FEEDING OUR SOUL

How to Find Hope in the Face of Our Mortality

Earlier this week I was listening to one of the last songs recorded by Johnny Cash, probably the best country western singer of all time. The line in his song, “put me in my box on the 309”, is coming from a man who was facing his own imminent death. With the loss of his beloved wife, June Carter Cash still heavy on his heart, Johnny was ready to go to God.

At seventy-five, I’m more aware than ever of my own mortality. I’m not afraid of death, but I am concerned about the monastery, for I want it to prosper beyond my life. I believe with all my heart that this place was built by God, working one miracle after another to make it happen, but like a mother who has given birth to her child, and wanting the best for him, I’m not in a hurry to leave my fellow monastics.

I want to know this monastery is on safe footing and with enough young monks to continue into the next generation before they put “my box on the 309”. Like Johnny Cash in his last album, I want to share in words my life experience, and perhaps help today’s young people realize the importance of making God central in their lives.

We live in an age where many are living in a constant state of listlessness, caring little about their spiritual condition, or the condition of our world. Having given themselves over to leisure pursuits and entertainment, they’ve become unable to be attentive to that which is of eternal importance.

As another “pandemic closure” looms on the horizon, the world seems on the brink of total meltdown, yet many fail to build a foundation that will help them face the challenges and dangers that lie ahead.

History has been filled with times like these, but the spiritually fit were the ones who came through, having been strengthened by Christ. Since in Christ we can triumph over anything, I will continue trying to encourage this new generation of young people with the wealth that can be found within the life-giving spring that is the Church.

We have before us many challenges and temptations, but with God’s help, we will triumph. Let us now more than ever nourish our souls with the daily readings of the Holy Scriptures, while immersing ourselves in the lives of the saints, and deepening our prayer life. Let us commit to emulating the love of our Saviour, so that all those around us will behold the Light of Christ, and, together with us prepare for the good possibility that we are entering the Age of the Antichrist.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Saturday July 31, 2021 / July 18, 2021
6th Week after Pentecost. Tone four.
Martyr Emilian of Silistra in Bulgaria (363).
Martyr Hyacinth of Amastris (4th c.).
New Hieromartyrs Appolinarius (1918).
Venerable John the Long-suffering of the Kiev Caves (1160).
Venerable Pambo, recluse of the Kiev Caves (1241).
Venerable Pambo, hermit of Egypt (386).
Venerable Leontius, abbot of Karikhov (Novgorod) (1492).
“Kaluga” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1892).
St. Frederich, bishop of Utrecht (9th c.) (Neth.).
Martyr Marcel (Greek).
Martyrs Dasius and Maron (Greek).
Sts. Stephen, archbishop of Constantinople (928), and John the Confessor, metropolitan of Chalcedon (9th c.) (Greek).
Great-martyr Athanasius of Klysma, Egypt (4th c.).
Hieromartyr Kozman (1630) (Georgia).

The Scripture Readings

Romans 9:1-5

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

9 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Matthew 9:18-26

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.