Humbled
When we first become aware that someone we know is suffering, we must begin to pray for them. We must pray with much sincerity, and with tears, knowing that our brother is being tormented, and is filled with despondency. As Christians, we must believe that intercessory pray, when spoken with love and complete attention, leads to the intervention of the Holy Spirit, Who will bring about healing of body, and peace of soul, to the person who is being tormented.
If we have a neighbor or coworker who despises us, and who is overcome with hatred even seeing us, we must start praying for them. We must pray not that they like us, but that they find freedom from the anger and hatred that is ruling their life. If we have a relative who can never say anything nice about us, we must start praying for them, asking that God free them from the sin of gossip and hatred, and infuse their heart with the understanding that they are a worthy person in their own right, and need to remove the scrutinizing attention that would betray them, by gossiping about another.
If there is a person we dislike, we must pray all the more for them, knowing that true love for them will grow in our own heart, through the sincere act of remembering them before the Throne of God. We must remember that intercessory prayer is not just for monks, but is a necessary component in the life of every Orthodox Christian, for it is a wonderful way of remembering we are all connected together as the children of the Most High.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Quote of the Day
“For our good, for our happiness at least let us make a vow that from this day, from this hour, from this minute we shall strive to love God above all else and to fulfill His holy will.”
+ St. Herman of Alaska
Friday, July 27, 2024 (7532) / Friday, August 09, 2024
Friday of the 7th week after Pentecost; Tone V
Fast
Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon († 305)
Venerable Anthusa, Abbess of Mantinea in Asia Minor, and her 90 Monastics (8th C)
Venerable Sisinius the Wonderworker
Blessed Nicholas Konchanov the Fool-for-Christ of Novgorod († 1392)
Holy Hierarch Joasaph, Metropolitan of Moscow
New Martyr Chrystodulus
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Clement of Ochrid († 916), Bishop of Greater Macedonia, with Saints Naum, Sabbas, Gorazd and Angelar, desciples of Sts Cyrill and Methodius
Glorification of Saint Herman of Alaska
Daily Scripture Readings
(Great Martyr)
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
(Friday of the 7th week after Pentecost)
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Chapter 8
1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
(Great Martyr)
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Chapter 16
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
https://old.bitchute.com/video/msDsUmXUiHqO/