We’ve all heard of someone being called a “doubting Thomas.” Thomas has the audacity to demand to ‘put his finger in Christ’s side,’ insinuating that, unless he can materially see the signs of Christ’s execution, he won’t believe. In reality, it’s not want of material ‘proof’ that Thomas needs, that I need, or that you need, it’s the ‘eyes of faith’. A great many people saw the miracles that Jesus did and still yelled “crucify Him, crucify Him.” Clearly seeing is not always believing. The reality is that without humility, without submitting ourselves to God, without growth in love for Him and all that is Good, we simply cannot have the faith to truly ‘see’; we cannot have the means whereby we can learn to trust what only the ‘eye’ of the soul can reveal to us through our growing relationship and communion with God.
This is what Thomas also comes to realize. Once he encounters Christ, who graciously grants his demand, Thomas prostrates himself before Christ; he humbles himself and in that humility and self-emptying, he’s able to make a profession of faith at least as great as were his doubts, “My Lord and my God!”
TODAY:
- Fr. Robert’s Presentation on the OCF Realbreak and pilgrimage in ROMANIA during Trapeza, which also serves as a prelude to our Mission’s pilgrimage in May 2015!
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Saturday, May 3, 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers Confessions following
- Sunday, May 4, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy
$5,000 Matching Grant Update:
By our most recent calculation, we have raised an approximate $ 11,700. Glory to God!
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM;
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Daniel, Sarah, Seraphim, Patricia, George, Anne, 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, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Troparion (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 7
From the sealed tomb, You shone forth, O Life!
Through closed doors You came to Your Disciples, O Christ God.
Renew in us, through them, an upright spirit,//
by the greatness of Your mercy, O Resurrection of all!
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 (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 8
Thomas touched Your life-giving side with an eager hand, O Christ God,
when You came to Your Apostles through closed doors.
He cried out with all: “You are my Lord and my God!”
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.
