The ER for the Soul

The Church is the Hospital of the Soul

The ER for the Soul Orthodoxy offers a very precise way to enter into communion with God. It is a way that must be learned, for simply “becoming Orthodox” will not lead the seeker into an inner life that transforms and enlightens. Membership in the Church is not enough, for the Church is not just about beautiful services, icons, and mystical theology.

As a hospital for the soul, it is a place where we can receive healing for what ails us. Yet patients can’t simply walk into an emergency room and expect to be healed. They have to submit themselves to examination by the ER staff, who ask them to describe what is going on and where they are hurting. The hospital staff who run tests, and prescribe the necessary medication or treatment that will bring about healing.

His Eminence Hierotheos, Metropolitan of Nafpaktos and Agios Vlassios wrote, “The whole therapeutic method of the Orthodox Church is not aimed simply at making human beings morally and socially balanced, but at re-establishing their relationship with God and one another. This comes about through the healing of the soul’s wounds and the cure of the passions through the Sacraments and the Church’s ascetic practice.”

Within the hospital of the soul, the Church, priests act in the same capacity as ER personnel. They interview the patient (parishioner), and through the Sacrament of Confession, examine the heart to find the sickness, and recommend the cure. The priest serves as the therapeutic guide, and recommends what the parishioner can do in order to be made whole.

A prayer rule, the daily reading of the Holy Scriptures, and frequent confession and reception of the Holy Mysteries are all part of the Church’s medicine that will bring about the cure. Just as the doctor prescribes the proper dosage after getting to know her patient, so the priest prescribes what will help his spiritual son or daughter.

The spiritual life needs to be learned, perhaps more so now than at any time in history. As godlessness increases, so do obstacles to spiritual progress. The degradation of the whole of our society and the depths of depravity that have become a normal part of our age have made this a dangerous time. Going it alone spiritually can leave one vulnerable to spiritual delusion. We all need a trusted and experienced guide who can help us avoid the pitfalls of the pride and self-will that would lead us down to perdition.

Saint John Chrysostom tells us, “The Church is a hospital, and not a courtroom, for souls. She does not condemn on behalf of sins, but grants remission of sins.”

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Thursday October 8, 2020 / September 25, 2020
18th Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.
Venerable Euphrosyne, nun, of Alexandria (445).
Repose of Venerable Sergius, abbot, of Radonezh (1392).
St. Nicholas confessor, priest (1941).
Uncovering of the relics of New Hieromartyrs Alexander Smirnov and Theodore Remizov priests (1985).
Venerable Euphrosyne, nun, of Suzdal (1250).
Translation of the relics of St. Herman, archbishop of Kazan (1595).
Venerable Dosithea the Recluse of Kiev (1776).
Martyr Paphnutius and 546 companions in Egypt (3rd c.).
Commemoration of the earthquake in Constantinople in 447, when a boy was lifted to heaven and heard the “Trisagion”.
St. Finbar (Barry), bishop of Cork (Ireland) (Celtic & British).
St. Cadoc of Llancarfan (Wales) (577) (Celtic & British).
Martyrs Paul and Tatta and their children Sabinian, Maximus, Rufus, and Eugene of Damascus (Greek).
St. Arsenius the Great, Catholicos of Georgia (887).

The Scripture Readings

Matthew 11:27-30

27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Galatians 5:22-6:2

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear and Share Burdens

6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Luke 6:17-23

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

The Beatitudes

20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.