Work and Pray Away Despondency
“In the life of the soul, acedia [sonetimes translated despondency or depression] thus represents a type of dead end. A distaste for all that is available combined with a diffuse longing for what is not available paralyzes the natural functions of the soul to such a degree that no single one of any of the other thoughts can gain the upper hand!” Evagrius of Pontus described this “demon of noonday” with serious precision, and it’s a warning to all of us to keep focused on loving God and neighbor, lest we fall into the pit of “self-love” that leads to depression.
The early warning signs of a soul on the path to despondency are frequent complaining, worrying, and self-pity. Being God-focused and serving others can alleviate the cause of complaining, and make depression less likely to take root. If you can catch these signs early, take immediate action.
We were made to love others, but if we try to direct love first to ourselves instead of accepting it from God and cultivating a responsive gratitude that returns that love to everyone, we will quickly become depleted of all love and joy. Love is not something we can generate within ourselves apart from God, so this selfish love is parasitic.
If you are suffering from this demon of noonday, consider this example from the life of St. Anthony the Great:
When the holy Abba Antony lived in the desert he was beset by acedia [depression/despondency] and attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, “Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?” A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Antony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down again and plaiting a rope, then getting up to pray again. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct him and reassure him. He heard the angel say to him, “Do this and you will be saved.” At these words, Antony was filled with joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved.
Depression is, of course, sometimes aggravated by physical conditions in the brain that may require the attention of a physician, but even when there is a physical component to the illness, as beings who also possess a soul and spirit, we cannot neglect those aspects of our being when treating depression. This illness effects the whole person, and must be treated with patient, faithful persistence.
Do not trust your thoughts and feelings. They lie to you! Trust God, work and pray, and you will be saved!
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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Thursday, September 06, 2024 (7533) / Thursday, September 19, 2024
Thursday of the 13th week after Pentecost; Tone III
No fast
🕃 Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Chonah (4th C)
St. Archippus of Herapolis (4th C)
✺ Martyrs Eudoxius, Zeno, Macarius and 1104 soldiers with them (311-312)
Martyr Cyriacus, Faustus the Presbyter, Abibas the Deacon, and 11 others at Alexandria († c. 250)
Martry Romulus and 11,000 soldiers († c. 107-115)
Hieromartyr Cyril, Bishop of Gortyna in Crete (3rd-4th C)
St. David of Hermopolis in Egypt (6th C)
Daily Scripture Readings
Liturgy: (Thursday of the 13th week after Pentecost);
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
(Archangel);
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (End of Sunday)
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (End of Archangels)
** (305) November 8, Holy Archangels: “Brethren, for …”
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
https://rumble.com/v5fgry4-the-right-rule.html
https://old.bitchute.com/video/bjdbUT4y3GIf/