The Most Arduous of all Ascetic Practices
St Gregory of Sinai spoke of the effort involved in prayer, when he wrote, “No bodily or spiritual activity without pain or toil ever brings fruit to him who practices it, because ‘the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.’ (Matthew 11:12)”. Here, the word pain means remorse and contrition of spirit. For those who are weak physically, weeping and mourning for our sinfulness take the place of physical effort.
It takes physical discipline for the heart to acquire the peace needed for prayer: “to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.” (1 Cor 9:22). Those who are experienced in prayer must concentrate on the heart, “If your heart has opened”, and this should be done with great fear of God, because the union of the mind and heart (which precedes our union with God) is granted by divine grace.
“The great gift of prayer is usually preceded by some special sufferings and upheavals of the soul, which lead our spirit to realize the extent of our poverty and nothingness, according to Saint Isaac the Syrian. In order to be worthy of this gift of Grace we need to be faithful in our humility and purity, and must reject every sinful thought at their first appearance. It is to the faithful, pure and humble that the gifts of the Spirit are given.” (Luke 16:10-12).
Archimandrite Sophrony said that, “of all ascetic practices the striving for prayer is the most arduous. Our spirit will be in constant flux. At times prayer flows like a strong current; at other times our heart will feel withered and dry. But the spells when we lose fervor should get briefer.”
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: Vashon Island as seen from the ferry, with Mount Rainier in the background. It was a blessing to be with all the retreatants and presentors at the MontaNIKA Men’s Retreat in Butte, Montana, but it is always a joy to be back with my beloved fellow monastics on our island.
Thursday August 17, 2023 / August 4, 2023
11th Week after Pentecost. Tone one.
Dormition (Theotokos) Fast. By Monastic Charter: Food without Oil
Holy Seven Youths (the “Seven Sleepers”) of Ephesus: Maximilian, Jamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodian (Constantine) and Antoninus (250 & 5th c.).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas (Prozgrov) (1930).
New Hieromartyr Michael, Martyrs Simeon and Demetrius (1937).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Alexis, priest of Bortsumany, Nizhni-Novgorod (2000).
Martyr Eudocia of Persia (362).
Martyr Eleutherius of Constantinople (4th c.).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Arsenius of Elasson.
“Kazan-Penza” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
New Hieromartyr Cosmas of Aitolia, Equal to the Apostles (1779) (Greek).
Martyr Ia and 9,000 with her in Persia (Greek).
Martyr Tathuil (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
The Light of Christ’s Gospel
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:13-28
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Great Tribulation
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [a]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 Forfalse christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.