Christ God warns us in today’s Gospel that we cannot serve two masters… we cannot serve God and mammon. The world tells us to put our trust in our material possessions with which we hope to gain a sense of ‘security,’ to trust in and improve ourselves. In contrast, Christ draws our attention to God’s provision—even for “the birds of the air” and “the grass of the fields.” He reminds us that we, who are created in His image and likeness and called to glory, are of much greater value. Those things we cling to from this world are passing away, but the Kingdom of God is for eternity. Because of His great love for us, Christ admonishes us to first seek His Kingdom because if we do so, then, Christ promises us, “all these things shall be added to you.” It is not some kind of arbitrary ‘reward’ that Christ bestows on us for following a command; instead, Christ shows us how vital, how life-giving communion with Him is: in Christ, through seeking Him first, we learn to be all that He has created us to be in Him; we learn to love, we learn to witness, we learn to glorify God in all things as we grow in our knowledge and love of Him who is the Author of all that is good. But first and foremost, we learn to put our trust in God and see that all we have is ultimately a gift from God, who does not expect us to just entrust part of ourselves, our time, our gifts and our provision to Him, but ALL that we are and all that we possess. Such trust requires faith on our part to entrust ourselves to God rather than in mammon. God’s will is clear: out of the depth of His great love and mercy for us, He desires our salvation, but we have a choice before us, for we cannot serve God and mammon both. Lord, help us that we may seek first Thy Kingdom and Thy righteousness that those things we need may be granted us as well and may not own us. Help us that we may put our trust and hope in Thee, knowing that, as St. Paul reminds us in today’s Epistle, such hope does not disappoint.
Christ is in our midst! Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Saturday, June 27, 6 p.m., Great Vespers
- Sunday, June 28, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy, followed by Trapeza
Mark your Calendar!
- Monday, June 29, 9:30 Matins (read); 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, trapeza following
- Thursday, July 2, Plebe Summer ministry begins at the USNA
- Friday, July 3, 7 p.m., Fr. Robert ministering at the USNA
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);
- Newly-departed Paraskeva, Harvy (father of Frank Greenwell)
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Bede, Wanda, Eric, George, Daniel, Ed, Ann, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in Iraq & Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine., those suffering from Ebola and a speedy end to the disease.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 2
When Thou didst descend to death, O Life immortal,
Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead.
And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead,
all the powers of heaven cried out:// “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to Thee!”
Troparion (Martyr Julian of Tarsus) Tone 8
Thy holy martyr Julian, O Lord,
through his suffering has received an incorruptible crown from Thee, our God.
For having Thy strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.// Through his intercessions 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 2
Hell became afraid, O almighty Savior,
seeing the miracle of Thy Resurrection from the tomb!
The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with Thee,//
and the world, my Savior, praises Thee forever.
Kontakion (Martyr Julian of Tarsus) Tone 2
Let us all worthily praise Julian today,
the unconquerable pious warrior and seeker of truth;
To him let us cry out: // Pray to Christ God for us all!
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.
