Given the polarization of the nation that has taken place since the results of the presidential election have been made known, I was asked to repost the following essay previously posted on October 29th.
Be Not Afraid
God is still in charge
As Orthodox priests our true nation is the Church, and the head of our nation is Christ Himself. Therefore, our pastoral response to the madness of this present political scene, and the divisiveness that has resulted during the presidential campaign, must be to help our people remain calm, and not succumb to anger, despair, or fear.
Our people need to see their priests as strong, grounded, and fearless. Saint Paisius of the Holy Mountain said in the latter times we must not raise our hand against the Anti-Christ, but only save ourselves and as many around us as we can. We priests must help our people remember the words of Scripture, “I will not be afraid of evil tidings”.
Ultimately, God is still in charge, and no political party, politician, or candidate, can nullify this truth. Both the political parties in this country are corrupt, both candidates flawed, and there is evidence to suggest that our nation is no longer a true democracy. But none of this negates our responsibility as priests, to keep our people focused on the ultimate truth, that our life must continue to be focused on the acquisition of a humble and contrite heart.
It is not the business of us priests to tell our people how to vote, but only how to acquire inner peace. For our parishioners to see the importance of the Church’s salvific message, they must see in their priests the inner peace that comes with a life in Christ. Nothing in this world has changed, and no political party, or president, or even emperor, will ever usher in “the peace that passes all understanding”. Only Christ can do that, and our duty as priests, is to point the way to Christ.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: Looking west from the deck of the ferry to Vashon Island.
Sunday November 13, 2016 / October 31, 2016
21st Sunday after Pentecost. Tone four.
Apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles, and Aristobulus of the Seventy (1st c.).
Martyr Epimachus of Pelusium, who suffered at Alexandria (250).
New Hieromartyr Priest John Kochurov of Chicago and St. Petersburg (1917).
New Hieromartyr Leonid (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Vsevolod, Alexander, Sergius, Alexis, Basil priests, Hieromartyrs Anatolius, Euphrosynus amd Martyr James (1937).
New Hieromartyr Innocent (1938).
Venerables Spyridon and Nicodemus the Prosphorabakers of the Kiev Caves (1148).
Venerable Maura of Constantinople (436).
Venerable Anatolius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (12th c.).
New Martyr Nicholas the New of Chios (1754) (Greek).
Venerable Foillan, Irish monk-martyr (655) (Neth.).
Martyr Quentin of Rome (3rd-4th c.).
St. James, bishop of Mygdonia (4th. c.).
Commemoration of the Martyrs of Tbilisi slain under Jelaluddin (1227) (Georgia).
Martyr Epimachus the Roman and his companion Gordian (361-363) (Greek).
Martyrs Stephen, Barnabas, Trophimus, Dorymedon, Cosmas, Damian, Sabbas, Bassa, Abraham, and others with them (Greek).
Martyrs Seleucius and Stratonica his wife, myrr-gushers (Greek).
Scripture Readings
John 21:1-14
Breakfast by the Sea
21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Galatians 2:16-20
16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Luke 8:26-39
A Demon-Possessed Man Healed
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.
30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?”
And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.
34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
reverend father bless. i normally am silent as Christ was with Pilate, but i must provide a more broader interpretation of the polarization in the usa. the polarization began in 2009 when senator McCain and the newly inaugurated president met. the senator offered ideas on how to work together. these ideas were summarily rejected with the response from the president, i won john and were going to do it my way. that began the polarization which you see daily as a first responder chaplain. the recent activity is being encouraged by those who have never lost before. the actions in portland, was a riot. there has been violence that is being funded by those who will always focus on the negative rather than the positive. i challenge those protesters to come to the rust belt and see how our nation is hurting. i encourage them to listen to michael moore who said in june trump would win. i also encourage them to look at the significance of the baseball hats, make america great again. this was a change election, similar to 1980. the white male last tuesday, said enough is enough! thank you reverend father. have a good day. pace e bene! fr john
Fr John, do you have any reference to your accusation that President Obama rejected Senator McCain’s ideas to work together. I cannot find any factual information that this occurred.
Re TJ’s’s question, there are 2 statements attributed to Obama summarizing his opinion of cooperation:
“Elections have consequences.”
“John, there was an election. You lost.”
Dear Abbot Tryphon,
Thank you for your words of reassurance and peace. I did struggle with whether I should vote or not until the evening before the election.
As someone who belongs to neither party I consistently vote for pro-life candidates because I believe abortion is the greatest evil of our day. As Mother Theresa once said, “”We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other.” The problem is that many candidates, for whom I vote, generally take people like me for granted and subsequent to elections, renege on their promises. I also believe that both parties blindly support the military industrial complex and spend an obscene amount of money on weapons of mass destruction. I recognize that voting for pro-life candidates on the abortion issue can result in laws with which I do not agree on military spending, the environment, the economy, etc. My father, who died an Eastern Orthodox, refused to vote because he believed that the whole process was a sham. I loved my father but I cannot give into despair like Denethor from The Lord of the Rings. You admitted that, “God is still in charge.” That gives me hope.
One final thought…I have followed the nationwide demonstrations and wonder whether all of this malcontent that resulted from Trump’s victory was orchestrated domestically. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14zszKEKz-I Regardless of whether it was or not I know that I must pray for our nation.
Sincerely in Christ,
Erick
“…our nation is no longer a true democracy.”
We are a constitutional republic not a true democracy by design. The Founders never intended to found a “true democracy.”
If you are with Christ-truly, then Christ is with you. If He is with you then ” will not fear!” this is the Gospel Truth. True, being human, you have trepidation and doubt creeps in. Pray and ask for courage and strength! Concentrate on the spiritual- save your soul and yourself-all of the rest is a far less important!
Dearest Fr. Tryphon,
I ditto Fr. John and Erick and add:
1. Your message is an anchor.
2. The most helpful, thoughtful guidance I received was via Raymond Cardinal Burke’s Novena “Shining the Light of Truth” the name, I believe. Yes, he’s Roman. And he did a great spiritual tutorial over the 9 days of the Novena. I recommend it to all, Orthodox, Catholic (East & West) – all Christians of good will.
3. Today’s polarization is only more VISIBLE as a result of the elections. The revolution & war started in the 60’s. And for 50 years, with some exceptions, the then victor has prevailed, especially since post Reagan. Altho the toughest seeds were planted with Johnson’s “Great Society and then 1978-9? Community Reinvestment Act.
Now, here’s only a 2 year opportunity to attempt to clean up our act. Then we have midterm elections and who knows?
So again, thank you for your article this morning. The world needs Our Lord more than ever. We do well to turn to our roots, spiritually – Our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Politically, the same. Our roots, our founders, grounded in Hydro Christianity.
With gratitude for your faithful work I wish you Peace Blessings and Joy (aka PB&J),
France
Do sorry for my typo.
Meant Judeo and my auto correct changed it and I missed that little operation…
Apologies !
Thank you for the re-post. A church in my community put this message on its signboard: “Put not your trust in the elephant or the donkey, but in The Lamb.”