Christ God presents us with an opportunity today to consider how we have responded and are responding to the treasure, “the pearl of great price,” that is our life with and in Him:
A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold. When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Great are the distractions and temptations that we face in the world. The life in Christ demands of us much patience, perseverance, and humility and obedience. Without patience and perseverance, we cannot finish the ‘race of faith’ before us, or find healing from our passions and sin-sickness, we cannot continue our journey further up and further in the Kingdom. And without obedience and humility, we cannot avail ourselves of the tools of salvation that Christ has entrusted to us through His Church, we cannot learn and be discipled to grow in Christ-likeness and deification. So, we examine our lives today to see what is lacking: have we lost our fervor for the faith? We pray for renewal. Have we allowed the cares of the world to preoccupy us? We ask God to help us prioritize once again the life that is only in Him. Have we withheld our gifts and talents from Him? We pray that God would help us to return to Him from our first fruits. Have we been indifferent to the needs of others and are calling to speak the truth in love? We ask God to give us opportunities to do so, eyes to see, and a heart to love as He loves. May we all grow to be as the good seed, yielding a crop a hundredfold!
May Christ our true God bless you!
Yours in His love, Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v Wed., Oct. 16, 6:45 p.m., St. John Boathouse, Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion: This week: “Living in the World but not being of the World.”
- v Thursday, Oct 17, 19.00-20.00, Evening Prayers and Discussion (midshipmen only)
- v Saturday, Oct 19, 6 p.m. Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following,
- v Sunday, Oct 20, 9:30 a.m. Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, and Sunday School
Looking Ahead: Important Dates!
- Sunday, Oct. 27, Pledge and Commitment Sunday for 2014—bring your completed “time, talent, and treasure” pledge cards to offer them to God during the Divine Liturgy.
- Saturday, Nov. 2, 6 p.m. Great Vespers and First Saturday of the Month Potluck.
- Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m., Great Vespers with Litya for our PATRONAL FEAST of the Holy Archangels. Dinner and special guest speaker, Fr. Timothy Hojnicki.
- Friday, Nov. 8, 9:00 a.m. Hours for the Feast, followed by Divine Liturgy at 9:30. Lunch and special guest speaker, Fr. Timothy Hojnicki.
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 Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Benedict, Lance, Nika, , Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Charlene, Daniel, Michael Anthony, Sarah, 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.
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 (Fathers) Tone 8
You are most glorious, O Christ our God!
You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth.
Through them You have guided us to the true Faith.//
O greatly compassionate One, glory to You! // into the Kingdom of Heaven!
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 (Fathers) Tone 6
The Son who shone forth from the Father
was ineffably born, two-fold in nature, of a woman.
Having beheld Him, we do not deny the image of His form,
but depict it piously and revere it faithfully.
Thus, keeping the True Faith,//the Church venerates the icon of Christ Incarnate.
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
