When despondency seizes us, let us not give in to it
The renowned 19th century Russian saint, Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833), said of himself, “I don’t know anything”. These words were remarkable coming from a hermit who was the most sought after spiritual adviser of his age, with even the Tsar seeking out his counsel. Yet Saint Seraphim recognized that he was but a funnel from which anything good that came out of him, was from God.
As a priestmonk, I am often troubled by the knowledge that I am a poor example to others, and that I fall short, daily, of living out the image of Christ in me. Yet I am compelled to live out every day with joyfulness of heart, no matter what. I am also compelled to preach, teach, and write of the things of the Lord, and to try to trust God, no matter what. I try, as best I can, to remember the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4)”.
I try to remember the words of Saint Basil the Fool for Christ, whose holy relics reside in Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, who said, “winter is cold, but paradise is sweet”. Knowing that true validation comes only from God, I try not to be hurt when I do not receive validation from my peers, remembering that I am called upon to give to others, what I want to receive.
Like Saint Anthony the Great, I cry out to God, “where are You?”, all the while floating in a river of grace. I want to be a friend of God, yet often feel like the chick who has been pushed out of the nest by the mother eagle.
Yet I am comforted by the counsel of Saint Seraphim, who instructed his spiritual children with the words: “When despondency seizes us, let us not give in to it. Rather, fortified and protected by the light of faith, let us with great courage say to the spirit of evil: “What are you to us, you who are cut off from God, a fugitive for Heaven, and a slave of evil? You dare not do anything to us: Christ, the Son of God, has dominion over us and over all. Leave us, you thing of bane. We are made steadfast by the uprightness of His Cross. Serpent, we trample on your head.”
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: I drove to Portland, Oregon, on Monday in order to see my confessor, Archpriest Nicholas Letten. Father Nicholas is a dear and wonderful man, and an example to all who know him, for his holiness, humility, and joy. At 92 years old, he is exactly twenty years my senior. Father was born on November 8th, while I was born on November 9th. I am spiritually sustained by both my confessor, Father Nicholas, and my spiritual mother, Mother Markella, abbess of Life Giving Spring Greek Orthodox Monastery in Dunlap, CA. They both are living icons of everything that is good and holy in Orthodoxy.
Today, our Monk Nicodemus celebrates his Names Day. Venerable Nicodemus of Mt. Athos.
9th Week after Pentecost. Tone seven.
New Hieromartyr Constantine priest (1918).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1933).
Venerable Stephen, abbot of Makhrishche (Vologda) (1406).
Martyr Justus at Rome (1st c.).
Venerable Ellius (Hellius) of Egypt (4th c.).
Venerable Onesimus, of Magnesia (4th c.).
Martyr John of Merv (Turkmenistan).
Venerable Nicodemus of Mt. Athos, spiritual writer (1809).
Sts. Vladimir and Agrippina wonderworkers of Rzhev
St. Marcellinus of Utrecht, priest (8th c.) (Neth.).
St. Joseph the Confessor, archbishop of Thessalonica (Greek).
St. Heraclius, patriarch of Alexandria (246).The Scripture Readings1 Corinthians 14:26-40Order in Church Meetings
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Matthew 21:12-14
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Matthew 21:17-20
17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
The Fig Tree Withered
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
Good morning Father Tryphon,
Thank you for your words and the words of St. Seraphim today. They were very timely for me as I slept very little last night, worrying and praying for my elderly mom and sad for all the suffering that is in the world.
L.
Many years to Monk Nicodemus and all the brotherhood and sisterhood of Christ.
Timely, again, Abbot.
Dear Abbot Tryphon and fellow Norwegian-American,
I was struck by the cluster of dates reading your email today. I was born on November 8, 1946, about a year after you and exactly 11 years after Father Nicholas. I grew up in the Lutheran Church, found a church home as an adult at Christ Our King Presbyterian Church, founded by Eugene Petersen, and then later went through a period of 20 years without a church, praying for guidance. At age 65, our younger son began to send me information about Orthodoxy and asked me to attend Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church in Linthicum, MD. He and I were chrismated there on June 16, 2013. I knew Blessed Olga of Alaska was my patron saint, as soon as I heard about her. She reposed on November 8, 1979.
In Christ,
Cynthia Olga
how does verse 34 apply to today’s culture?
Dear friend with the unusual name –
What do think about v. 34 and what it means in its context, especially verses 36-37 and 40? How has the Church understood it? A broader reading of Paul’s letters easily demonstrates that he is no misogynist.
I have heard that Corinth was home to a pagan religion notable for its very wild rites, in which women were the key rowdy participants. The Corinthian Church seems to have included converts from this cult, and many of them imported their old behavior into their new life (which seems to have been a common theme all around). Because so many Corinthians were Gentiles with no knowledge of the Torah, Paul takes great pains in his letters to teach these new followers of Christ how to live rightly so as to honor God. This includes broader theological themes but also specific tips on individual and group behavior, all of which are informed by the divine origin of the Good News (in contrast to man-made rites, religions, and values), God’s love for us, and our obligation to Him.
Abbot Tryphon can probably explain this far better than I, but I hope this is of some use. God’s peace to you!
Dear Father Tryphon, to those of us who have tasted the bitterness of despondency, your words come as soothing balm over a raw wound. Your posting is very encouraging. Thank you! May God grant you many, many years!