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 each of us. 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 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. And that separation is truly a living death. In recognizing our sin, however, 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). 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.” 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 and desire for each of us!
In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Sunday, July 6, 9 a.m., Divine Liturgy at the USNA, Fr. John Monto celebrating
- Friday, July 11, 7 p.m., Fr. Robert leads Little Compline and teaching for the Plebes at USNA
- Saturday, July 12, 6 p.m., Great Vespers with Confession following
- Sunday, July 13, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy Trapeza following Liturgy
- Sunday, July 13, 9 a.m., Divine Liturgy at the USNA, Fr. Joseph celebrating
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);
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, newly-illumined Simeon Mihai and his godparents, Priest John and Mat. Janette, Benedict, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Daniel, Sarah, Seraphim, Patricia, George, Anne, Ed, Johnson, Jeanette, and Family, Bede, Meriam and family imprisoned in the Sudan, the incoming class of plebes at the USNA and for their salvation, 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 and Iraq, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
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 (Venerable Sisoës)Tone 1
Dweller of the desert and Angel in the body,
You were shown to be a wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Si-so-ës.*
You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer:
healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith.
Glory to Him Who gave your strength! // Glory to Him Who granted you a ^crown!//
Glory to Him Who through you grants healing to 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 (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(Venerable Sisoës) Tone 4
In asceticism you were revealed to be an earthly Angel,
continually enlightening the thoughts of the faithful with divine signs.//
Therefore we honor you with faith, venerable Sisoës.*
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.
