Sin is one of those oft misunderstood concepts in Christianity. Even in Orthodoxy, many people don’t understand sin, its consequences, and its remedy. St. Paul assures us in today’s Epistle that “sin leads to death” (Rom. 6:23). Why? The Orthodox Faith teaches us that sin is “missing the mark,” being disobedient and departing from the divine calling that God has given each of us. He calls us into fellowship, communion, with Him that we may inherit eternal life with Him and in Him. This means that when we disobey His divine will and way, His commandments, which are life-giving and learn to be in His near and holy presence, we are, in this sense, choosing death, apartness and separation from that holy communion with Him who is Life—the only true Life that there is. That separation is truly a living death. In recognizing, confessing, and repenting of our sin, however—and repentance (the turning away from sin)— there is in the Church the opportunity for healing and growth through that change of heart.
What we cannot do as Christians is to pretend that we have no sin or to mitigate our own sin or that of others. To no longer call sin that which God has defined as sin is to stand in the way of our healing and the healing of others. If we do so, St. John assures us that, “we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Conversely, we are also assured that “If we confess our sins, He (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:8-10). This forgiveness is conveyed to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confession, in which God, by the Holy Spirit, works on our souls to renew in us our baptism and begin again to walk in “newness of life.” In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Monday, June 29, 9 a.m. Matins (chanted); 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, Trapeza following
- Thursday, July 2, Plebe Summer ministry begins at the USNA
- Friday, July 3, 7 p.m., Fr. Robert ministering at the USNA
- Saturday, July 4, NO Great Vespers due to the Fourth of July
- Sunday, July 5, 9 a.m. Matins (chanted), 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, followed by Trapeza
Looking Ahead:
- Sunday, July 19, Semi-Annual Meeting and update during Trapeza
- July 20-25, Robert participating in the OCA All American Council (AAC) in Atlanta
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);
- Newly-departed Paraskeva, Harvy (father of Frank Greenwell)
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Larry, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Bede, Wanda, Eric, George, Daniel, Ed, Ann, John, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in Iraq & Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine., those suffering from Ebola and a speedy end to the disease.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice! // Let the earth be glad!
For the Lord has shown strength with His arm. // He has trampled down death by death.
He has become the first born of the dead. // He has delivered us from the depths of hell,
and has granted to the world// great mercy.
Troparion (Cyrus and John) Tone 5
Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy martyrs, Cyrus and John,
as an invincible rampart, O Christ God; // through their prayers, frustrate the plans of the heathens,
and strengthen the faith of the Orthodox Christians,//
for Thou alone art good and the lover of man.
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 3
On this day Thou didst rise from the tomb, O Merciful One, // leading us from the gates of death.
On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices; // with the Prophets and Patriarchs//
they unceasingly praise the divine majesty of Thy power.
Kontakion (Cyrus and John) Tone 3
Having received the gift of miracles through divine grace, O saints,
ye work wonders in the world unceasingly.
Ye remove all of our passions through your invisible surgery,
divinely-wise Cyrus and glorious John,// for ye are truly divine physicians.
Kontakion (Holy Archangels) 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,// Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
