Light Burden
“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:30
There are those who promise spiritual enlightenment, and many gullible people who are willing to spend their money on such bogus offers. In an age of quick fixes and challenged attention spans, it is easy for some to be in a big hurry when it comes to acquiring things of God. Given our weak nature, we must never be in a rush when striving for the spiritual.
We are not compelled by God to enter into communion with Him, nor can we compel Him. When we attempt by artificial means to enter into the realm of the sacred, we gain nothing of lasting value. Heavenly things are acquired only with ascetical struggle. This does not mean exceptional feats of virtue that allow us to attain enlightenment in an afternoon, but rather patiently persevering in daily acts of love through faith. True spiritual life is eternal, so take it one moment at a time and, little by little, everything will be transformed.
With Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Quote of the Day
“The holy fathers knew very well what they meant by saying that the eyes of our soul can be opened. That is why we should read both the patristic texts and the Scriptures. Do you think that you don’t have time to do it? Try and read even for a few minutes every day. The purification and enlightenment you will gain by reading the Holy Scriptures will remain with you day and night.”
– Elder Ephraim of Katounakia
Friday, August 31, 2024 (7532) / Friday, September 13, 2024
Friday of the 12th week after Pentecost; Tone II
Fast: Wine and oil allowed
Placing of the Venerable Sash of the Most Holy Mother of God in Constantinople (c 395-408)
Saint Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople († 471)
Hieromartyr Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage († 258)
St John, Metropolitan of Kiev
New Hieromartyr Priest Michael († 1937)
Daily Scripture Readings
Liturgy: (Friday of the 12th week after Pentecost);
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
(Theotokos);
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (End to Theotokos)
**(320) Entrance of the Theotokos: “Brethren, the first…”
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
https://rumble.com/v5epxkd-easily-enlightened.html
https://old.bitchute.com/video/GUxiBMAjsOTb/