospel 10]; (10th Sunday after Pentecost)
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
(Liturgy)(10th Sunday after Pentecost)
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
(Martyrs)
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
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