Acknowledging Warts and Wrinkles

If we do not live in repentance and humility, we clergy betray Christ, Whom we claim to serve. We must be willing to put aside all intellectual and romanticized notions of the Church, acknowledge the many warts and wrinkles and institutional flaws that have accumulated over the centuries, and live in imitation of Christ, Who came as but a humble servant. We must cast aside the baggage that has diluted the message of the Gospels, and give witness to the humble Saviour Who has saved us.

If we clergy live as though we are a special class of nobles, and avoid true repentance, lording priestly authority over others, we will have betrayed the Gospels, and cause people to turn away from the promise of salvation. If we are not truly humble, others will fail to see Christ in us, and will turn away from the Church.

We priests must meditate upon the words of the Elder Anthony of Optina, who said, “…without humbling oneself in spirit one cannot be saved. Humility cannot be learned from mere words; it is necessary to practice it, and someone has to hammer us flat. Without humility it is hard to enter into the Kingdom of God, which is obtained through many sorrows.”

The world needs Christ, and we must not allow ourselves to obscure this message by becoming professional clerics. We are but servants of the Lord most high, and we’d best remember our humble place. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him John 13:16.”

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Photos: My arrival back at the monastery, and the road up the hill.

Friday May 14, 2021 / May 1, 2021
Second Week of Pascha. Tone one.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Prophet Jeremiah (650 B.C.).
Venerable Paphnutius, abbot of Borovsk (1477).
Virgin-martyr Nina (1938).
Hieromartyr Macarius, metropolitan of Kiev (1497).
Venerable Gerasimus, abbot of Boldino (1557).
Martyr Batas of Nisibis (395).
St. Tamara, queen of Georgia (1213).
New Martyrs Euthymius, Ignatius (1814), and Acacius the Serbian of Mt. Athos (1815).
The Tsarevokokshaisk, or “Myrrh-Bearing” (1647), Andronikos (14th c.), “Unexpected Joy” and Byzantine Icons of the Mother of God.
Asaph or Asa Bishop of Llanelwy (6th – 7th c.) (Celtic & British).
St. Panaretus, archbishop of Paphos in Cyprus (1791) (Greek).
Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, monk (1821) (Greek).
Martyr Sabbas (1821) (Greek).
St. Ultan, founderof Fosse (680) (Neth.).
St. Zosimas, bishop of Kumurdo (15th c.) (Georgia).
New Monk-martyr Romanus of Raqqa (780).
New Martyr Maria of Merambelos on Crete (1826).
St. Brioc, abbot of Sain Brieuc.
St. Corentin, bishop of Quimper.
Translation of the relics of St. Walburga, Abbess of Heidenheim.
St. Pholosophos.

The Scripture Readings

Acts 5:1-11

Lying to the Holy Spirit

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

She said, “Yes, for so much.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

John 5:30-6:2

30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

The Fourfold Witness

31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time,nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Feeding the Five Thousand

6 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.

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4 thoughts on “Obscuring the Message

  1. “The struggle for humility” indeed is the way of the Cross. Thank for sharing Abbot Tryphon.

  2. I know we the Church have just passed through the season of repentance and are celebrating our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. But yet sin lingers still in my heart, my being. Aware (yet not completely) of the sinfulness that remains within, i struggle to walk with that tension, as Fr Schmemann calls it, that tension between our sinfulness and our absolute forgiveness; what i call, for myself, walking forward between heaven and hell. Most Holy Theotokos save us sinners.

  3. Jesus can see our inner most self, so we really could stop covering it all up and see ourselves the same way as He does. Then we will have a sincere relationship with Him.

    Lord have mercy on me a sinner…..

    (Nice photos Abbott Tryphon & thankyou for all you do to keep us connected to you and the Holy Spirit!)

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