The Priest

The priest accompanies God’s people into the Kingdom

Every priest who hears the confessions of his people knows that pain and suffering are a part of every persons journey to God. Some struggle with particular sins, while others suffer loneliness, or the pain of illnesses, or loss. These struggles are sometimes overwhelming for the Christian person, and they are tempted to surrender to despair, giving up the battle all together. It is times like these that people need their priest journeying beside them.

The priest, acting as Christ’s agent, walks along side with the person who would otherwise feel totally alone. As the servant of Christ, the priest becomes the servant and supporter of the person struggling with despondency, illness, habitual sins, and loneliness. He walks beside them, just as Christ walked with those who were without hope. The priest, as Christ, reaches out with the tenderness of a shepherd, unwilling to leave his brother or sister to the wolves. As Christ with the woman at the well, the priest offers absolution, and help in traveling on, promising the struggling person that the journey need not be done alone.

The priest, because of his personal commitment to Christ, accompanies the struggling person, and with a joyful heart points the way to God’s Kingdom. Because Christ is in him, he never falters in his care for his sheep, and ever gives his life for each person placed in his care by our Co-Suffering Saviour, Jesus Christ. Hand in hand, he walks them the grace filled path, helping them when they stumble, picking them up when the falter, and together they enter into the Paradise God has prepared for them.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

I am traveling to Saint Nicholas Ranch in Dunlap, CA., where I will be the keynote speaker for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s college retreat. Please keep me in your holy prayers. I return to the monastery on the 30th.

Friday December 26, 2014 / December 13, 2014

29th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)

Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes at Sebaste (284).
Venerable Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836) and Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American land.
Virgin-martyr Lucy of Syracuse (304).
New Hieromartyr Alexander priest and Martyr John (1920).
New Hieromartyrs Vladimir, Alexander, Jacob priests (1937).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1938).
New Hieromartyra Emilian and Basil priests (1941).
Venerable Arcadius, monk of Novotorsk (11th c.).
Venerable Mardarius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).
Venerable Arsenius of Latros (8-10th c.).
St. Dositheus metropolitan of Moldavia (1693) (Romania).
Venerable Nicodemus of Romania (Romania).
St. Gabriel, patriarch of Serbia (1659) (Serbia).
St. Odilia, virgin of Alsace (720) (France).
Venerable Innocent, bishop of Cherson (1857).
St. Gabriel, bishop of Imereti, (1896) (Georgia).
St. Columba of Terryglass (549) (Celtic & British).
St. Judoc, hermit of Ponthieu.
St. Ares, monk (Greek).

Scripture Readings for the Day

Hebrews 7:18-25

18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Greatness of the New Priest

20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

“The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’”),

22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Mark 9:33-41

Who Is the Greatest?

33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Jesus Forbids Sectarianism

38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”

39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our[a] side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.