In today’s Gospel, Christ calls us to a deeper understanding of what it means to love. We’re called as Christians not just to love those who are good to us, but even our adversaries. We’re called to give and lend without expecting anything in return. We love and give as Christ loves and gives not by any power of ourselves, but through our communion with the Author of that love and grace, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, whose likeness we continue to assume. Like that communion and participation in the life of the Holy Trinity that we’re (hopefully) constantly seeking to grow in, love is a virtue dependent on our growth in the knowledge and love of God. This means we learn increasingly to come “outside ourselves” to love and to serve others. Love manifests itself in this outpouring of concern for others, foremost, that they come to know the Author of Life, the Savior and only Lover of mankind, Jesus Christ. Our chief enemy to love is pride. Pride is the opposite of that which Christ calls us to in order to follow Him and inherit eternal life with Him. The remedy to a hard or prideful heart is to pray and fight for growth in humility. For this reason, St. Paul admonishes us, saying, “Let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5). Christ gives us the tools through His Church to grow in acquiring humility and her companion, love, which are always two sides of the same coin. Through the Sacraments, the divine worship, the witness of the Saints, our daily prayers, and the work of healing He does in each of us as we open up ourselves to Him, we grow in that knowledge and love that He desires to share with us so that we can learn to love “even those that hate us” and lend and give “without hoping for a return. We do so, that we can become more like Christ and be called “sons of the Most High.” In Christ, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Wed, Oct. 7, 6:30p.m., Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion, St. John’s Boathouse, This Week: The Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. ALL are welcome!
- Fri, Oct. 9- Sun.Oct. 11, 12 NOON: Fall OCF Retreat at the Rectory entitled: What is Salvation? Understanding Deification and Hesychasm in the Orthodox Faith. If you are a young adult and would like to attend, the cost is $25. Please see Fr. Robert or Joseph for details.
- Saturday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m., Great Vespers at the RECTORY, 1353 Tydings Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409* (Confession following).
- Sunday, Oct. 11, 9:30am Hours; 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, followed by Trapeza (at St. Martin’s).
Looking Ahead:
- Sunday, Oct. 25, 4 p.m., Wine-Tasting Fundraiser at the Rectory*: See Rdr. Zenon if able to help.
- Saturday, Nov. 7, All-day Retreat for our Patronal Feast of the Holy Archangels, “Raising Children in Christ in an Age of Disbelief.” Robert & guest speakers. More details TBA.
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it’s the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthly confession. If you wish to receive Communion and a month has passed and you have not made it to confession for good reason, or are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert prior to the service and before approaching the holy Chalice.
August Financial Report: We received $3,467 in offerings in August. YTD $22,518 has been received. We are running a deficit of -$3,231. Your faithful contributions provide for this church and ministries. Thank God for His provision and your faithfulness, which means that our Mission can continue and grow! Holy Archangels Mission Council.
Mid-Year Special Commitment Opportunity: To sustain our Mission, we need to raise an additional $500 per month in offerings, which we aim to have matched by the greater Church. We ask all faithful to take a Special Offering Card (on Back Table) and place it in the offering box. $100 has been matched so far.
Please Note: At Holy Archangels we do not pass an offering plate. Instead, we encourage the faithful to place an offering in the offering box on the Entrance (back) Table in support of this Mission and its Ministries. Thank you and may Christ God repay you with His spiritual blessings… “for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7).
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Newly-departed handmaidens of God, Alice and Margaret Ann
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Governor Hogan, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Bede, Wanda, Eric, George, Daniel, John, Eleni, Svetlana, Noah, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in Iraq & Syria, the Syrian and Ukrainian refugees, a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
Troparion (Resurrection)Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,//while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body,
Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, // granting life to the world.
The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life:
“Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Thy Kingdom!// Glory to Thy dispensation, O thou who lovest of mankind!”
Troparion (for Hieromartyr Hierotheus)* Tone 1
We the faithful all praise Hierótheus, the disciple of Paul, // Hierarch of ^Athens,
the world’s teacher and a preacher of the Faith, // who revealed to us Christ’s Mysteries
and poured forth streams of godly ^doctrine.//
His life was well-pleasing to God, Who is greatly merciful.
Kontakion (Resurrection)Tone 1
As God, Thou didst rise from the tomb in glory, // raising the world with Thyself.
Human nature praises Thee as God, for death has vanished. // Adam exults, O Master!
Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to Thee://
“Thou art the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
Kontakion (for Hieromartyr Hierotheus)* Tone 8
Hierarch of Athens, we praise thee for thou hast instructed us in awesome and ineffable things,
and thou wast revealed to be a divinely-inspired writer of hymns. Pray that we be delivered from every kind of sin, so that we may cry to thee://Rejoice, divinely-wise Father Hierotheus!
