The rational faculty and the noetic faculty
The human soul has two faculties, the rational faculty and the noetic faculty. Through the rational faculty we relate to the world with our physical senses, but through the noetic faculty we have communion with God. Faith is found in one’s heart, not in one’s mind. Those who depend only on the mind will not find truth, but only those who take their mind into the heart will find God. Since the heart is the center of our self-awareness, the energy of the mind must be moved inside the heart. Depending on our intellectual capacities alone will leave us in a wasteland of emptiness and want.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photos: One hundred and seven chaplains have registered for the Northwest Regional Training Seminar of the International Conference of Police Chaplains. The week of ICPC seminars continues.
Thursday February 9, 2017 / January 27, 2017
Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. Tone eight.
Fast-free Week. Fast-free
Translation of the relics (437) of St. John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople.
Venerable Peter of Egypt (5th c.).
New Martyr Demetrius at Constantinople (1784) (Greek).
Venerable Titus the Soldier, monk of the Kiev Caves.
New Hieromartyr Peter (Zverev) of Voronezh (1929).
St. Demetrius Klepinine, priest of Paris (1944).
Venerable Leonty (Stasevich) of Ivanovo (1972).
Scripture Readings
John 10:1-9
Jesus the True Shepherd
10 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
Jesus the Good Shepherd
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
1 John 1:8-2:6
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
The Test of Knowing Him
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Abbot Tryphon, you described beautifully what chaplaincy is all about. Do I have your permission to share that writing with others? I would, of course, give you credit as the author. I was at the conference, also, and appreciated the things you shared with us.
Absolutely you may share my article on chaplaincy
Please feel free to use my article.