COVID-19 CATECHESIS
THE HOLY APOSTLE JAMES
An   ALMSGIVING    Opportunity
to help those impacted by Covid-19

Reflections and Daily Inspiration
A man went into the forest to choose a tree from which to make roof-beams. And he saw two trees, one beside the other. One was smooth and tall, but had rotted away inside, and the other was rough on the outside and ugly, but its core was healthy. The man sighed, and said to himself: “What use is this tree to me if it is rotten inside and useless for beams? The other it is rough and ugly, is at least healthy on the inside and so, if I put a bit more effort into it, I can use it for roof-beams for my house.” And, without thinking any more about it, he chose that tree.

So will God choose between two men for His house, and will choose not the one who appears outwardly righteous, but the one whose heart is filled with God’s healthy righteousness.

- St. Nikolai Velimirovich

TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION
The hidden danger of Vanity

Without the help of God, we can achieve nothing.
by V. Rev. Seraphim Gascoigne
FROM THE NEWS
Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the
Sunday of the Paralytic

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Christ Is Risen!

Today, we are coming to the virtual community of the Archdiocese from Kingston, New York, and the Saint George parish. The Trophy-bearer George is a great Saint for many reasons, but one in particular is that we acclaim him “ἀσθενούντων ἰατρός” – the “physician of those who are sick.” Therefore, we add to our supplications today the prayers of Saint George the Great-Martyr, who fights for us against this pandemic and the costly toll it has taken on our world.
SAINT OF THE DAY

 MAY 13 / APRIL 30
The Holy Apostle James (44), the brother of St. John the Theologian

James was the son of Zebedee, the brother of John and one of the Twelve Apostles. At the invitation of the Lord Jesus, James left his fisher- man’s net and his father and, together with John, immediately followed after the Lord. He belonged to that trinity of apostles to whom the Lord revealed the greatest mysteries, before whom He was transfigured on Ta- bor, and before whom He was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane preceding His passion. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he preached the Gospel in various places and traveled to Spain. Upon his return from Spain, the Jews began to quarrel with him concerning Holy Scripture, but no one was able to withstand him, not even a certain magician, Hermogenes. Hermogenes and his disciple Philip were defeated by the power of the truth which James preached, and both of them were baptized. Then the Jews accused James before Herod and persuaded a certain Josias to slander the apostle. Josias, seeing the brave conduct of James and listening to his clear explanation of the truth, repented and believed in Christ. When James was condemned to death, this same Josias was also condemned to death. En route to the place of execution, Josias implored James to forgive him the sin of slander. James embraced and kissed him and said: “Peace and forgiveness be to you!” Both of them bowed their heads under the sword and were beheaded for the Lord, Whom they loved and Whom they served. St. James suffered in Jerusalem in the year 45. His body was translated to Spain, where miraculous healings occur over his grave even to this day.