Christ God shatters the myth that being ‘good’ is ‘good enough’. Inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven is not just about following God’s commandments, as important as they are, but doing so because of love for God, a desire to be made compatible to be in His near presence, which is what it means to have eternal life. The Pharisee (Luke 18) was condemned for his self-righteousness while King David, an adulterer and a murderer, was said to be “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). The rich ruler in today’s Gospel causes us to reflect on ourselves: what may I have put before God, what idols grip me? Do I rest on my ‘laurels,’ thinking that my outward ‘doing of the faith,’ doing my ‘duty’ before God, will save me, or, that I’m ‘good’ enough as is, that I can, in effect, save myself? Many things can take hold of us; it doesn’t have to be money—anything can take the place of God, even one’s one self-righteousness. While the rich ruler’s wealth is an impediment, it is but a sad reflection of a heart that’s reliant on self and not on the Savior of the world. “Who then can be saved?” ask the Disciples. We take strong comfort from Christ’s reassuring words, “The things which are impossible for men are possible with God.” In Christ God’s love and blessing, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services at our church home—47 Spa Rd):
- Today: Pre-school aged children on up are invited to come to Sunday School during Trapeza
- Wed, January 18, (weekly), 6:45 p.m., New Bible Study Begins: “St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians as the Early Christians Saw it.” Share the opportunity to learn & grow in faith with your friends!
- Sat, Jan., 21, 6 p.m., Great Vespers, Confession following
- Sun, Jan. 22, 9:30a.m. Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza follows
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Friday, Jan. 27, 10:30 a.m., Annual March for Life with His Beatitude and other Orthodox faithful. Don’t miss this opportunity to stand for and pray for the most vulnerable in our society! Meet at church and caravan to the March together.
Go Fund Me Campaign: Please share this opportunity with family, friends to keep Holy Archangels going and growing. Sharing via email and through social media makes a big difference. We need your help!
House Blessings: Theophany began the season of house blessings. The faithful invite Christ into their homes to have them blessed and pray God to make them places manifesting Christ’s light, peace, truth, and love, harbors in the midst of the storm of the world, places of refuge for our souls. Please contact Fr. Robert with two suggested days and times for a house blessing as soon as possible. He will do his best to accommodate you (n.b., Mondays, his day off, he is generally not available).
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it is the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthly confession. If you wish to receive Communion and a month has passed and you have not made confession for good reason, or are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert prior to the service and before approaching the Chalice to ask for a blessing to receive.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Forgiveness, memory eternal: Marie (Paul’s Aunt), Ryan, Gardner, victims of the St. Mark Cathedral terrorist attack, Charlene (Mother of Fr. Robert, 3rd anniversary on Jan. 10).
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Mat. Janet, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Svetlana, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Gabriela and the child she bears, Cecilia and the child she bears, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in the Middle East, a peaceful resolution in Syria.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, // co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,
born for our salvation from the Virgin; // for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh,
to endure death, // and to raise the dead// by His glorious Resurrection.
Troparion (for SS Paul and John) Tone 4
O God of our Fathers, // always act with kindness towards us;
take not Thy mercy from us, // but guide our lives in peace
through the prayers of venerable Paul and John!
Troparion (Angels) Tone 4
O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://
Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 5
Thou didst descend into hell, O my Savior, // shattering its gates as Almighty,
resurrecting the dead as Creator, // and destroying the sting of death.
Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of man,// and we cry to Thee: O Lord, save us!
Kontakion (Venerable John “the Hut-Dweller”) Tone 2
Longing for poverty in imitation of Christ,
thou didst abandon thy parents’ wealth, wise Father John;
grasping the Gospel in thy hands, thou didst follow Christ God,
unceasingly praying for us all.
Kontakion (Venerable Paul of Thebes) Tone 3
Today we gather and praise thee with hymns // as an unwaning ray of the spiritual Sun;
for thou dost shine on those in the darkness of ignorance, // leading all ^mankind to the heights,
venerable Paul, adornment of Thebes and firm foundation of the fathers and ascetics.
Kontakion (Angels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies//and ministers of the divine glory, // princes of the bodiless Angels
and guides of mankind;//ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,//
O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
