The idea of denying oneself anything in today’s secular culture is considered ‘abnormal.’ The message of the cross of Christ, on the other hand, communicates a complete opposite outlook: Christ God says to us today, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mk. 8:34). Christ God knows that if we put self, that is, ego, first we become what we ‘eat’ and are swallowed up by our passions and by the world around us. By contrast, the Christian is he or she who comes outside himself to love and to serve God and in learning to live for Him and in the light of His truth, overcomes the passions, step by struggling step, to become the glorified and adopted children of God He’s created us and called us to be. For this reason, Christ also says to us today, “whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mk. 8:35). This is the paradox presented to us today: in dying to the worst of fallen human nature, we learn to live to Christ and acquire a deified human nature, capable of life with God. Such is God’s loving desire for us, but what about the world and how it views the cross? St. Paul sums it up best: “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Cor. 1:18). With God ALL things are possible, all healing from sin-sickness and the passions, redemption and new life, new chances for all are the daily business of heaven. The cross makes such redemption possible, but only through the cross. With the cross before us, we learn to deny ourselves, and look to and follow Christ, so that we may become fellow victors with Him over sin and death through His invincible trophy and weapon of peace, the cross of Christ!
Blessed Feast of the Cross and may Christ God bless you!
Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Mission Council Meeting, Rectory
- v Wednesday, Sept. 18, 12:50-13:20, 6th Hour, USNA
- v Thursday, Sept. 19, 19.00-20.00, Evening Prayers and Discussion
- v Saturday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m. Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following,
- v Sunday, Sept. 22, During Special Trapeza, Iacob’s 1st Birthday Party.
- v Sunday, Sept. 22, Following Trapeza, Sunday School planning meeting.
- v Sunday, Sept. 22, 9:30 a.m. Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy,
Looking Ahead: Important Dates!
- Wed., Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m., St. John Boathouse, 1st Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion
- Saturday, Oct. 5, First Saturday Great Vespers & Potluck Dinner with Students and Mids.
- Sunday, Oct. 6, SUNDAY SCHOOL begins
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of God’s love, healing, power, and glory;”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Healing for Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Benedict, Marina, 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 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 of the Cross Tone 1
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance!
Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians
over their adversaries;
and by virtue of Thy Cross,//preserve Thy habitation!
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 of the Cross Tone 4
As You were voluntarily raised upon the Cross for our sake,
grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God;
make all Orthodox Christians glad by your power,
granting them victories over their adversaries//
by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace!
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
