Spiritual work and physical work
The compartmentalization of the work week can wreak havoc on the inner life. It is easier to keep your prayers, spiritual reading, and focus on Christ, reserved for the weekend. Like so many, you struggle to keep spiritually grounded while at work. So many jobs make it seem impossible to stay centered, spiritually, when you are surrounded by the office chatter, stress, gossip, and deadlines. With a boss pressing down on one side, and the worldly cares of coworkers hovering over your shoulder, you, like many Orthodox Christians, feel resigned to put on hold the things of God.
Many of today’s jobs require so much mental concentration, it can seem impossible to have even a fleeting moment with God. How does one keep your heart in Christ, when a coworker is standing in your cubicle, whispering the latest office gossip? Is it even possible to be centered, spiritually, when the boss is adding one more deadline to the pile? Can one stay focused in the heart when a coworker is taking credit for work you’ve done? Can you have a Christ-like love for others, when you are forced to watch work place backstabbers do their thing?
My purpose for writing this blog has, from the very beginning, been a labor of love for people just like you, struggling, as you are, to live Christian lives in settings that are anything but conducive to the inner life. From my monastic cell I pray for you, and try, in my meager way, to offer a small blessing for you, one that can help you get through your day, making progress on the Path to God, while mired in a spiritually hostile setting.
I try to keep the topics of my daily essays relevant to your needs, but often fail, I’m sure. However I may fail in writing something inspiring, or uplifting, I still provide you with the daily scripture readings, and the lives of the saints. As well, I try to post photos that provide you with a little reprieve from the sameness of your work environment, so in those fleeting office moments, you can take a spiritual break, and be renewed.
Even if you do not have access to a computer in your workplace, you can still take a few moments before you head off for the day, and read The Morning Offering. You can even download my Ancient Faith Radio podcasts, and listen to them while driving to work, or taking your morning run. Although I am not a theologian, nor a great spiritual father, it is my prayer that this little work of mine will be a blessing to you, and help you walk with Jesus Christ.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Wednesday June 10, 2015 / May 28, 2015
2nd Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.
Apostles’ (Peter & Paul) Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Venerable Nicetas, bishop of Chalcedon (9th c.).
St. Ignatius, bishop and wonderworker of Rostov (1288).
Venerable Helen of Diveyevo (1832).
New Hieromartyr Macarius, Dyonisius, Hieromartyr Nicholas deacon, Martyrs Ignatius and Peter (1931).
New Hieromartyr Heraclius confessor (1936).
Virgin-Martyr Hermogenas (1942).
St. Eutychius, bishop of Melitene (1st c.).
Martyrs Heliconis and Dapni of Thessalonica (244).
Hieromartyr Helladius, bishop in the East (6th-7th c.).
“Nikeysky” (304), “Chukhlomsky” (Galich) (1350), “Orlovsky”, “Antiochsky” and “Tenderness” Icons of the Mother of God.
New Martyr Mitros (Demetrius) of Tripolitsa (1794) (Greek).
New Hieromartyr Zachariah of Prusa (1802) (Greek).
Venerable Sophronius, monk, of Bulgaria (1510) (Bulgaria).
St. Germanus, bishop of Paris (576) (Gaul).
Martyrs Crescens, Paul, and Dioscorides of Rome (326) (Greek).
St. William of Languedoc (812) (Gaul).
St. Gerontius, metropolitan of Moscow (1489).
St. Andrew the fool-for-Christ of Constantinople (911).
Scripture Readings
Romans 4:13-25
The Promise Granted Through Faith
13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
This is one of the many blessings of the day . If we start the day reading this , the day has another connotation. Your ministry is touching many souls each day, and many many people in Europe follow you on this blogs. God Bless you and give you strength on what you do for us
Father to the contrary! Your posts are uplifting and inspiring and a wonderful reminder to remain Christ-like throughout the day. I am in Melbourne, Australia and have benefited immensely from your daily writings.
God bless your work.
My sentiments exactly. Abbot, God clearly speaks through you.
Father, Thank You for your continued prayers and blessings. I cannot tell you how many times your subject has been directly relevant to some aspect of my life. It’s as though you have become my teacher and I, the student. Continued Blessings to you and it’s always enjoyable to see the photos too.
Ditto from Ohio. It is nice to know someone prays for me.
Blessings to you!
Dear Abbot Tryphon,
Your Morning Offering is such a positive way to start the day. Although I am now retired, the workplace description was so accurate (and I thought that I was the only one who had experienced these workplace stresses, because it’s a topic that few are willing to discuss for fear of being thought of as a malcontent.) Thank you for all your posts. They uplift many people.
“How does one keep …? Is it even possible …? Can one stay …? Can you have …?”
Three of the four questions are about the possibility. The other is about the practice.
My experience says — “yes, with much struggle and the need for perseverance.”
If I keep living a “measurement life,” I get discouraged and despondent. If I “despair not” and persevere, however meagerly, with a heart that trusts that He is “a good and loving God” and “repentance is the way of salvation,” I experience a release and joy that is not based on my performance but His goodness and mercy.
That is just my experience for whatever it is worth.
I have a small travel icon of our blessed Saviour in my office. Many times a day I’ m continually distracted and on a bad day annoyed by it. I simply take a breath look as Jesus as one of my co-workers and resite the Jesus prayer. It works all the time to calm me down and smile for the day and ask God to bless the many people I run into. Thanks for this blog.
The above comments reflect my own feelings. Reading your loving and relevant offerings has become part of the start to my day. And yes, many times, your thoughts seem directly pertinent to something in my own life. Thanks you for your love, prayers and uplifting and relevant posts. May God continue to bless you with wisdom, good health, and all things that are good for salvation.
Father, thank you for your efforts. Mission accomplished!! Your daily posts have become a part of my daily “rule”. The photos, saints of the day, and daily readings are a real spiritual benefit to me. Also, knowing they are offered with prayers and blessings is even more important.
We are truly blessed to have your daily offering given with such love.
Dear Fr Tryphon,
If I recall correctly, your cardio version is scheduled for today. Our prayers are with you, and for all your care providers, that today will be a success and a great blessing to the glory of God.
All of our love,
Seraphim and Eudokia
Thank you both for your prayers, and your good wishes. I actually go in tomorrow morning (7am) for the cardioversion. If it doesn’t work, they plan to keep me in the hospital overnight, for a chemical cardioversion.
Dear Fr Tryphon
Our prayers are with you especially tomorrow. Be at peace. You
are in God’s hands.
Love in Christ,]
Fr Dcn George and Natalie
as you go into your cardioversion tomorrow morning, I will ‘ up the ante’ in my daily prayers remembering you and the others at the Monastery and know that God will have you back amongst us in good health and spirits…….
“I try to keep the topics of my daily essays relevant to your needs, but often fail, I’m sure. ”
I would not worry about the above. The reason I read your blog daily is because your writings are scoring so many direct hits with whats going on in my life.