True Shepherds

Bishops and Priests are Living Icons of Christ

Misty Isle Farms, the largest privately owned property on Vashon Island, with more than three hundred acres, sponsors an annual Sheep Dog Trials, every autumn. The dogs are judged according to their ability to quickly herd sheep through fence gates, and around obstacles. Like many Vashon Islanders, I’ve found this annual event to be fascinating, and have been attending the event for some years now. Especially interesting, is to observe the synergy between the dogs, and their handlers.

For those of you who have never watched such an event, the dogs dart back and forth, herding the sheep, and, by intimidation, keep the sheep together. This is quite different from the herding that takes place when a shepherd is involved. Shepherd’s herd their sheep in a completely different way. A shepherd will make little sounds, particular to himself, and recognized by his sheep. The hearing of these familiar sounds has a comforting, and calming, effect upon the sheep, and they willingly follow their shepherd.

In the Gospels, Christ describes Himself to his disciples as “The Good Shepherd,” Who willingly lays down his life for His sheep. Like any good shepherd, Jesus  lovingly calls his sheep, and bids us to come forth, follow Him, and enter into the “green pastures” of eternal life. There is no intimidation, as with the sheep dogs, but only the loving sounds of a shepherd, who’s sheep recognize a voice that is comforting, and draws them into a safe place.

Bishops and priests, as representatives of the Good Shepherd, are called, as icons of the Christ they serve, to act in the very same manner. Bishops and priests are not, if they are true to their vocations, to lead by intimidation, but with pastoral love, and gentle shepherding. There is no place in the Theology of Priesthood, in the Orthodox Church, for shepherding by intimidation. Bishops, abbots, and priests, in the Orthodox Church, have never been, as was common in the Latin Church during the Middle Ages, “Lords” over their people, but, rather, servants, and loving shepherds.

In Orthodox monasteries, where the abbot occupies his office for life (much like a bishop,) his rule is one of fatherly leadership. The abbot does not give commands to his monks, to do this, or that, but, rather, suggests. The obedience of the monks is, therefore, not one of obedience as to an overlord, but obedience to a loving father, because the monk is loved by his abbot, and, in return, loves his abbot.

Christ even directed husbands to love their wives in much the same manner, for he told husbands they must love their wives, just as Christ has loved His Church. No medieval lordship over an Orthodox Christian wife. Husbands, like bishops, abbots, and priests, are to follow Christ’s example, and imitate the Good Shepherd. Within Orthodoxy, there is no room for abusive husbands, tyrannical bishops, and clericalist priests.

With love and blessings,
Abbot Tryphon

Photos: 1) Interior of my study. 2) Monk Peter’s parents, Mike and Pam Luckett of Jackson, Mississippi, rented a house on the beach for a week, in order to spend time with their son. It was a joy having them.

Wednesday May 26, 2021 / May 13, 2021
Mid-Pentecost or Prepolovenie. Tone three.
Fast. Fish Allowed
“Mozdok” and “Dubensk-Krasnogorodsk” (17th c.) Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos (movable holiday on the Prepolovenie – Mid-Pentecost).
Virgin-martyr Glyceria at Heraclea (141) and with her Martyr Laodicius, jailer of St. Glyceria.
New Hieromartyrs Basil, Alexander and Christopher, Hieromartyr Macarius and Martyr Sergius (1922).
103 New Hieromartyrs of Cherkassk (20th c.).
Righteous Virgin Glyceria of Novgorod (1522).
Translation of the relics of St. Macarius, archimandrite of Obruch or Kanev (1678).
Martyr Alexander of Rome (298).
St. Pausicacius, bishop of Synnada (606).
St. George the Confessor of Constantinople, with his wife and children (ca. 842).
Venerable Euthymius of Athos the translator (1028) (Georgia).
Venerables Amphilochius (1452), Macarius (1462), and Tarasius(1440), abbots, and Theodosius (15 c.), monk, of Glushitsa Monastery (Vologda).
St. Servatius, first bishop of Maastricht (384).
Martyrs killed by the Latins at the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos (Georgia).
Monkmartyr John of the Iveron Monastery on Mt Athos (Greek).
St. Sergius the Confessor of Constantinople (9th c.) (Greek).
Venerable Nicephorus, priest of the monastery of Ephapsios (Greek).
Hieromartyr Alexander of Tiverias. (Greek).
St. Leander of Seville (600).

The Scripture Readings

Acts 14:6-18

6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.

Idolatry at Lystra

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

John 7:14-30

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”

20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”

21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Could This Be the Christ?

25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.