Helping the Vulnerable

With authority comes responsibility

When people are hurting, and seeking professional help, they are vulnerable, and the trust they place in the professional makes them particularly open to exploitation. This is why we must have institutions and lines of authority that hold professionals accountable. We can not allow anyone who is vulnerable, whether a child, or an adult, to be exploited.

The bottom line is that we are all fallen and in need of redemption. None of us is beyond reproach, for we are all broken, and many in leadership roles are just as broken as those who seek out their help. The Church, because she is a living, healing, organism, is the place where we should feel safe, as we seek to be healed by the Great Physician of our souls and bodies, Jesus Christ.

For those who hold positions of authority, be they police officers, teachers, clergy, physicians, psychologists, coaches, troop leaders, or just the friendly old neighbor; they all must guard their hearts, knowing they will one day stand before the Great Throne of God, to give account.

For those of us who are priests, the authority we exercise is from Christ Himself, and thus comes with an even greater responsibility. Because we priests serve the Church, we dare not act irresponsibly in our capacity as living images of Christ. The unbelieving world is quick to point out the times we have failed to stand for the moral and spiritual values that have marked the Church as having been set apart from this fallen world.

For we priests to act with the authority of Jesus Christ, is a very solemn thing, for we, like all Christians, bear the name of Christ. As Christians we must represent this Christ in a physical way, while we all await the second coming of Christ, when He will return, physically, to restore this world to the state before the fall, thus banishing darkness and death, for all eternity.

If the world does not see this Christ in us, His priests, how can we expect the world to believe? Since this world does not see Him, but does see us, we must be faithful representatives of the Son of God. We must faithfully represent this Christ, and His authority must be exercised with all kindness, humility, and love, that His saving grace be experienced by all who come in contact with us.

Christ has given the Church authority over both heaven and earth, and His authority must be used to usher in the Kingdom of God.

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Photos: The monastic community participated in the feast day celebration of Saint Nicholas, at Seattle’s Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral.

Today is the 8th anniversary of Hieromonk Paul’s ordination as a priest. Many years, Father Paul!

Wednesday December 20, 2017 / December 7, 2017
29th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil

St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan (397).
Venerable Nilus, monk, of Stolben Island (1554).
Venerable Anthony, abbot of Siya Monastery (Novgorod) (1556).
New Hieromartyr Sergius (1917).
New Hieromartyr Antonius priest, Hieromartyr Andronic (1918).
St. Ambrosius confessor, bishop of Kamenets-Podolsk (1932).
New Hieromartyrs Sergius, Michael and Sergius priests, Nicephore deacon and Hieromartyr Galaction, Martyr John (1937).
New Hieromartyrs Peter and Basil priests (1941).
Venerable John, faster of St. Sabbas’ monastery.
Martyr Athenodorus of Mesopotamia (304).
Venerable Paul the Obedient.
“Seligersk” (Vladimirsk) Icon of the Mother of God.
Venerable Gregory the Silent of Serbia, founder of Grigoriou Monastery, Mt. Athos (1405) (Greek).
Venerable John, faster of the Kiev Caves (12th c.).
Venerable Ignatius, monk, near Blachernae (Greek).
St. Bassa of Jerusalem, abbess (5th c.).
St. Philothea of Turnovo (1060), whose relics are in Arges, Romania.
St. Diuma, bishop of the Mercians and Middle Anglians.
Martyr Neophytus (Greek).
Martyr Dometius (Greek).
Martyrs Isidore, Acepsimas and Leo (Greek).

The Scripture Readings

Hebrews 5:11-6:8

11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Spiritual Immaturity

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The Peril of Not Progressing

6 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

Luke 21:5-7

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which 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

7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

Luke 21:10-11New King James Version (NKJV)

10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Luke 21:20-24

The Destruction of Jerusalem

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.