In today’s Gospel, the blind men get themselves to Christ, beseeching Him to have mercy on them and acclaiming Him as the long-awaited Messiah by their words, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” It is both their acknowledgement of their need for healing and their coming to Christ, which so loudly demonstrates their great faith. They know Who is the One who has mercy to give, the One who alone can heal them—Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who knows us even in our mother’s womb. Christ God sees each one of us through His eyes of love and purpose for our lives. He desires the healing from sin-sickness and salvation of each one of us. We see in the blind men the faith to present themselves to Christ for healing. God never turns away those who come to Him in faith, but as with our relationship and communion with Him, our healing and salvation demand something from us: our dying to our own will and our submission to His will, our opening of ourselves to His healing through the ‘tools’ He’s entrusted to us through His Church. As Christ said to the blind men, “According to your faith, let it be to you.” Our participation in the divine services, our daily prayers and keeping the fast, our struggle to repent and live to God’s glory, our participation in the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist, are all demonstrations of faith on our part, of cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit and God’s will on our lives. There’s no sickness of soul, no passions, too great for God to heal—if we are willing to struggle and present ourselves to Him.
In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- v Friday, Aug. 1 Begin DORMITION FAST (please consult the Church calendar for fasting prescriptions and contact Fr. Robert for guidance and a blessing if you have need).
- v Fri., Aug 1, 7 p.m., Fr. Robert leads Little Compline and teaching for the Plebes at USNA
- v Saturday, Aug 2, 6 p.m., Great Vespers with Confession following
- v Sunday, Aug 3, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy Trapeza following Liturgy
Save the Date!
- 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!
- Sunday, Aug. 17, some Orthodox Plebes will join us at Holy Archangels for Divine Liturgy.
- Sunday, Aug. 24, Vehicle Blessing following the Divine Liturgy.
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;
- Thanksgiving for answered prayers, for the release of Miream and family from Sudan!
- 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, Wanda, 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 6
The angelic powers were at Your tomb; // the guards became as dead men.
Mary stood by Your grave, // seeking Your most pure body.
You took captive hell,// not being tempted by it.
You came to the Virgin, granting life.// O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You.
Troparion (Greatmartyr Panteleimon) Tone 3
Holy Passion-bearer and healer Panteleimon, // entreat the merciful God,//
to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions!
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 6
When Christ God the Giver of Life,
raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery with His mighty hand,
He bestowed resurrection on the human race.//
He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the God of all.
Kontakion (Greatmartyr Panteleimon) Tone 5
You emulated the Merciful One,
and received from Him the grace of healing,
Passion-bearer and healer Panteleimon;
by your prayers, heal our spiritual diseases
and continually drive away the temptations of the Enemy//
from those who cry out in faith: “Save us, O Lord!”
