To win the battle we must focus only on your own sins
When we take our eyes off our own sins we focus only on the sins of the other. As their sins get our attention, we fail to struggle with the passions that keep us from the wholeness that God intended, and we move ever closer to the abyss of our own fall. Ignoring our own sickness, we break down the doors of the fortress that guards our own heart.
If we are to take ourselves out of the mire of sin and be made whole, our eyes must never look to the sins of others, “For a person cannot be disquieted or concerned about other people’s affairs if he is satisfied with concentrating on the work of his own hands (Saint John Cassian).”
As we continue in this celebratory season of the Holy Resurrection, let us focus on the continued struggle with self, ever moving forward in our quest to acquired a humble and contrite heart. Let us breathe in the joy of Pascha, and the Resurrected One will lift us up, and our life will never be the same.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: Jonathan and Sabina, members of Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr Russian Orthodox Church (ROCOR), in Columbia, SC, attended the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 8th.
Monday May 9, 2016 / April 26, 2016
Second Week of Pascha. Tone one.
Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea (322).
St. Stephen, bishop of Perm (1396).
New Hieromartyrs John priets and his childrens Martyrs Nicholas and Peter (1918).
Righteous Virgin Glaphyra of Nicomedia (322).
Venerable Ioannicius of Devich (Serbia) (1430).
Venerable Jusca, righteous.
St. Nestor the Silent (Greek).
Venerables Andrew and Anatole, disciples of St. Euthymius the Great (5th c.) (Greek).
St. Richarius, abbot in Picardy (645).
St. Calantius of Tamaseos on Cyprus (8th c.).
St. George of Cyprus (1091).
Commemoration of Fallen Soldiers.
Scripture Readings
Acts 3:19-26
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
John 2:1-11
Water Turned to Wine
2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
Please pray for me while I’m fighting fear and depression and addiction, thank you
You’ll be in my prayers, Catharina.
Thank you, Father (Father Abbot? How does one address properly?), for this. This is something I am trying to be mindful of in my own life, and I think God is working with me. I hope so, and may I listen and obey! (& on another note, please give Hammi a rub between the ears and a chin skritch for me? Such a handsome cat!)
Thank you Abbot Tryphon…timely instructions!
Thank you Fr. Tryphon.