Radical Obedience

We must not become detached from our original goal

If we are radically obedient to the Gospel, we can face anything, even extreme fear, and stay connected to the heart. If we are to avoid becoming hardhearted, we must keep ourselves focused on the goal of union with God, for we know that triumph over our fallen nature comes when our heart is centered in Christ. If we be faithful in a very little we will also be faithful in much. But if we are dishonest in a very little we will also be dishonest in much. For just as gold, with every firing, becomes purer, so does the heart grow in purity and holiness with every firing by the hot coals that comes when we encounter the transformational power of the Holy Spirit.

The one who does not have resolve, will dissolve, for if we have no plan to overcome temptation, we are destined to be corrupted by temptation. This is because our character is much easier to defend than to restore, and we can not accept defeat by thinking that swimming in a sea of corruption will cause our demise. Defeat comes only when the sea of corruption is allowed it to enter into us, and we become detached from our original goal. We must resolve, therefore, to keep ourselves from detaching from the original goal, which is to be transformed by the power of God’s grace, and be made holy.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Photos: Various photos of Cannon Beach, Oregon, and the International Conference of Police Chaplains Northwest Regional training.

Wednesday February 10, 2016 / January 28, 2016
37th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Fast. Fish Allowed

Venerable Ephraim the Syrian (373).
Venerable Theodosius, abbot, of Totma (Vologda) (1568).
St. Theodore confessor, priest (1933).
New Hieromartyrs Ignatius bishop of Skopinsk, Vladimir priest and Hieromartyr Bartholomeus, Virgin-martyr Olga (1938).
Venerable Leontius, confessor (1972).
Venerable Ephraim, abbot, wonderworker of Novotorzhok (1053).
Venerable Ephraim, bishop of Pereyaslavl (Kiev Caves) (1098).
Venerable Palladius the Hermit of Antioch (4th c.).
Venerable Isaac the Syrian, bishop of Nineveh (ascetic writer) (7th c.).
“Sumorin Totma” Icon of the Mother of God (16th c.).
Venerable John of Reomans (544) (Gaul).
Venerable James the Ascetic of Porphyreon in Palestine (Greek).

Scripture Readings

James 3:11-4:6

11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires forpleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and[c]adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Mark 11:23-26

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Forgiveness and Prayer

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”