Passing the crucible is not an option
Our monastery has been inundated with visitors for the past number of years, and there seems to be no letup in the number of pilgrims wanted to spend time at the monastery. Additionally, numerous men are requested a chance to stay for a few days in retreat.
Given the large number of visitors, and increased demands on my time to travel to parishes for speaking engagements, I am often exhausted to the point that I’ve found it difficult to keep my commitment to writing my blog essays, and recording the podcasts for Ancient Faith Radio. Passing the crucible, as the old saying goes, is not something I am even willing to consider, passionate as I am for my calling to reach out with the truth of Orthodoxy. I am reminded of the words of Henry David Thoreau, who said, “None are so old as those who’ve outlived enthusiasm”, and I am still enthusiastic!
About a month ago I was the keynote speaker for the Northwest Regional gathering of OCF that took place at Saint John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery in Goldendate, WA. I’ve now been invited to serve as spiritual director for the upcoming West Coast Orthodox Christian Fellowship retreat that will take place towards the end of December, at Saint Nicholas Ranch in Dunlap, CA. A week and a half ago I delivered a day long lecture on Orthodox spirituality at Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church in Ashland, Oregon.
Missionary outreach is never about the person ministering, but is always about Christ. Everything I’m involved with is, ultimately, about Christ, which makes giving up even a small portion of my activities impossible to consider. I love my life, I love people, I love the Orthodox Church, and I love Christ. I want to share God’s love in every way possible, so being on the road propagating Orthodoxy, is pure joy.
So, I will “keep on truckin'”, as the old sixties saying goes, and with the prayerful support of my friends and readers, I will continue my missionary activities. I always did want to die with my boots on, as retirement would be for me, like death. Please, dear friends, continue to pray for me, that God, Who has placed this ministry on my heart, will continue to give me the strength to do His will.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Monday November 14, 2016 / November 1, 2016
22nd Week after Pentecost. Tone four.
Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Mesopotamia, and their mother St. Theodota (3rd c.).
New Hieromartyrs Alexander and Theodore priests (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Sergius archbishop of Eletsk, Alexander and Demetrius priests, Virgin-martyr Elizabeth (1937).
Martyr Peter (1941).
Hieromartyrs John the Bishop and James the Presbyter, of Persia (345).
Martyrs Cyrenia and Juliana in Cilicia (305).
Martyr Hermeningilda the Goth of Spain (586).
Martyrs Caesarius, Dacius, Sabbas, Sabinian, Agrippa, Adrian,and Thomas at Damascus (7th c.).
St. Cosmas of Verkhoturye (1704).
Martyrs James of Mt. Athos and his two disciples James and Dionysius (1520) (Greek).
Venerable David of Euboea (1589) (Greek).
Martyrs Cyprian and Juliana (Greek).
St. Cadfan, abbot of Bardsey Island.
New Virgin-martyr Helen of Sinope (18th c.).
Scripture Readings
Colossians 2:13-20
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—
Luke 11:29-33
Seeking a Sign
29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body
33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.
I will pray for you daily, dear Father. The words God has given you to say have helped me so much.
Wonderful words Father! I have a hunch you are visited (in person and on line) precisely because you are filled with Christ! You say you are enthusiastic. I think that very word means, “filled with God.” Bravo! Thanks for all the podcasts and posts you have done over the years. You have enriched my life and I am a better person for having bumped into you online many years ago. God bless you!
Dear Father,
You are in our prayers. Your work is really appreciated and is bearing fruit -thus the demand for your spiritual guidance, encouragement and support. Since I am one who lived through the sixties- “KEEP ON TRUCKING”! God Bless and Mnogaya Leta!
May the prayers of Saint Paul give you all the strenght you need – from now on forward ..
You are in my prayers every morning Abbot Tryphon 🙂
You are in my daily prayers! Thank you for these writing each day…..I’m always inspired by them. God bless you and all you’re doing!
May the Lord be with you at all the times! Your words from God, not only lighting my heart but also keep me strong in my Orthodoxy faith☦️ I have been converted from Islam to Orthoxy in 18 years ago that I was pregannat with my second daughter, and few years later my beloved mother came to US and she become Orthodox as well. It was such a honor to serve her until last December,18 she went to the Lord. Now, she is my angel! Please pray for me to become better Christian like my mother, I am still very sad. I hope to see you when you come to CA special St. Andrew.
We do pray for you daily and give thanks to God for your vital ministry.
Father Bless,
You are in my daily prayers as you have been an inspiration to me and have been for quite some time. I seem to always be able to find an excuse to be sick on a church day, thinking that I’m getting old or blah blah , but as I’m only 49, your life drives me to know that Christ’s grace will sustain me if all I do is try. Thank you, Abbot Tryphon!
Father Tryphon, you are always in our prayers. May God give you strength to continue
your work!!
Fr Deacon George and Natalie Kalousek
Upholding you daily in prayer.
Your daily blog has become such an important part of my day, and I am relieved that you plan to continue it and will pray that you will have the strength and health to continue to do everything that you are enjoying and providing for all of us who so desperately need to hear God’s message! Yes, many of us have our own churches, but you offer something in addition that is wonderful and special and can be enjoyed in our own homes over a cup of coffee or while driving in the car to work…and my soul is better for it. God bless you and thank you!
Blessings Father…
I pray that you continue to be inundated with visitors and pilgrims and that you continue with all of your projects…May you have many more years to “spread the word”.