“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Lk. 2:25-26). For the righteous Simeon, his one desire is to see Christ, to hold the babe Christ before he dies, His and the universe’s Creator. God, by His mercy, grants his heart’s desire. Here too, we see that singular desire to see Christ, to be with Christ, to encounter Christ, to be in His presence. Zaccheaus too has something we always need more of: single-minded zeal to see the Lord. He is bent on seeing Him, being near Him. Zaccheaus, whatever his past sins and transgressions, refuses to let them hinder him in his quest to see God. There aren’t any promises that anything else will happen, just that maybe he will see Christ. That’s all. That’s his hope and faith—and that means everything to him because Christ is God, He is the life of all. Christ comes to him and says, “Zaccheaus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” We who desire salvation do well to follow their example in prioritizing our own lives.
House Blessings
House blessings are underway! We invite Christ into our homes to bless them and pray God to make them places of His light, peace, truth, and love. Please contact Fr. Robert by Feb. 1 with 2 suggested days and times for a house blessing (Mon. and Thurs. he is generally not available).
This week at Holy Archangels:
- TODAY: Great Feast—Meeting of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple/Zacchaeus Sunday
- v Mondays, Fr. Robert’s Day Off (please don’t contact except for pastoral emergencies)
- v Tuesday, Feb. 4, 12:50-13:20, Sixth Hour prayers, USNA
- v Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6:30, St. John’s College Boathouse, Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion— Baptism: Now saved?
- v Saturday, Feb. 8, 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers. Confession following. TRIODION BEGINS
- v Sunday, Feb. 9, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
- v Sunday, Feb. 9, Sunday School and Moving Sub-Committee Meeting during Trapeza
Save the Dates:
- Sat., Feb. 15, 10 a.m., Holy Archangels Sisterhood breakfast, Leeward Market, Eastport
- Sun., Feb. 16, Holy Archangels Annual Meeting
- Sun., Feb. 23, Sunday of the Last Judgment, Meatfare
- Sun., March 2, Forgiveness Sunday, Cheesefare, followed by the RITE of FORGIVENESS.
- Mon., March 3, “Clean Monday,” GREAT LENT BEGINS!
- Tues., March 4, 6:30 p.m., Great Canon of St. Andrew, St. John’s Boathouse (BH)
- Wed., March 5, 6:30 p.m.,First PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, Lenten potluck, St. John’s BH
- Thursday, March 6, 6:30 p.m., Great Canon of St. Andrew, St. John’s Boathouse
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s continued financial provision for our Mission and our college ministry, ACM;
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Rdr. Zenon, Benedict, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Daniel, Sarah, Seraphim, Ed, 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, the nuns and orphans of St. Thekla Monastery abducted by Syrian terrorist rebels, our suffering brethren in Ukraine.
- The newly-departed Mat. Claudia, newly-departed Charlene (Fr. Robert’s Mother)
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 7
By Your Cross You destroyed death. // To the thief You opened Paradise.
For the Myrrhbearers You changed weeping into joy.
And You commanded Your disciples, O Christ God,
to proclaim that You are risen,// granting the world great mercy.
Troparion (Meeting of the Lord) Tone 1
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Full of Grace!
From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, ^Christ our God,
enlightening those who sat in darkness. // Rejoice and be glad, O righteous Elder,
you accepted in your arms the ^Redeemer of our souls, // Who grants us the Resurrection!
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 7
The dominion of death can no longer hold mankind captive,
for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers.
Hell is bound, while the Prophets rejoice and cry:
“The Savior has come to those in faith;// enter, you faithful, into the Resurrection!”
Kontakion (Meeting of the Lord) Tone 1
By Your Nativity You sanctified the Virgin’s womb
and blessed Simeon’s hands, ^O Christ God. // Now You have come and saved us through love.
Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, // O only Lover of Man!
