Becoming the Image of Christ to Others
If we be true to our calling as the children of God, we must live in imitation of Christ. We must imitate His meekness and humility. We must love others just as did He. We must be willing to be transformed, and made whole, that others might see in us, the Light of Christ.
Each and every hour must be closely scrutinized, that we make sure the Image of the Saviour shines forth as we interact with others. If we find ourselves growing angry towards a family member, or a coworker, we must sincerely repent at that very moment, and with Christ’s help, turn ourselves around. In our journey to God, time must not be wasted, for we never know the day or hour when we will be held accountable.
Tomorrow is never early enough, for the day of our repentance must be today! Tomorrow can not be the day we start treating others with love, for tomorrow may never come. If we see another person abused, now is the time to act. If we see an old woman needing help paying for her groceries, now is the time to reach into our own pocket book. If we see a woman being abused by her boyfriend, now is the time to speak out on her behalf, or to call the police.
If a homeless person approaches us for help, we must not refuse to give them at least a dollar, and a kind word of encouragement. If a clerk is rude to us, a smile must be our only response. If, returning to our car, we see a parking enforcement officer writing a ticket, we must receive it with a smile. If a police officer has pulled us over for speeding, we must thank them for doing their job to keep us all safe.
If a neighbor is speaking unkind words about another neighbor, we must not remain silent, lest our silence be interpreted as agreement, and their own day of repentance be avoided. If a stranger is in need of a word of encouragement, we must not let our own needs be a deterrent to our becoming a vehicle of the mercy of Christ.
Church services, personal prayer, and fasting, are all required components of the Christian life, but are never enough if we wish to be saved. We must see ourselves as “our brothers keeper”, for if we do not love our neighbor, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. As daunting as this all may sound, it is never impossible, for we have the help of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can ignite our soul for love of God, and the love of neighbor, but we must cooperate by working to make our hearts open to Christ.
Christianity is not meant to be an easy path, for how can anyone hear the words of Our Saviour, requiring that we love even our enemies, and not know how hard this journey will be. Yet if we take up our cross, hourly, we will have victory over our fallen nature, and we will be given the power to love everyone, even as we love ourself, and the love of God will grow stronger in our own heart, ever remembering the words of scripture, “Without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5)”.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Wednesday September 18, 2013
13th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Holy ProphetElizabeth (1st c.), parents of St. John the Forerunner.
Martyrdom ofSt. Athanasius, abbot, of Brest, by the Latins (1649).
New Hieromartyr Alexis, archbishop of Velikoustiuzh, Martyr Euthymius (1937).
Martyrdom of the Holy Passion-bearerGleb of Russia, in holy baptism David (1051).
MartyrsThivea (or Vivea) (98-138).
Martyr Sarbelus of Edessa.
Virgin-martyrRhais (Raisa) of Alexandria (308).
MartyrsMaximus at Antioch (4th c.).
Martyrs77 Companions at Nicomedia (370).
Martyrs Abdas, Hormizd, and Sunin of Persia (ca. 424).
Appearance of the Holy Apostle Peter to Emperor Justinian at Athira near Constantinople.
You can read the life of the saint in blue, by clicking on the name.THANKS to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
The Scripture Readings for the Day
2 Corinthians 9:12-10:7
12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,13while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and foryour liberal sharing with them and allmen,14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.15Thanksbe to God for His indescribable gift!
The Spiritual War
10 Now I, Paul, myselfam pleading withyou by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.2But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4For the weapons of our warfareare not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Reality of Paul’s Authority
7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that heis Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so weare Christ’s.
Mark 3:20-27
A House Divided Cannot Stand
20Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.21But when His own people heardabout this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”
22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”
23So He called them toHimself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan?24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.26And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.27No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.
