REFLECTION

Although the Holy Fathers praised monasticism as the angelic state, and although many of the greatest saints lived their lives and attained perfection in the deaf and lifeless desert, nevertheless, the Orthodox Church does not recommend tonsuring to all the faithful. “Neither all those in the desert were saved nor all those in the world were lost,” said one saint. To a city dweller who, with no inclination for monasticism, desired to enter the monastery, St. Niphon said: “My child, a place neither saves nor destroys a man, but deeds save or destroy. For him who does not fulfill all the commandments of the Lord, there is no benefit from a sacred place or from a sacred rank. King Saul lived in the midst of royal luxury and he perished. King David lived in the same kind of luxury and he received a wreath. Lot lived among the lawless Sodomites and he was saved. Judas was numbered among the apostles and he went to Hades. Whoever says that it is impossible to be saved with a wife and children deceives himself. Abraham had a wife and children, three-hundred-eighteen servants and handmaidens, much gold and silver but, nevertheless, he was called the Friend of God. Oh, how many servants of the Church and lovers of the desert have been saved! How many aristocrats and soldiers! How many artisans and field-workers! Be pious and be a lover of men and you will be saved!”

hat tip: The Prologue from Ohrid

Tryphaena willingly and courageously endured many tortures for Christ. Because she did not want to deny her Faith, a wild ox was released which gored her to death. This occurred in the first century. St. Tryphaena is invoked by mothers who are unable to breast-feed their children.

hat tip: The Prologue from Ohrid

Tone 8    Troparion      (St John Chrysostom)

Grace shining forth from your lips like a beacon has enlightened the
universe.
It has shown to the world the riches of poverty;
it has revealed to us the heights of humility.
Teaching us by your words, O Father John Chrysostom,
Intercede before the Word, Christ our God, to save our souls!

Tone 1    Kontakion      (St John Chrysostom)

Most glorious John Chrysostom,
the Church of Constantinople greatly rejoiced, receiving the gift of
your holy  relics;
keeping them as a treasure of great price.
Through your intercession,
they bring the grace of healing to those who praise you in hymns.

Tone 1        Prokeimenon  (St John Chrysostom)

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be
    understanding. (Ps 48/49:3)

v: Hear this, all nations! Give ear, all inhabitants of the earth! (Ps 48/49:1)

Epistle
Hebrews 7:26-8:22 (St John Chrysostom)
Tone 2    
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

v: The mouth of the righteous shall proclaim wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment.  (Ps 36/37:30)

v: The Law of God is in his heart, and his steps shall not falter.  (Ps 36/37:31).

Gospel
 John 10:9-16 (St John Chrysostom)

Communion Hymn

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.  He shall not fear evil tidings.  (Ps 111/112:6b-7a)
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Before the wheel of time has completed its revolution with me – have mercy on me.
Before the wind of death has blown upon me and ailments have cropped up in my body
foreboding the imminent end – have mercy.
Before the magnificent sun on high has grown dim before my eyes – have mercy, and may Thy
light shine on me from on high and scatter the terrible darkness of my mind.
Before this dust has returned to the earth and decayed and all its beautiful features have rotted
away – have mercy.
Before my sins have overtaken me at the judgment and shamed me before the Judge – have mercy
on me, O Lord, Who art full of compassion.

~Saint Ephraim the Syrian, A Spiritual Psalter # 84, Bishop Theophan the Recluse (ed)
hat tip: Church Fathers Wisdom ~ Daily Dynamis

In the consummation of the union of love we help one another, and because we are sprung from the earth we are following the primordial law of the earth, which is also God’s law.  Look at the benefits good marriage bring to humanity.  Who are the teachers of wisdom, the discoverers of the deepest knowledge, the explorers of everything on the earth, in the sea, or in the sky?  Who are the lawgivers in the cities, and before them, the founders of the cities themselves?  Who founded the arts?  Who populated the squares, and the houses, the tables of banqueters?  Who brought together the choirs that sing in the churches?  Who tamed the ferocity of primitive life, first tilled the soil, and crossed the seas?  What, if not marriage, could unite what was divided?  

~Saint Gregory the Theologian:

“First Poem,” as quoted in Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Thomas Spidlik (ed), Paul Drake (tr)

hat tip: Church Father’s Wisdom {Daily Dynamis}

St Seraphim is probably best known for having a bear visit him but St Herman of Alaska also has a history with bears. It is said that when the saint died the bears left the island on ice and the birds flew away. To this day there are no bears on Spruce Island.

So here is a little slide show of Monks & Bears and one old joke that I first heard while on Spruce Island. Enjoy!

An old joke with a bear:

An atheist was walking through the woods.

“What majestic trees”!

“What powerful rivers”!

“What beautiful animals”!

He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right On top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out, “Oh my God!”

Time Stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was still.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. “You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don’t exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident.” “Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer”?

The atheist looked directly into the light, “It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps You could make the BEAR a Christian”?

“Very Well,” said the Voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear made the sign of the Cross, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

“Lord bless this food and bless the hands that made it, in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!”

May the Lord give us the spiritual strength to transform ourselves. We know that time is running out, and the evil spirits know this, too. They do not want a single person to be free from evil thoughts. With that aim, they teach even small children to oppose their parents so that, when these children grow up, they will be easy prey for them…

But it call all take a turn for the good if each one of us begins with himself, if the transformation starts with us. We should try to have good thoughts which will radiate from us. A meek and humble person is always very pleasant to be with, for he emanates peace and warmth. That person may not say a single word, yet we rejoice to be in his presence. So, if we all begin with ourselves, transformation will take place. Goodness will be renewed and established all around us, in our country, and further abroad.

~Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

hat tip: Sunday Bulletin of Holy Theophany Orthodox  Church

From the book: The Ascetic of Love by Nun Gavrilia; translated by Helen Anthony

Mother Give us a Word

9. on the Right of the Other:

Gerondissa Gavrilia: A person who has Love, Forbearance, Obedience, and Humility, has gained both this world and Paradise. The most difficult thing, however, is to overcome the Power of Darkness which always tells us that we are right. Do you agree?

E.: Aren’t we ever right?

Gerondissa Gavrilia: Never! The other is always “right.” This is what is so important…

E.: How do you explain that?

Gerondissa Gavrilia: Do you know why? Because, according to his own Ego he is right. Therefore, why should I try to convince him with my own Ego?

E.: That is to say, we submit to the other person’s Ego and right.

Gerondissa Gavrilia: Not in the way that you mean it. We do what we consider to be right, without getting into pointless arguments with the other person; without reproval; without losing our peace of mind. That person will continue on his own way and we shall commend him to God’s will. He cannot harm us. For we have an Authority above us and this Authority agrees with our own sense of justice. We have our Confessor, our Gerondissa (Spiritual Mother), our Bishop, the entire Church, who are in agreement. Above all, we have the Gospel which tells us: This is Right, this is the Commandment.

So? Now, let me tell you something. For all such thoughts, I have a basket, which I call the “basket of vanity.” In which we throw waste papers away, in the same way I throw these thoughts in this basket and they cease to trouble me. Because man should not be worried by such things.

Many a time an Atheist will come, someone who is opposed, someone who will start useless discussions with the sole intention of annoying you… Even if this person has saddened you or hurt you, never show it… Never do that. Otherwise he will have achieved his purpose. Do you see that? The next time he will return with greater resolution. But if again you remain calm, he will think: “No use hitting here; I’ll try somewhere else…” Therefore, above all, no anger! For the Lord Himself has said: “Resist not evil.”

When we set ourselves against someone, we get involved in a bitter quarrel. If anyone were to witness the scene, after awhile would he be able to tell who is right and who is wrong? Certainly not! Because we both have become evil, yielding to the Tempter. This is why I am telling you: when a discussion between two people leads to controversy, one of the two, if he happens to be a person of God, must keep silent and repeat within himself the prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon us…” Then in two minutes everything stops.

A conversation at St Menas Monastery, Aegina, Greece: 5-21-1989