Judging divides us
As members of the Body of Christ, we must resist speaking against other members of the Church. If we judge each other it is because Satan wishes to divide us. The best defense against the Evil One is to stand united in prayer with one another. We must not give in to the temptation of judge anyone, but rather pray for those who may disappoint or hurt us. To do anything less is to fall short of the Glory of God. We must all stand strong against the temptations that would divide us. It is Christ Who sustains us and in turn we need to sustain one another. It is Christ who unites us, and the devil who divides us. This truth must be forefront in our thinking if we are to gain victory in spiritual warfare.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Friday January 20, 2017 / January 7, 2017
31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Afterfeast of the Theophany.
Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John.
Martyr Paphnutius (1938).
New Hieromartyr Basil, priest (1939).
Martyr John (1940).
Martyr John (1942).
New Martyr Athanasius of Attalia and Smyrna (1700) (Greek).
St. Cedd, bishop of Lastingham (664) (Celtic & British).
St. Brannock (Brynach) of Braunton (6th c.) (Celtic & British).
St. Kentigerna, hermitess of Loch Lomond.
The Scripture Readings
James 2:1-13
Beware of Personal Favoritism
2 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Mark 13:1-8
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
13 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
Thank you, Father. I needed to hear these words today.
Father bless.
Dear Father Tryphon,
Your comments on this topic come at the time when, our priest here in Lexington, KY is subject to judgemental opinions, gossip and slander from the Arabic community. In fact they want a new church and a new priest that speaks more Arabic.
We are few who love our priest and we need your prayers for calming the spirits agitated by the some individuals with a special agenda. Thank you a lot!
In Christ,
Dan
It is always sad when parishioners align themselves over ethnic issues. May the Lord help your priest in every way, and may these people reclaim true Orthodoxy.
Dear Father,
You write: “we must resist speaking against other members of the Church.”
Is it really your intention to limit our restraint to other “members of the Church”?
(Please forgive, if my question seems disrespectful – it really is not my intention!)
My article was primarily addressing the Body of Christ. Certainly, speaking against anyone is counter to the Christian life.
Thank you Father for the important clarification not to speak against anyone – be they members of the Church or not.
I personally spend a great amount of time interacting with people who would almost certainly not consider themselves as “part of the Body of Christ”.
And all too often I do let myself be drawn into negative comments on others – and not seldom do I witness others doing so.
It is after all quite easy to find fault in others – much easier than seeing my own shortcomings!
Likewise I find myself over and again tempted to show allegiance to others who themselves complain about wrongdoing they have suffered – or believe to have suffered at the hands of others not present at this moment.
I then find it hard to remain aware of the danger of going beyond empathy and showing “unquestioning solidarity” too quickly in these moments: for after all the persons accused are not seldom unknown to me and the “outrageous situations” I hear described are often hard to see in their context.
It has taken me quite some time to take into account that the complaints I hear (and may I not be hearing them mainly because I am lending them an ear?) may very well be quite lopsided.
Over and again hearing both sides first has proved healthy – and many a time also healing for all concerned. And sometimes I remain puzzled – and am left praying for guidance.
Thank you for the reminder:
a) no speaking against others!
b) no concession of space for those wishing to speak against others – without offering to hear the other side!
Not that easy – there´s work to do.
And ample room for humility!