Heavenly Worship must Enter into the Heart
The beauty of Orthodox worship is meant to lift us up, connecting us to Heavenly Worship that is eternally celebrated before the Throne of God. The beatific vision granted Saint John, and revealed in the Book of Revelation, describes the connection between the Eucharistic service we celebrate here on earth, and the Heavenly Banquet that awaits us in Eternity. The beauty of our Orthodox Divine Liturgy is but a mere foretaste of what awaits us.
Every time we Orthodox stand in worship, we must take in the words of the service, and make them our own. Merely observing the service is not worship, as we must enter into Divine Worship with our heart, and give attention to the Word of God that permeates the whole of the services. We must breath in the Word of God, and let the action of the Word take root in our heart. The Word of God is a Living Word, imparting God’s grace.
The Word, as heard in the readings of the Epistle and the Gospel, and prayed in the liturgical texts, is meant to transform us, as God is making us His holy people. This regeneration takes place when the Word has entered our heart.
Abbot Nazarius of Valaam, taught that we must strive as well as we can “to enter deeply with the heart into the church reading and singing and to imprint these on the tablets of the heart”. This is why it is so important for our spiritual progress to drive out distracting thoughts that confront us, while in worship.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photos: Coptic and Ethiopian youth came to the monastery on Saturday, for a day retreat preached by Abbot Tryphon.
A Prayer Request:
My younger brother, Dwayne Parsons of Sandpoint, Idaho, was hospitalized with bacterial pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms. I’m very close to my brother, and ask you all to please pray for his full recovery.
Abbot Tryphon
Dwayne Parsons
Sunday October 13, 2013
16th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone seven.
Hieromartyr Gregory, bishop of Greater Armenia (335).
Venerable Gregory, abbot of Pelshme, wonderworker of Vologda (1442).
St. Michael, first metropolitan of Kiev (992).
New Hieromartyr Prokopius priest (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Peter, Viacheslav, Peter, Symeon, Basil priests, Seraphim deacon, Virgin-martyr Alexandra, Martyrs Alexis and Matthew, Virgin Apollinaris (1937).
New Hieromartyr Leonidas priest (1938).
New Hiero-confessor Hieromonk Seraphim (Zagorovsky), of Kharkov (1943).
Martyrs Rhipsima and Gaiana and companions, of Armenia (4th c.).
St. Meletius, archbishop of Alexandria.
St. Honorius, archbishop of Canterbury (653) (Celtic & British).
St. Michael, great prince of Tver (1318).
St. Theodore Yaroslavich of Vladimir (1246).
Martyr-hermits Tancred, Torthred and Tova, of Thorney.
Martyr Stratonicus (Greek).
Martyr Mardonius (Greek).
You can read the life of the saint by clicking on the highlighted name.
THANKS to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
The Scripture Readings for the Day
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Marks of the Ministry
6 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Luke 6:31-36
31And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.