The Journey

Orthodoxy is a journey of the utmost importance

Unless our Orthodoxy becomes something other than magic, with the priest as some sort of wizard who performs the right formulas, and who does all the work for us, our Orthodoxy will have failed us. No one can live the spiritual life for us, for it is a task only we can do.

Do we follow the daily scripture readings in the Orthodox calendar? Do we keep to a Prayer Rule, making it one of our central acts during the day? Do we read the lives of the saints every day, letting their example impact they way we live? Do we prepare ourselves for Saturday night confession by taking note of our sins during the week, and being ready to be accountable before the priest? Is the reception of the Holy Mysteries the most important moment in our week? Is Orthodoxy central in how we live our lives, or do we simply relegate it as a weekend event? Do we allow ourself to live Orthodoxy in a mediocre way?

The spiritual life is an adventure, full of pitfalls AND great heights. If we make this journey our primary reason for living, the reward will be great. But if we try living our life with the Christ placed in a secondary roll, we will end our life as losers, having lost the battle and the reward. We are on a journey, and it begins with that first step. Christ stands with us, ready to lift us up when we fall, and even pull us along when we stumble or grow fainthearted. Orthodoxy is by nature a faith that demands full participation and deep commitment, otherwise it becomes just another religion, devoid of salvific, transformational value.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Tuesday November 8, 2016 / October 26, 2016
21st Week after Pentecost. Tone three.

Holy and Glorious Great-martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher of Thessalonica (306).
Commemoration of the Great Earthquake at Constantinople in 740 A.D.
Venerable Theophilus of the Kiev Caves, bishop of Novgorod (1482).
Martyr Luppos (306).
Venerable Athanasius of Medikion Monastery (814).
Venerable Demetrius of Basarbov in Bulgaria (1685).
Venerable Demetrius (14th c.).
St. Anthony, bishop of Vologda (1588).
St. Cedd, bishop of Lastingham (664) (Celtic & British).
St. Eata, bishop of Hexham and abbot of Lindisfarne (686) (Celtic & British).
Martyr Ioasaph, monk of Mt. Athos, disciple of St. Niphon of Constantinople (1536) (Greek).
St. Alexander Okropiridze, bishop of Guria and Mingrelia, Georgia (1907) (Georgia).
Martyrs Artemidorus and Basil (Greek).
Martyr Leptina (Greek).
Martyr Glycon (Greek).

Scripture Readings

Matthew 10:16-22

16 ‘I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Colossians 1:1-2

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Colossians 1:7-11

7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[b] behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

Luke 11:1-10

Jesus’ teaching on prayer

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’

2 He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

‘“Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”’

5 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.” 7 And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 ‘So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.