Monday Inspirations
Posted August 3, 2026
Inspiration to Start the Work Week
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The above is Psalm 1. I offer it to you on this Monday and encourage you to read a psalm each day. The psalms are read every day in the prayers of the church and provide us with much wisdom and encouragement.
The footnotes in the Orthodox Study Bible offer the following:
The Man in Psalm 1 is the Lord Jesus Christ. (John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, Eusthathius of Antioch, Cyril of Alexandria, Augustine and Cassiodorus) Thus the Incarnation sets the tone of the Psalms, and in the Psalms the Incarnate Lord teaches His Church how to pray. This is why the Psalms is the prayer book of the Church.
Psalm 1 presents how Jesus lived His life in this world by showing the contrast between His godly life and the life of the ungodly. The Church, then, is to follow His example: His behavior in relation to the ungodly (v.1); His zeal for the truth (v.2); and His virtuous life (v. 3).
May we seek to always follow the example that our Lord offers us. Below is a quote that I found which I also think is beneficial. We need godly minded people in our lives, so we can follow their example as well.
Have a beautiful work week!
Love in Christ,
Fr. Paul
"Look for a person who will help you move forward spiritually.."
It is a great good to have a person who carries you up to the higher levels, to the spiritual, to the divine and not to the earthly, to the vain and worldly.
It is a great good to have a person whose life is an example for you and for everyone.
Blessed are those who are such people, people of faith, discreet, pious, peaceful.
And blessed are those who have them in their lives.
Do not just look for any person in your life who offers you fleeting joy. Look for a person who will help you move forward spiritually....
Elder Ephraim of Arizona