Upon first encounter with the paralytic, instead of healing him of his paralysis, Christ first heals him of the ‘paralysis’ of his soul, forgiving his sins. The unbelieving Scribes instantly say in their hearts that Christ is blaspheming, for who can forgive sins but God alone? Exactly! Christ demonstrates that, indeed, only God can forgive sins AND that He is God! First, He reveals the secret thoughts of the Scribes and only then, that they may know His power, the power of the Creator, He heals the man of his paralysis.
Nothing is too great for God, but we also remember that His grace is sufficient for you and me. Not everyone receives miraculous healing of body, but all of us not only can but are called upon to receive miraculous healing for our souls from the deadly passions and sinful habits that would otherwise paralyze our souls. Our faithful participation is to present ourselves through repentance to Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to the divine worship of the Church, to Him in our daily prayers, that we may allow Christ God to heal us, grow us further in the victorious life in the Kingdom that He has created us for. Every time we pray, every time we repent, every time we worship, every time we confess, we’re allowing God to work and free us from our spiritual paralysis. This is our cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which God would so freely and lovingly give us, if we would just avail ourselves of the tools of the Church and trust that Christ God is who He has revealed Himself to be: God incarnate, the Creator of our souls and bodies and the One who calls us to eternal life with Him!
In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- v Wed., July 16, 7 p.m., Fr. Robert leads Little Compline and teaching for the Plebes at USNA
- v Saturday, July 26, 6 p.m., Great Vespers with Confession following
- v Sunday, July 27, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy Trapeza following Liturgy
Save the Date!
- Friday, Aug. 1 Begin DORMITION FAST
- Wed., Aug. 6, 12 Noon, Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Transfiguration, USNA. You must RSVP for this Feast at the USNA. Email Fr. Robert with RSVP (Fr.RobertMiclean@gmail.com) no later than Monday, Aug. 4, if you can join us! Transportation to the Academy Chapel will be provided as there is no public access by car.
- Friday, Aug. 15, 12 Noon, Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Holy Dormition, USNA. Email Fr. Robert by Wed., Aug. 13 if you can join us for this Great Feast of our Lady!
- All are strongly encouraged to take time off work/school to participate in these Great Feasts of the Church for the edification and deification of our souls!
- Sunday, Aug. 17, some Orthodox Plebes will join us at Holy Archangels for Divine Liturgy.
- Sunday, Aug. 24, Plebe Parent’s Weekend, Sunday School, Blessing of new Vehicles!
6-Month Financial Report: Holy Archangels has received a total of $12,385 in offerings from January thru June 2014. The budgeted amount based on pledges is $15,000. This leaves us a gap of 2,614 to make up between now and Dec. to meet our expenses. Please do everything possible to stay current with your pledges/offerings, and consider increasing your offering or making a special one-time offering to help meet this deficit. Thank God for His provision for this Mission and thank you for your faithful contributions! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- For the victims of the Malaysian airline disaster and their families
- Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Daniel, Sarah, Seraphim, Patricia, George, Anne, Ed, Johnson, Jeanette, and Family, Bede, Willy, Rachael, Meriam and family in the Sudan, the incoming class of Orthodox plebes at the USNA and for their salvation, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria and Iraq, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
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 (Holy Prophet Elijah) Tone 4
An angel in the flesh and the cornerstone of the Prophets,
the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, // glorious Elijah sent grace from on high to Elisha,
to dispel diseases and to cleanse lepers.//
Therefore he pours forth healings on those who honor him.
Troparion (Holy Archangels)Tone 4
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
You descended into hell, O my Savior, // shattering its gates as Almighty,
resurrecting the dead as Creator, // and destroying the sting of death.
You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man,// and we cry to You: “O Lord, save us!”
Kontakion (Holy Prophet Elijah) Tone 2
Prophet Elijah of great renown, // seer of the mighty works of God,
by your command you held back the rain!// Pray for us to the only Lover of mankind!
