Daily Bread
Saturday, November 9, 2024
“A fish that is alive swims against the flow of water. One that is dead floats down with the water. A true Christian goes against the current of sinful age. A false one is swept away by its swiftness.”
+ St. Philaret of Moscow, Orthodox Life Vol. 63 No. 3 May-June 2012
Daily Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (Epistle)
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
Luke 9:37-43 (Gospel)
37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.
38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.
39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.
40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
41 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”
42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.
43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,
“Quick to Hear” Icon of the Mother of God .
The wonderworking "Quick to Hear" Icon of the Mother of God is kept at Dokheiarίou Monastery on Mount Athos, and is believed to date from the XI century, during the time of Saint Neophytos, the Igoumen of the Monastery. After the wonderworking Portaitissa Icon, the most famous Icon on Mount Athos is an ancient fresco of the Panagia located outside on the east wall of the trapeza, and to the right of the entrance. In 1664 the Monk Neilos, the steward of the trapeza, often passed before the Icon holding a lit torch in his hand so he could carry out his duties in the trapeza. One day, he heard a voice say to him: "Do not come this way again with your torches, darkening my Icon with smoke."
Neilos did not pay much attention to the voice, thinking that someone was playing a joke on him. It was not long before he heard the voice again saying, "O monk, unworthy of the name, how long will you continue to darken my Icon with smoke?"
Upon hearing the voice, Neilos was struck blind. Then he remembered that he had heard the voice before, and realized that he deserved this punishment, for he did not heed the command of the Mother of God, but had ignored it in his ignorance.
The next morning, the brethren found him laying on the floor of the corridor before the Icon, unable to see them. When they learned why Neilos had been punished, the monks were terrified. From that time on, they passed by the Icon with great reverence, and hung an unsleeping lamp before it.
Not Only What We Do But How We Do It
The word for the day is “with.” As long as the job is done, does it matter how we do it? Does our attitude make a difference? If we give a meal to someone who is hungry but do with disdain, doesn’t the person still get fed? And if we give an offering grudgingly, can’t the church still use the money for good?
In today’s reading of Romans 12:6-14, Paul lists the “grace-gifts” of the Holy Spirit that are distributed among the members of the church. He states, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6). Today we will discover that the apostle not only urges that the faithful put the Holy Spirit’s gifts to work for ministry. But he is concerned that they do it with attitudes by which they are employed. Today we will review the qualities that should accompany our service to the Lord and His people.
Not to Give Only But to Give with Generosity
In our reading of Romans 12:6-14 today, St. Paul lists the “grace-gifts” of the Holy Spirit for ministry in the Body of Christ. The apostle goes on to list actions that the faithful should perform. St. John Chrysostom points out something here that we might otherwise overlook. Chrysostom writes: “See how in every instance he aims after higher degrees; for he does not say “give” only, but “with largess…” (NfPf1: 11, 503).
With that in mind, note how often the Apostle uses the word “with.” For example, he says that we are to give with liberality; lead with diligence; show mercy with cheerfulness, love without hypocrisy. You see, St. Paul not only wants us to do what he advises. He is concerned about the spirit in which we do it. The manner is just as important as the doing. And when he goes on to speak of the virtues that are proper to believers, he also modifies them. In each case, he speaks of the quality of the characteristic. For instance, he speaks of diligence that is not lazy; spirit that is fervent, hope that rejoices, endurance of tribulation that is patient, and praying that is steadfast.
With What Attitudes Do We Use Our Gifts
Thus, if we sort out the words about the actions of believers we have giving, leading, showing mercy, and loving. Likewise, the kind of attitudes that we should have as we do these things are liberality, diligence, cheerfulness, and genuineness. Moreover, if we sort out the virtues that St. Paul goes on to add to the virtues, we find diligence, spirit, hope, endurance, and prayerfulness. And if we sort out the qualities of these traits of character, we have industriousness, fervor, joyfulness, patience, steadfastness.
For Reflection
In conclusion, we should keep in mind that results are not the only thing that matters when we minister to others. The spirit in which we carry out our service also counts. Chrysostom says that when we add the appropriate attitude to what we do, we “draw the Spirit” to ourselves (NfPf1:11, 503). Then the Spirit will abide in us and make our labors in the Lord easy. Moreover, we will “glow with the Spirit” (NfPf1:11, 503) as we serve. Many non-believers love, are affectionate, and give to the needy, etc. It is the attitude of the Spirit that distinguishes those who follow the way of Christ from others.
This week’s calendar reminders:
Monday 11/04: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday 11/05: no services or events
Wednesday 11/06: no services or events
Thursday 11/07: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Friday 11/08: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Saturday 11/09: Feast of St. Nektarios Festal Divine Liturgy 9:15 a.m.; Catechumen class 4:30; Great Vespers 6 pm
Sunday 11/10: Divine Liturgy 9: 15 a.m.; Great Vespers for St. Nektarios 4pm
