The life-giving grace of the Church is for everyone
For many Orthodox Christians, clergy among them, it can be a great temptation to judge others harshly, especially if we think their sin or lifestyle is so horrid that we can’t think of them as worthy to enter our churches.
If we look upon others, especially in this age of “gay and transgender rights”, as so aberrant to our moral and ethical standards, that we preach hatred, and therefore void the love and compassion demonstrated by the earthly ministry of Christ Himself, all that will remain are harsh stereotypes of the people that are perhaps in the greatest need of the Church’s soul transforming ministry. We will be found guilty of having blocked them from the Life-giving grace that is so abundant within the Church.
If we allow our theology to be based only on strict, or even uncharitable, ultimatums, those who are in need of Christ’s transformational love, and the forgiveness that comes within the life of the Church, the very ones who are in the greatest need, will feel our hatred, and flee far from the healing grace of the hospital that is the Church.
The wounded person who is in the greatest need of Christ’s saving mercy, will feel unwelcome and judged, and flee from the very source that could bring about healing. If we allow ourselves to feel even the slightest pride that we “are not like other men”, we will ultimately be held accountable for those who lived outside the grace filled life of Christ’s Church, and God’s judgment will be upon our heads.
“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
Mark 2:17
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Thursday August 22, 2019 / August 9, 2019
10th Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.
Dormition (Theotokos) Fast. By Monastic Charter: Food without Oil
Apostle Matthias (63).
Synaxis of All Saints of Solovki.
St. Philaret, archbishop of Chernigov (1866).
New Martyr Margaret (1918).
Martyr Anthony of Alexandria.
Venerable Psoes of Egypt (4th c.).
Martyrs Julian, Marcian, John, James, Alexius, Demetrius, Photius(Phocas), Peter, Leontius, and Mary, of Constantinople (726).
Venerable Macarius, abbot of Oredezh (1532).
St. Alexis Medvedkov, archpriest of Uzine (1934).
The Restoration of the Temple of the 40 Martyrs.
The Scripture Readings
John 21:15-25
Jesus Restores Peter
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
The Beloved Disciple and His Book
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comfort in Suffering
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it isfor your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Matthew 21:43-46
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
These words are so true!!!!
Parishes are filled with people who judge others because of some prejudice. They don’t let people inside the inner circle because someone for example does not speak the language of choice. Maybe they dress differently. They look down at these people that are not of their grooming. Unfortunately, this happens in most parishes. The clergy don’t pay attention because the “regulars” are in charge.
I, unfortunately was one of those types of judgmental people. Took me years to see my wrongdoings. I see now that some of the most truly orthodox people are those who have embraced orthodoxy and serve God. They are the ones that don’t speak the language. Don’t sing. Don’t read. But come to church every weekend and pray. They see how they are treated. They see how their kids are not accepted. Yet they come. Because God’s grace brought them to orthodoxy. They know what it is not to be orthodox.
I just hope parish clergy and “regular” church goers start embracing everyone. One never knows how a kind word or gesture can sway a soul towards God and orthodoxy. Just like an unkind word or unkind gesture can turn a soul away from orthodoxy forever.
Thank you Father Tryphon for your blogs, it helps me in more ways than you will ever know.
Hi Vera,
Your post is beautifully written and I could not agree more with your thoughts and with Father Tryphon’s blog today. It’s a comfort really to be told that we don’t have to judge others who dress differently, speak differently, express their sexuality differently, etc. It’s a comfort to be reminded that Orthodoxy is a “hospital for the soul” of all of us, and to remember that Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Yes, I agree whole-heartedly we need to be more open (in love) to receive those searching and having a desire to draw closer to God and the Sacraments. It’s much different if an individual decides on his/her own that he/she is not ready and leave, but to be unwelcome and almost driven out, is another matter completely! We should always be praying for the conversion of souls.
Thankyou for your insights…God bless!
Well said, Abbott Tryphon. ” Christ God, Have mercy on me a sinner.”