We must use discernment when sharing the faith
The holy Elder Porphyrios of Mount Athos, was forced to move to Athens because of his poor health. While walking with two young spiritual daughters in the area of Omonoia one day, they spotted a young woman coming their way wearing the familiar “super mini skirt”.
“You do well to not judge her”, said the Elder, to his spiritual daughters. “Do not judge people from their outward appearance. That girl you see has a wonderful soul! She has a dynamic soul. That which she is doing now, that is, provoking, is due to the strength of her soul. Imagine what would happen if that girl came to know Christ, and knew everything that you knew. Then she will certainly reach a high place.” The holy Elder demonstrated the discernment we must all have regarding our neighbor.
On another occasion he met with some young women who had come to see him. Although they were dressed indecently, the Elder Porphyrios chatted with them on various spiritual topics, but he made no comment regarding their appearance. However, the man who was with him was internally indignant toward the young women, scandalized, as he was, by their lack of respect for the Elder.
Upon their departure, Elder Porphyrios, smiling, told the man he was “not as strict as you are”. “Those girls came here with that appearance and I did not make a comment. I have another tactic. Because, even if I did talk about their appearance, since they have no faith in Christ, they would not comply. I first attempted to bring them to faith in Christ, and then, by themselves, they will understand their error and correct it.”
The holy elder demonstrated the importance of always using discernment when dealing with those who are not living the Orthodox faith. In refusing to judge them, Elder Porphyrios acknowledged the importance of sharing Christ, thus giving the person the opportunity to be transformed by the very Christ Who has the power to change hearts.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Thursday July 18, 2019 / July 5, 2019
5th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Venerable Athanasius of Mt. Athos (1003) and his six disciples.
Uncovering of the relics (1422) of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh (1392).
New Hieromartyr Gennadius priest, Martyrdom of St. ElizabethRomanov and Nun Barbara (1918).
Venerable Agapitus, confessor (1936).
Martyr Anna at Rome (304).
Martyr Cyrilla of Cyrene in Libya, a widow .
Venerable Lampadus, monk, of Hirenopolis (10th c.).
Icon of the Mother of God “Economissa”.
New Martyr Cyprian of Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mt. Athos (1679) (Greek).
New Martyrs Grand Dukes Sergius Mikhailovitch, Princes John Constantinovich, Constantine, Igor Constantinovich and Vladimir.
St. Morwenna, patroness of Morwenstow (England) (6th c.) (Celtic & British).
Synaxis of 23 Saints of Lesbos (Greek).
Hieromartyr Stephen, bishop of Rhegium, disciple of the Apostle Paul, and with him Bishop Suerus and the women Agnes, Felicitas, and Perpetua (1st c.).
Martyr Athanasius, deacon of Jerusalem (451).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 11:27-30
27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Romans 15:17-29
17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written:
“To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand.”
Plan to Visit Rome
22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Matthew 12:46-13:3
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him
46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
The Parable of the Sower
13 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.
Yes, I find it is always better to just become a friend and one who is trusted. Then in time and through prayer, there can be transformation in coming to know Christ. Pouncing on people with our personal thoughts and ideas is not going to cut it! It will just cause the other to be on the defensive or feel rejected.
Thankyou and God bless!
Dear Fr. Tryphon,
Your Morning Offering has always been such a blessing in my life. So often, I pick up my phone to check my email, and there is a message from God, through you, waiting for me. I make it a point to read that first, along with the Scripture readings.
Thank you so much for this blessed work you do for us. May God always bless you! You and your monastery are in my prayers.
Your Sister in Christ,
Sophia (Lara)
Father bless,
You once, in a homily, told a story I sometimes tell to others who might be interested. It seems to say something about late-life arrivals to Orthodoxy, like myself: With your permission:
A certain priest, travelling alone by car along the western coast, felt himself in need of refreshment, and pulling over, entered a convenience store. At the check-out counter was a young woman obviously of the heavy-metal, punk-rocker persuasion, complete with tattoos, nose and ear piercings, spiky hair–the whole nine yards. As the priest approached the cashier with his purchase, the cashier took a look at his priestly apparel and said, with all due appreciation: “Cool cross.” Then she paused. Then she said: “Who’s that on the cross?”
I’ve always thought that young lady had a lot of potential. There was room inside her for something new.
Does this apply to men wearing hats in church?
That some men wear hats in church is a sad commentary. When I was a child, men still tipped their hats towards women on the street (I clearly remember seeing the postman tip his hat to my grandmother, whenever he’d see her). Men would wear hats all the time, and always remove them when entering a building. You’d never see a man disrespect the interior of a church, for they all would remove their hats upon entering a church. Now, men routinely wear baseball hats at work, or even in restaurants. A different age, indeed. Recently, I found myself driving through the heart of downtown Seattle, about noon. Hundreds of young adults were exiting high tech offices, but not one was dressed nicely. The vast majority of the young men were wearing jeans and t-shirts. I didn’t see one sport coat on a man, nor did I see a dress on a young woman. It seemed the “grunge look” was the prevailing style. So, is it any wonder men don’t think of removing their hats upon entering God’s house? That said, it is best that only the priest or deacon remind them to remove their hats.