The workplace can be a place for spiritual growth
By Abbot Tryphon, December 29, 2019
Balancing the spiritual life with the workplace can be quite challenging. Our work day should begin with prayer, and should be planned with the help and guidance of one’s spiritual father, priest or confessor. If we have children, we should get up an hour early, so we have plenty of time for prayer before getting them breakfast and sending them off to school. Setting aside this prayer time each morning is the best way to guarantee the day will be God-centered.
If we are a commuter who takes public transportation, we can get in the habit of reading books that are available in our parish bookstore. Again, our priest can suggest books that would be of benefit to us. I keep a book in our van so as to have spiritual reading while waiting on the ferry dock, or crossing on the ferry.
Using our coffee break to read a few chapters in our commuter book, can keep us grounded, spiritually. When we head out for lunch, we can take the book along as our companion. We can also benefit by downloading programming from Ancient Faith Radio on our Ipad. And finally, for those long hours of work time, the continuous repetition of the Jesus Prayer can keep us grounded in our faith.
Following these simple guidelines will make a huge difference in our workday, and contribute immensely to our own spiritual growth. We should never allow our workplace to become a place devoid of faith.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
~Abbot Tryphon, The Morning Offering, https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2019/12/the-workplace/.
Other Peoples Sins
If we are to win the battle we must focus only on our own sins
By Abbot Tryphon, December 31, 2019
When we take our eyes off our own failings, shortcomings, and sins, we notice the failings of others. As the sins of others get our attention, our focus turns away from our own struggles with the passions, and we begin to fall further into sin, our eyes having turned away from the Lord. When our focus is no longer turned towards the conquering of our own passions, our hearts become vulnerable, and we begin to expend our energy on picking apart our neighbor. Their sins become the hot topic with our gossiping friends, and we fall further into the rottenness of our own sins. At this stage, Abba Sisoes asks, “How can we guard the heart if the tongue leaves the door of the fortress open?”
If we are to take ourselves out of the mire of sin, and with Christ’s help, be transformed and made whole, our eyes must never look to the sins of others, “For a person cannot be disquieted or concerned about other people’s affairs if he is satisfied with concentrating on the work of his own hands (St. John Cassian).”
As we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth on January 7th, let us refocus ourselves, and prepare for the struggle ahead. Let us make this period the most profitable of all, with the goal of acquiring a humble and contrite heart. If we focus on our own failings, only, we will find this holy season will be the most profitable of all, and we will be lifted up by God, and our celebration of the Holy Nativity will be the most glorious of them all.
Remember, the four great periods of fasting on the Church Calendar were created for us as a time for repentance, renewal, and the restoration of heart, mind, and body. Let us keep our spiritual eyes on Christ, and be open to the healing of our soul that comes for us through this very Christ Jesus, Whom we worship and adore.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
~Abbot Tryphon, The Morning Offering, https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2019/12/other-peoples-sins/.
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