Orthodox Pharisees

The Orthodox Faith is nothing without the acquisition of holiness

If our Orthodox spiritual life is concentrated only on external practices and traditions, but does nothing to bring about real change, we have gained nothing. We must not allow ourselves to think that as long as we keep the fasting rules, say our prayers, and attend the services, we are good Orthodox Christians. If there is no love, no charity, and forgiveness of others, and our life is filled with gossip and judgement, our Orthodox Christian faith is worth nothing.

Christ condemned the Pharisees not because they kept the law and attended to the traditions of their Hebrew faith, but because they did so while filled with pride and arrogance. Without sincere repentance, and seeking holiness of life, their encounter with God led to emptiness of heart, and their religion brought forth no fruits.

Because our Orthodox faith is filled with tradition and liturgical structure, it is easy for us to fall into the trap of being nothing more than Pharisees. Being strict in one’s observance of Orthodox practices can easily lead to pride and arrogance. If we find ourselves feeling better than others and proud of our piety, we will have gained nothing. The external practices of the Orthodox Christian faith, without heartfelt humility and repentance, will lead to spiritual ruin, and we will have become Orthodox pharisees.

Although the Church is the hospital of the soul, healing will only come if we put effort into it. If our doctor prescribes a medication for our condition but we fail to follow our doctor’s orders, we will not get well. The Church offers all that we need for spiritual transformation, but healing will come only if we cooperate with the grace that comes from a real relationship with Christ.

Our goal must be nothing less than the acquisition of holiness (wholeness), and holiness will only come as a result of our having submitted in all humility to a life of repentance. When we submit to Christ, He changes us. But if we simply go through the external motions of the Orthodox faith, we will be no better off than the Pharisees whom Christ condemned.

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Photos: Father Martin and I wandering through Vashon Island’s Farmers Market (photos by Jacob McGinnis).

Friday September 1, 2017 / August 19, 2017
13th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)

Martyr Andrew Stratelates and 2,593 soldiers with him in Cilicia (3rd c.).
St. Nicholas priest (1933).
St. Pitirim, bishop of Perm (1455).
Martyrs Timothy, Agapius, and Thecla of Palestine (304).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of the Don” (1591).
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Gennadius, abbot of Kostroma (1565).
Venerable Theophanes, new wonderworker of Macedonia (Mt. Athos) (15th c.) (Greek).
St. Credan, abbot of Evesham.

The Scripture Readings

Ephesians 4:17-25

The New Man

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

Mark 12:1-12

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

12 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 2 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.6 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

9 “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.10 Have you not even read this Scripture:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.