The Gifts of the Lord Abound
If we are attentive to all the Lord does for us, we will endure those times when our prayers seem to go unanswered. That God is not always giving us just what we think we need, in no way means he does not hear us. Our days are filled with gifts from God, most often in ways we do not even notice. When we pray in the Our Father, “give us this day our daily bread”, we are asking God to give us that which we need. It is not required of us that we be specific in our request, for our loving Lord knows before we ask.
The Lord comes to us in the stillness of our heart, and provides for us in ways that are not even known to us. He has loved us before our conception in the womb of our mother, and is close to us even when we think He is far away. If we allow ourselves to look closely, we will see His gifts abound in every breath we take, in every flower we pick, in every child we hold. Our hope is eternal, because God’s love is eternal.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (I Peter 3:15).”
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: View from the interior of the monastery’s Saint John the Wonderworker Chapel.
Saturday September 2, 2023 / August 20, 2023
13th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Prophet Samuel (6th c. B.C.).
New Hieromartyrs Alexander, Leo, and Vladimir priests (1918).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1919).
Uncovering of the relics of Hieromartyr Hermogenes (Germogen), bishop of Tobolsk (2005).
Hieromartyr Philip, bishop of Heraclea, and with him Martyrs Severus, Memnon, and 37 soldiers at Plovdiv in Thrace (304).
Martyr Lucius the Senator of Cyprus (ca. 310).
Martyrs Heliodorus and Dosa (Dausa) in Persia (380).
Putting in again the relics of St. John, bishop of Suzdal and St. Theodore, bishop of Rostov and Suzdal (1879).
Martyr Photina, at the Church of Blachernae (Greek).
St. Philibert of Jumieges (685) (Gaul).
St. Oswin, king and martyr of Northumbria (651) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
1 Corinthians 2:6-9
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Matthew 22:15-22
The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.