Oblate Daily Wednesday, December 3, 2014 / November 20, 2014 [East] Forefeast of the Entry of the Theotokos St. Gregory of Decapolis St. Proclus, archbishop of Constantinople Martyrs Daisius of Durostorum Hieromartyr Nerses, bishop of Shahrquart in Persia and his disciple the martyr Joseph [West] Martyr-king Edmund of East Anglia [SB: Holy Rule] Chapter 42 - That No One Speak after Complin Monks should always be given to silence, especially, however, during the hours of the night. Therefore, on every day, whether of fast or of a mid-day meal, as soon as they have risen from their evening meal, let all sit together in one place, and let one read the Conferences or the Lives of the Fathers, or something else that will edify the hearers; not, however, the Heptateuch or the Books of the Kings, because it would not be wholesome for weak minds to hear this part of the Scripture at that hour; they should, however, be read at other times. But if it was a fast-day, then, when Vespers have been said, and after a short interval, let them next come together for the reading of the Conferences, as we have said; and when the four or five pages have been read, or as much as the hour will permit, and all have assembled in one place during the time of the reading, let him also come who was perchance engaged in work enjoined on him. All, therefore, having assembled in one place, let them say Complin, and after going out from Complin, let there be no more permission from that time on for anyone to say anything. If, however, anyone is found to break this rule, let him undergo heavy punishment, unless the needs of guests should arise, or the Abbot should perhaps give a command to anyone. But let even this be done with the utmost gravity and moderation. [Lectio Divina] Luke 18:29-30 29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” [Daily thoughts from St. Theophan the Recluse] The parables about the stray sheep and the lost silver piece. How great is the Lords mercy toward us sinners! He leaves all those who are well and turns to those who are not, in order to correct them. He seeks them, and when He finds them, He Himself rejoices and calls all of heaven to rejoice with Him. How is it that He seeks them? Does He not know where we who have stepped away from Him are? He knows and sees all; but if it were merely a matter of taking them and transferring them to His own, all the sinners would again reappear in their own ranks. They must first be disposed to repentance, so that their conversion and return to the Lord will be free, but this cannot be done by command or other external order. The Lord seeks a sinner by guiding him to repentance. He arranges everything around him so that the sinner comes to his senses and, seeing the abyss into which he has been rushing, returns. All the circumstances of life are directed in this way -- all encounters with moments of sorrow and joy, even words and glances. And the inner actions of God through the conscience and the other righteous feelings that lie in the heart never cease. How much is done to convert sinners to the path of virtue, yet sinners will remain sinners! The enemy covers them in darkness and they think that everything is all right, and all will pass. If anxieties arise, they say, Tomorrow Ill stop, but they remain in their current state. Thus day after day passes; indifference to their salvation grows and grows. A bit more and it will pass over into being hardened to sin. Who knows whether conversion will come?
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 04:59:01 +0000
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