Sharing the Truth in a world devoid of hope
If you wish to share the truth of the Orthodox Faith, and Christ Who is her head, you must give witness to the love of Christ by loving everyone. Without Christ, Orthodoxy is just another religion, devoid of the power to transform and deify the human heart. Without Christ the Church is nothing but a human institution, no different than a political party. For the Church to be herself, Christ must be visible in the love of her bishops and priests. Christ must be seen in the love of her people, and the charity and kindness that is displayed by all who call themselves Orthodox.
Without Christ our world is devoid of hope, and for others to know this Christ, they must be able to see Him in us. The light of this very Christ must shine forth through the love of His Church and be made manifest in the works of His people. Without this love there is only darkness upon the face of our world, and the world will remain without hope
Others can not know they need Christ if they do not see Him in us. They do not know this Christ fills hearts and transforms lives if they do not see transformation in us. If we are fearful, angry, judgmental, arrogant or aloof, the world will see nothing in our Christian faith worthy seeking.
If others do not see in you a forgiving heart, how will they know there is forgiveness in Christ? If others do not see in you a heart filled with joy, how will they know they need the very Christ whom you proclaim as your Lord and Savior? If others see in you a judgmental, narrow minded, unhappy person, why would they be drawn to the Orthodoxy you claim is the true faith?
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Coming soon: the Video Edition
I am hoping to produce a once a week utube video for Ancient Faith Radio, but need video recording equipment that will provide the means of producing high quality videos and sound. It has been recommended that I get a Canon body ($999.00), Canon lens ($829.00), Ultra Violet filter ($30.75), Flash Memory Card ($29.95), and a Microphone ($199.95). This would be a total of $2,088.65. Since many young people watch utube videos rather than listen to podcasts, it is my intent to use this medium as an additional missionary outreach, along with my daily blog articles, facebook, and Monday through Friday podcasts. Any donations towards this project would be gratefully received.
You can make a donation towards this project by sending a check to All-Merciful Saviour Monastery, PO Box 2420, Vashon Island, WA 98070. Or, you can donate through PayPal by visiting my blog: https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/
Tuesday September 8, 2015 / August 26, 2015
15th Week after Pentecost. Tone five.
Commemoration of the Meeting of the “Vladimir” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.
Martyrs Adrian and Natalia and 23 companions of Nicomedia (4th c.).
New Hieromartyr Peter priest and St. Gregory confessor, priest (1938).
Blessed Mary Diveyevo (1931).
New Hieromartyr Victor priets, Martyr Demetrius, Peter and New Hiero-confessor Archpriest Roman Medved of Moscow (1937).
New Hieromartyr Nectarius (Trezvinsky), bishop of Yaransk (1937).
Venerable Adrian, abbot of Ondrusov (Valaam) (1549).
The Pskov Caves Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, named the “Tenderness” (1542).
Blessed Cyprian of Storozhev, former outlaw (16th c.).
Venerable Adrian, abbot of Poshekhonye (1550).
Vladimir-Eletsk Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God (1395).
Venerable Tithoes of the Thebaid (4th c.), disciple of St. Pachomius the Great (4th c.).
Venerable Ibestion the Confessor, Egyptian ascetic.
St. Zer-Jacob, missionary of Ethiopia.
Venerable Adrian of Uglich (1504), disciple of St. Paisius of Uglich.
Finding of the relics of Venerable Bassian of Alatyr Monastery (17th c.).
Monk Ioasaph, prince of India (Greek).
Martyrs Atticus and Sisinnius (Greek).
The miraculous renewal of the Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos in Harbin (Manchuria) (1925).
Scripture Readings
Galatians 2:21-3:7
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Justification by Faith
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Mark 6:1-7
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Sending Out the Twelve
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
Ouch. I feel like I just got smacked in the head with a thousand bricks the truth hit so hard.
Abbot Tryphon, as a Catholic and Maronite priest I find your morning offering inspiring. Ever since I was blessed with attending a course by John Zizioulas at the Gregorian University in Rome, when I was a seminarian, I have found great wealth in the writings of many Orthodox thinkers; such as Lossky, Yannaras, Zizioulas, Schmemann, Evdokimov and more. You have greatly added to that list. Many Blessings.
That is my favorite icon of Christ, and the one I pray before in the morning! You paired it up with maybe the most important message of all, one that I am going to print out and read over again and again. The arrogance part – that we have it all figured out, that we are the best – that hit hard. I can think of people I know that demonstrate Christ-like love much better than I do at times – and they are NOT Orthodox! I have to be careful not to think I am better than others, just because I am Orthodox. Thank you for this post.