When we come face to face with the Uncreated One

During the services, it is good to stand before God with an awareness that we are a sinner, but, at the same time, how can we not feel joy and happiness, knowing that our God loves us, and is quick to forgive us. How can we not feel joy, knowing that the Liturgy takes us into a place where there is neither time nor space, and where heaven and earth are united. How can we not feel joy, having encountered our God in the Divine Liturgy, which transports us into the Heavenly Banquet that is ongoing for all eternity?

In the Divine Liturgy we share the gift of life, of joy, and of love. In the Liturgy we receive into our hearts the hot coals of the Eternal King, and both healing and transformation begin in our soul. How can we not be joyful, with such an encounter? The Lord of Creation feeds us with His very Body and Blood, and we are restored to communion with Him, as was His original intent. Through this encounter, we increase and grow firm in our new birth, and the seeds of joy and love abide in us. But not just in us, for all those who are joined in this celebration of the Divine Liturgy, are united in this transformational encounter with Christ. In turn, we all leave the temple, having been joined together as One Body, strengthened in this truth by our encounter, together, with the Uncreated One.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

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Sunday September 28, 2014 / September 15, 2014
16^th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone seven.

Sunday after the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Afterfeast of the Exaltation of the Cross.
Great-martyr Nicetas the Goth (372).
New Hieromartyr John priest and Virgin-martyr Eudocia (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Andrew, Gregory, Gregory, John priests (1921).
Venerable Ignatius confessor (1932).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1935).
New Hieromartyrs John, Jacob, Peter priests and Nicholas deacon, Martyrs Mary and Ludmila (1937).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Acacius the Confessor, bishop of Melitene (257).
Martyrs Theodotus, Asclepiodotus, and Maximus of Adrianopolis (305-311).
Martyr Porphyrius the Mime of Caesaria (361).
Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (415).
Venerable Philotheus the Presbyter of Asia Minor (10th c.).
St. Joseph, abbot, of Alaverdi in Georgia (570) (Georgia).
“Novoniketas” Icon of the Mother of God (372).
Sts. Bessarion I and Bessarion II (1540), metropolitans of Larissa (Greek).
New Martyr John of Crete (1811) (Greek).
Venerable Gerasimus, abbot, of Sourvia (1740).
St. Symeon, archbishop of Thessalonica (1430).
St. Joseph the New of Partos, metropolitan of Timisoara (1656) (Romania).
St. Mirin, abbot of Paisley.

“Blogs and social networks give us new opportunities for the Christian mission…Not to be present there means to display our helplessness and lack of care for the salvation of our brothers (His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia).”

The Scripture Readings for the Day

Galatians 2:16-20

¹⁶ knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

¹⁷“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. ¹⁹ For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Mark 8:34-9:1

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

³⁴When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ³⁷ Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

9 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”