The Measure of Love is to
Fulfill Christ’s Commandment
Sometimes we’ve done things that cause us to wonder how we can ever forgive ourselves. Perhaps we’ve hurt someone we love or disappointed people we respect by behaving in a way we deeply regret. Maybe we’ve said some unkind thing to someone and caused them terrible hurt and embarrassment. We are so horrified by our behavior that we want to crawl under a rock. How can we ever forgive ourselves? We’ve been able to ask their forgiveness, but forgiving ourselves is quite another matter.
When Christ gave us the great commandment He told us that we must love God above all things, and we must love our neighbor as ourselves. The ability to love others is in direct correlation to our love of God and self. If we hate ourselves, how can we begin to love God and neighbor?
Loving ourselves must begin with learning to forgive ourselves.The measure of love is to fulfill Christ’s commandment to love others as yourself. Therefore you must love yourself (as well as others), in respect to “If you love Me you will keep My commandments (John 14:15).”
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Thanks to your generosity, we have now reached the halfway point in our goal to raise the needed $13,000 for the 2006 Toyota van.
Tuesday May 6, 2014
Third Week of Pascha. Tone two.
Holy Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George (303).
New Hieromartyr Priest Egor (George) of Spas Chekriak village, Russia (1918).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1940).
New Hieromartyr Priest Sergius Zacharczuk of Nabroz (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1943).
Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian (303).
Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St. George.
Martyrs Glycerius, Athanasius the Magician, Valerius, and Donatus at Nicomedia.
Martyr Therinus of Bothrotus in Epirus (250).
New Martyr George of Ptolomais (1752).
New Martyr Lazarus of Bulgaria, who suffered at Pergamus (1802).
Blessed George of Shenkursk, fool-for-Christ (1462).You can read the life of the saint by clicking on the highlighted name.
The Scripture Readings for the Day
Acts 8:5-17
5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city.
The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith
9But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
The Sorcerer’s Sin
14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
John 6:27-33
27Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
28Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
30Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”