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This will be my last post, probably until Monday, as I am going with my young son and a couple of friends to stay at Holy Archangels Monastery (GOA) in Kendalia, TX, until Sunday evening. Please pray for me during the trip, dear readers, as my trips to Texas, and particularly to the monastery, seem to be chronically plagued by catastrophe of greater or lesser magnitude. As one of the hieromonks there said, ‘Somebody doesn’t want you visiting this monastery!’
Supreme Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we unworthy ones implore you that by your supplications ye will encircle us with the shelter of the wings of your immaterial glory, and guard us who fall down before you and fervently cry: Deliver us from dangers since ye are the Marshalls of the Hosts on high.
5 comments:
You have my prayers. But it's probably appropriate that we would be visited upon with trouble especially on this Sunday of the Cross, as I was reminded by St. Theophan the Recluse
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Mark 8:34). It is impossible to follow the Lord as a crossbearer without a cross, and everyone who follows Him, unfailingly goes with a cross. What is this cross? It is all sorts of inconveniences, burdens and sorrows—weighing heavily both internally and externally—along the path of conscientious fulfilment of the commandments of the Lord, in a life according to the spirit of His instructions and demands. Such a cross is so much a part of a Christian that wherever there is a Christian, there is this cross, and where there is no such cross, there is no Christian. Abundant privileges and a life of pleasure do not suit a true Christian. His task is to cleanse and reform himself. He is like a sick person, who needs cauterization, or amputation; how can this be without pain? He wants to tear himself away from the captivity of a strong enemy; but how can this be without struggle and wounds? He must walk counter to all practices surrounding him; but how can he sustain this without inconvenience and constraint? Rejoice as you feel the cross upon yourself, for it is a sign that you are following the Lord on the path of salvation which leads to heaven. Endure a bit. The end is just around the corner, as well as the crowns!"
Prayers ascending from Down Under for a blessed time at the Monastery.
Thanks for your prayers, my friends, and Ручьёв, thank you for the reminder!
Aaron - it was nice to see you at the monastery, just wish our overlap there had been longer. And a cute son you have!
Thanks, George! Sometimes Nicholas is too cute for his own good. Yeah, I thought you were going to be there until Sunday, so I felt bad about not getting to talk or say goodbye!
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