Holy Venerable-Martyr Anastasia (249-51). Passing of Our Venerable Father Abraham, Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Rostov (11th c.).
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13. Luke 11:34-41.
Read 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
This morning, we read about St. Paul’s deep love and concern for the Thessalonians. He prays for them, asking God to “make you increase and abound in love” and “establish your hearts unblamable in holiness.” This longing reflects God’s own desire to cultivate our faith, like a gardener tending to a bonsai tree—a tree shaped not just by pruning, but by steady, patient guidance.
A bonsai tree’s beauty comes from the gardener’s care and vision. In some places the artistic vision of the tree is so old, that it takes generations of artists to continue to shape and direct a tree that is centuries old. Like our spiritual lives, a bonsai isn’t shaped in a single day but through years of gentle direction. The gardener uses small supports and subtle bends, shaping the branches toward an artful design. In the same way, God lovingly “directs our way,” offering supports and sometimes even pruning moments in our lives to help us grow. And this process requires patience—not only from God, but from us as well.
Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians to “increase and abound in love” speaks to the supports God places around us—the people and experiences that encourage our faith to grow outward, spreading like the branches of that bonsai. When we allow our lives to be rooted in love, we invite God to nurture what may be “lacking” in our faith, as Paul says. Rather than focusing on gaps or imperfections, this is about letting God slowly shape us into His vision.
Like the gardener who knows just how to direct the tree’s growth, God understands our unique paths, guiding us to become “unblamable in holiness.” This holiness is not about achieving perfection today or tomorrow but about being fully aligned with His design for us. We may ask ourselves: where in my life is God placing gentle supports, and where might He be pruning? Where can I lean into His patience and guidance, trusting His vision for my life and vocation over my own?
So, let us welcome God’s tender shaping in our lives. As we await the day when we stand before Him “with all His saints,” may we allow our faith to be cultivated, trusting that His steady, loving hands are working to bring out the beauty He sees in each of us.