In the Orthodox Faith, when someone departs this life in the hope of the resurrection of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, we pray “Memory Eternal” for that person. We remember their name before God in prayer. The Fathers of the Church assure us that our prayers avail them much, that the Communion (Koinonia) in Christ of the living and the departed is ongoing. In today’s Gospel, Lazarus, who in this life suffered greatly, covered with sores which the dogs licked, who begged at the gate and who longed to eat the crumbs off the rich man’s table, is taken up to heaven (“the bosom of Abraham”), where he is welcomed into God’s near presence and is remembered before God for all eternity. The rich man, on the other hand, lived for himself and to feed his own passions, thinking nothing of the needs of others. He, in contrast to Lazarus, is not even remembered before God. Our Lord gives us this parable that we may examine how we live, how ‘rich’ we are toward God and our fellow man. It is in coming outside ourselves to love, serve, and give of ourselves that we grow not only in Christ-likeness, but in our participation in the life of the Holy Trinity so that we, like Lazarus, may be remembered before God for all eternity. If our god is this world, our work, our ‘belly’, or even other people, we cannot become inheritors of the Kingdom of God, we will not find memory eternal before Him who is Life itself. Holy Church presents us with this parable that we may consciously examine how we live and for whom now that we may continually re-orientate ourselves toward the riches of the Kingdom of God, to that life that is the true life of all, found in our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
May Christ our true God bless you!
Yours in His love, Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v Wed., Oct. 23, 6:45 p.m., St. John Boathouse, Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion: This week: “Media in the Orthodox Christian’s Life…”
- v Tuesday, Oct 22, 12:50-13:20, Sixth Hour prayers, USNA
- v Saturday, Oct 26, 6 p.m., Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following.
- v 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.
Looking Ahead: Important Dates!
- 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. Please bring a fast-friendly contribution to our Lunch with Fr. Timothy Hojnicki. Wine and oil allowed.
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 8
You descended from on high, O Merciful One!
You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings!//
O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!
Troparion (Great Martyr Artemius) Tone 4
Your holy martyr Artemius, O Lord,
through his sufferings has received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your 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 8
By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam.
Eve exults in Your Resurrection,
and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!
Kontakion (Great Martyr Artemius) Tone 2
Let us gather to sing worthy hymns in honor of Artemius,
the pious and victorious martyr who defeated his enemies.
He is great among martyrs
and generous in performing miracles,
and he intercedes with the Lord on behalf of 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
