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, righteous ‘fear’ of Him, and 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 young man 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 (my fasting, prayers, charity) will save me, or, that I’m ‘good’ enough as is, that I can, in effect, save myself? Many things can grab a hold of us in this world: it doesn’t have to be just money, but anything that takes the place of God, of Life itself, has to be overcome if we are to inherit eternal life. “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.”
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v Saturday, Nov. 30 , 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers. Confession following
- v Sunday, Dec. 1, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy
- v Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m., Nativity (Advent) Paraklesis, St. John’s Boathouse
- v Friday, Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m., Akathist of St. Nicholas, USNA, St. Andrew’s Chapel (underneath main chapel—transportation provided from St. John’s Gym lot at 6 p.m.) or by walking in via Gate 3 on Maryland Ave.
- v Saturday, Dec. 7, 6 p.m., Great Vespers and First Saturday potluck.
- v Sunday, Dec. 8, 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, and Sunday School
Looking Ahead/Mark Your Calendars:
- NATIVITY IN THE FLESH OF OUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
- v 10:30 a.m., Royal Hours of the Feast of the Nativity
- v 10:30 p.m., Vesperal Divine Liturgy of the Feast, Carols and Feasting Meal
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of His love, healing, power, and glory;”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and our college ministry, ACM;
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Healing for Metropolitan TIKHON, Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Deacon Basil, Deacon Michael, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Benedict, Lance, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Charlene, Claudia, Daniel, Michael Anthony, Sarah, Seraphim, Ed, Lelia, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, for our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria and Egypt, the suffering people of the Philippines following the devastating Cyclone.
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 hell captive,// not being tempted by it.
You came to the Virgin, granting life.// O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You.
Troparion (Prophet Nahum) Tone 2
We celebrate the memory // of Your Prophet Nāhum, O Lord;
through him we beseech You: // “save our souls!”
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 (Prophet Nahum) Tone 4
Illumined by the Spirit, your heart was a vessel of illustrious prophecy,
seeing far-off things as though they were present.
Therefore, we venerate you, glorious prophet Nāhum.
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
