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 is this so? The Orthodox Faith teaches us that sin is “missing the mark,” being disobedient and departing from the divine calling that God has given us since our inception. God, who has created us and given us life—the life that He alone is—calls us into fellowship, communion, with Him that we may inherit eternal life. This means that when we disobey His divine will and way, His commandments, which are given us to live, we are, in this sense, choosing death, apartness and separation from that holy communion with Him who is Life. In recognizing our sin, there is in the Church the opportunity for healing and growth, for a change of heart. We can make spiritual progress, growing in our ‘ownership’ of His divine calling on us to be God’s adopted sons and daughters. What we cannot do as Christians is to pretend that we have no sin. 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). Christ God assures us we cannot serve two Masters. Let us not be slaves to sin and death, but through repentance, become slaves to God and the Life He alone is. He will in turn, make us into the beloved sons and daughters He has created us to be. There is such hope for each of us!
In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v Friday, July 26, 7 p.m., Plebe Summer Ministry (incoming class) at the USNA
- v Saturday, July 27, 6 p.m. Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following.
- v Sunday, July 28, 8:30 a.m., Plebe Summer Ministry at the USNA
- v Sunday, July 28, 9:30 a.m. Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy, All Saints of North America
Looking Ahead
- v Thursday, August 1, Dormition Fast begins, concludes with the Feast on Aug. 15.
- v Sunday, Aug. 4, Planning Meeting for Romania Pilgrimage 2014, Following Trapeza.
- v Tuesday, Aug. 6, 11:30 a.m., Holy Transfiguration of our Lord, at the USNA, ALL FAITHS CHAPEL. RSVP to Fr. Robert by Aug. 1 thru email if you will attend so we can arrange transport to and from the USNA. You won’t be able to drive onto the Yard.
- v Thursday, Aug. 15, 11:30 a.m., Holy Dormition of Mary the Most-Holy Theotokos, ST. ANDREW’S CHAPEL, USNA. RSVP to Fr. Robert by Aug. 11 thru email if you plan to attend so we can arrange transport to and from the USNA. You won’t be able to drive onto the Yard.
- v Sunday, Aug. 11, Plebe Summer Parent’s Weekend. This weekend we welcome the incoming plebes and their families to our Mission. Please bring something “fasting friendly” but diverse for the Trapeza to follow Divine Liturgy. Rides needed to and from the Academy. Please contact Fr. Robert by email if you can help.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of God’s love, healing, power, and glory;
- For God’s ongoing financial provision for our Mission;
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Healing for Archpriest George, Priest John, Benedict, Marina, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Charlene, Daniel, Adele, Michael Anthony, Alethia, Rdr. Andrew, Sarah, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering Orthodox brothers and sisters in Syria and Egypt.
- For the faithfully departed: Archimandrite Iustin, Matushka Tatiana, Kh. Jackie
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 (Prophet Ezekiel) Tone 2
We celebrate the memory // of Your Prophet Ezekiel, 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 3
On this day You rose 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 Your power.
Kontakion (Prophet Ezekiel) Tone 4
You have been revealed as a Prophet of God, wondrous Ezekiel,
proclaiming to all the incarnation of the Lord, the Lamb and Creator,//
the Son of God, Who has ever revealed Himself.
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.
