Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross
St. Nicholas Bulletin - October 3, 2021
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! |
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Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross
Orthodox Homily on Self-denial
from Father Robert Miclean
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Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate today the leave-taking of the Great Feast of the Cross, we’re once again confronted with the paradox of our salvation: the instrument of Christ’s death has become the means of His victory over sin and death. The cross is, in the theology of the Church, “the trophy invincible, the weapon of peace because by it we gain eternal peace. In this way, the instrument of Roman torture and violence, laid upon Christ, has become the all-powerful symbol and witness of the healing from sin and the downfall of death. But on this Sunday, in particular, we go beyond recognizing what Christ has accomplished for the universe and consider what He has accomplished for us and how we’re responding to His call. So, we ask ourselves, “What does the power of the cross mean for me today, personally?
Sadly, for many in today’s humanistic and secular world, the meaning of the cross, both personally and corporately, is lost. The secular and humanistic world-view thinks in temporal and material terms (mankind is able to improve and save himself). Without opening themselves up to God, they cannot experience the love of God, let alone His healing, forgiveness, deification. The secular world-view goes something like this: all that I experience in the here and now is the extent of my existence as a material being, so, “eat, drink, for tomorrow, we die” (I Cor. 15:32). In other words, the core of such nihilistic thinking is a selfish, dying focus on self.
Even we as Christians can be affected by the humanism and secularism around us. We may be tempted to pursue the temporary pursuits, ‘comforts,’ and entertainment of the world that are always beckoning us to focus anywhere but on Christ. We may buy into the thinking that the answer to our problems is more money, more financial security; that the answer to our busyness and stress is to focus more on ourselves and our own self-pleasure. Christ God’s words today challenge us to the core: He asks, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
While the world urges us to focus on ourselves, the cross is always a reminder of selflessness and of the greatest of love—Christ’s willing, voluntary gift of Himself, His self-sacrifice for the salvation of the world; it’s the supreme example of God’s love. You and I become truly human, what God has fashioned us to be as God-glorying beings in communion with Him, when we, likewise, come outside ourselves, our own narrow focus, to prioritize and grow in our life in Christ, to give of ourselves, and love like God loves.
For this reason, Christ speaks to us today, admonishing us that “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” It’s in dying to our own selfish wants, ego, and passions that our lives take on real purpose and we are made fit for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Christ knows that if we put self, i.e., ego, first we become what we ‘eat’ –we’re swallowed up by our passions, by the world around us. In contrast, the Christian comes outside himself to love and serve God and in learning to live in the light of His truth, he overcomes the passions, step by struggling step, to become the glorified and adopted children of God He’s created us to be.
The calling to prioritize the life in Christ, to come outside of ourselves to love and to serve and give, to take up our ‘cross’ by denying ourselves the pursuit of what the world runs after, may seem like just such nonsense from a worldly perspective; it runs counter to so much of what the world says we should be about. Indeed, St. Paul reminds us the Sunday prior to the Feast that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, even as it is the power of God to those who are being saved (I Cor. 1:18). In other words, what Christ God is sharing with us today is indeed life-saving, because only by following His way are you and I able to follow Christ, find healing from our passions, and become fellow victors with Christ over sin and death.
To the world, self-denial, even true love itself, is alien because in a humanistic and secular world love is seen as something apart from God, Who is the Author of love, and Who, in turn, teaches us how to love. Without Him we can’t truly know love, how to love: “We love Him because He first loved us,” St. John declares in his first Epistle (I Jn. 1:9). And this Love directs us to the cross, the ultimate sign of God’s love and condescension for us, manifested in the Incarnation and in His saving Passion. True love is then both sacrificial and holy because it further unites us with God and with each other as we learn to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ, not only outwardly in our acts, but inwardly as we’re transformed into ‘little Christs,’ becoming what He is and partaking of the Divine Nature (II Peter 1:4). When Christ stands at the center of our lives, our priorities, He’s at the center of our love too because there stands the cross.
In the Festal Matins for the Exaltation we sing: “the Cross is the preserver of the whole universe, the Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the might of kings, the Cross is the confirmation of the faithful, the Cross is the glory of angels and the scourge of demons.”
The cross then is the power of God because we see in it Christ’s victory over the greatest obstacle: sin and death. What Christ has assumed, He’s healed, proclaims St. Athanasius. Christ has put on death, but being Life itself, its Creator, He’s won the victory and risen again. That same victory He gives to all who are willing to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him. St. John Maximovic writes these meaningful words: “The Cross was sanctified by the Body of Christ which was nailed to it when He gave Himself over to torments and death for the salvation of the world, and it was then filled with life-giving power…The demonic hosts tremble when they see the Cross, for by the Cross the kingdom of hell was destroyed.”
The cross is the power of God because signing ourselves with the cross, we come to ‘own’ Christ’s victory for ourselves: we proclaim Christ’s victory inwardly and outwardly, we guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus from the demons and their vices, we learn to “take every thought captive to obey Christ,” we witness to those around us the truth that His victory is for all mankind because all are loved by God and called to holiness and new life through communion with Him. As St. John says, “The Cross then will save from eternal perdition all who conquered temptations by the Cross, who crucified their flesh with its passions and lusts, and took up their cross and followed their Christ.”
Hence the paradox: in order to share in Christ’s victory, we humble ourselves to become not just Christ-like but what Christ is. In order to gain the victory, we die to ego and the world, and to all secular demands that we keep the cross hidden to ourselves. If we put on the cross outwardly and inwardly, we’re equipped to take hold of, to ‘own,’ the new life, the new identity we gain in Christ, growing in courageous humility, with the knowledge of the truth of who we are in Christ. May we proudly, yet humbly proclaim Christ’s victory on the cross and never be ashamed of Christ even as the world around us sees us as fools for not pursuing the same temporal passions.
So, we come back to Christ’s question: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” This world and everything in it is passing away, but those who actively deny themselves, taking up their cross and following Christ will gain the victory, they will transcend this world and become fellow heirs of Christ’s eternal Kingdom. Today, with St. Paul, we’re empowered to reprioritize our lives, to say and live out these words: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
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Commemoration of the Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross, Greatmartyr Eustathios Placidas of Rome with his wife and children, Holy Martyr and Confessor Michael and Theodore Wonderworkers of Chernigov, Monastic Martyr Hilarion of St Anne Skeete Mount Athos, St Oleg Prince of Briansk
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION—TONE 6
The angelic powers were at Your tomb; the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Your grave, seeking Your most pure body. You took captive hell, not being tempted by it. You came to the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You.
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS TROPARION—TONE 1
O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance! Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation!
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
Truly, you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
ST EUSTATHIUS TROPARION—TONE 4
Your Holy Martyrs Eustathios, Theophistes, Agapius and Theopistus, O Lord, have received the crowns of incorruption from You, our God. For having Your strength, they humbled the enemy and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through their intercessions save our souls.
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION—TONE 6
When Christ God the Giver of Life, raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery with His mighty hand, He bestowed resurrection on the human race. He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the God of all.
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS KONTAKION—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.
Instead of “It is truly meet…”
Magnify, O my soul, the Most Precious Cross of the Lord.
You are a mystical paradise, O Theotokos, in which Christ blossomed, through you, the life-bearing wood of the Cross was planted on earth. Now, at its elevation, as we bow before it, we magnify you.
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Milan Radanovic Epistle: Natalija Gligorevic
Matins Next Week: Lenny Tepsic Epistle Next Week: Wayln John
EPISTLE: Galatians 2: 16 - 20, 2 Corinthians 4:6-15
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Seventh Tone: Extol the Lord our God: worship at His footstool for He is holy!
CHOIR: Extol the Lord our God: worship at His footstool for He is holy!
READER: v: The Lord reigns, let the people tremble!
CHOIR: Extol the Lord our God: worship at His footstool for He is holy!
READER: Extol the Lord our God...
CHOIR: ...worship at His footstool for He is holy!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Brethren, it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: God is our King before the ages; He has worked salvation in the midst of the earth.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Галаћанима 2: 16 - 20, 2 Коринћанима 4:6-15
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 7 Прославите Господа, Бога нашега: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Хор: Прославите Господа, Бога нашега: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Читач: Господ влада, нека дрхти!
Хор: Прославите Господа, Бога нашега: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Читач: Прославите Господа, Бога нашега:
Хор: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: читање прве посланице коринћанима светога апостола Галаћанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, знајући да се човјек не оправдава дјелима закона него вјером Исуса Христа, и ми повјеровасмо у Христа Исуса, да се оправдамо вјером Христовом а не дјелима закона, јер се дјелима закона ниједно тијело неће оправдати. Ако ли се ми, који тражимо да се оправдамо у Христу, нађосмо и сами грјешници, је ли онда Христос слуга гријеху? Боже сачувај! Јер ако опет зидам оно што развалих, показујем се да сам преступник. Јер ја законом закону умријех, да Богу живим. Са Христом се разапех; А живим – не више ја, него живи у мени Христос; а што сад живим у тијелу, живим вјером Сина Божијега, који ме заволи и предаде себе за мене.
Браћо, Бог који рече да из таме засија свјетлост, Он засија у срцима нашим ради просвјетљења знања славе Божије у лицу Исуса Христа. А ово благо имамо у земљаним судовима, да преизобиље силе буде од Бога, а не од нас. Свачим смо угњетавани, али не потиштени; збуњивани. али не очајни; прогоњени, али нисмо остављени; оборени, али не погубљени; свагда носећи на тијелу умирање Господа Исуса, да се и живот Исусов на тијелу нашему покаже. Јер ми живи стално се предајемо на смрт за Исуса, да се и живот Исусов јави у смртноме тијелу нашем. Тако да смрт дјејствује у нама, а живот у вама. Имајући пак исти дух вјере као што је написано: Вјеровах, зато говорих: и ми вјерујемо, зато и говоримо. Знајући да ће Онај који васкрсе Господа Исуса, и нас васкрснути кроз Исуса, и преда се поставити с вама. Јер је све вас ради, да благодат умножена кроз многе преизобилује благодарењем на славу Божију.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Опомени се сабора својега, којег си стекао од старине.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Бог је Цар наш прије вјекова, који твори спасење посред земље.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Mark 8:34-9:1; Matthew 22: 35-46
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
At that time, a certain lawyer asked Jesus a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Марко 8:34-9:1, Матеј 22:35-46
И дозвавши народ са ученицима својим рече им: Ко хоће за мном да иде нека се одрекне себе и узме крст свој, и за мном иде. Јер ко хоће живот свој да сачува, изгубиће га, а ко изгуби живот свој мене ради и јеванђеља онај ће га сачувати. Јер каква је корист човјеку ако задобије сав свијет а души својој науди? Или какав ће откуп дати човјек за душу своју? Јер ко се постиди мене и мојих ријечи у роду овоме прељуботворном и грјешном, и Син ће се Човјечији постидјети њега кад дође у слави Оца својега са светим анђелима. И рече им: Заиста вам кажем: има неки међу овима што стоје овдје који неће окусити смрти док не виде Царство Божије да је дошло у сили.
И упита један од њих, законик, кушајући га и говорећи: Учитељу, која је заповијест највећа у Закону? А Исус му рече: Љуби Господа Бога својега свим срцем својим, и свом душом својом, и свим умом својим. Ово је прва и највећа заповијест. А друга је као и ова: Љуби ближњега свога као самога себе. О овим двјема заповијестима виси сав Закон и Пророци. А када се сабраше фарисеји, упита их Исус Говорећи: Шта мислите за Христа? Чији је син? Рекоше му: Давидов. Рече им: Како, дакле, Давид њега у Духу назива Господом говорећи: Рече Господ Господу мојему: Сједи мени с десне стране, док положим непријатеље твоје за подножје ногама твојим? Када, дакле, Давид назива њега Господом, како му је син? И нико му не могаше одговорити ни ријеч; нити смједе ко од тога дана да га запита више.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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October Birthdays
Caroline Donato (Oct 2), Dave Milletics (Oct 2), Sonora Viola Mae Cruz (Oct 2), Adeline & Peter Meadow (Oct 3), Marcia Breinich (Oct 4), Madison Vorkapich (Oct 5), Lenny Tepsich (Oct 6), Alex Filepas (Oct 6), Owen Kingsbury (Oct 8), Dejan Raic (Oct 11), Arlene Barber (Oct 12), Milan Yovic (Oct 15), Yovanka Hoover (Oct 17), Andrea Govelovich (Oct 17), Nicole Petrovich (Oct 18), Anastasija Gligorevic (Oct 18), Nina Gilroy (Oct 19), Mira Lukic (Oct 26), John Nicholas Hernjak (Oct 27), Carole Radosinovich (Oct 29), Jimi Werner (Oct 29), Marijana Rocknage (Oct 30), Kate Nation, Brad Kingsbury, David Christ, Ognjen Pejanovic
October Anniversaries
Bobbi & William Wenner (Oct 1), Katya Kotchnyeva & Eric Garvin (Oct 10), Jean & Paul Martin (Oct 11), Angie & Jim Bagley (Oct 12), Daria & Dave Milletics (Oct 16), Mackenzie & Stefan Lazarevic (Oct 21), Janis & Greg Meadow (Oct 29)
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CALENDAR CORRECTIONS
There will be no Liturgy this Wednesday (Oct 6) for the Feast of Conception of St John. And there will be no Adult Folklore on Sunday, October 24.
KSS PULLED PORK & PALACINKE SALE (PICKUP IS TODAY)
The Kolo Srpskih Sestara/Circle of the Serbian Sisters are holding their annual fundraiser today, which was all pre-order sales. Pick up will be from 12 pm to 1 pm
CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Please do not forget to register your children for Church School. The registration link can be found at: https://goo.gl/forms/xsYDlxcOMs1I9das2 Or, by filling out a form at the Tutor’s stand.
KIDNEY DONATION
Natalie Cvijic Treece, whose family has ties to our parish, has been diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease and is currently undergoing regular dialysis, and now looking for a kidney transplant. If you have ever considered offering the gift of life and becoming a living donor, please contact UPMC Transplant Center at 717-231-8757
SOTAYA FOLKLORE REHEARSALS
On Sunday, October 10, we will resume folklore rehearsals for Junior Choir, Kolo and Tambura after Liturgy.
ADULT FOLKLORE
First Meeting: Saturday, October 16 beginning at 6 pm following vespers.
BIBLE STUDY
Beginning on October 18 at 6:30pm, each Monday we will meet to study the Old Testament readings for the 12 Great Feasts. Classes will last about an hour, and will be available in person as well as through video chat.
ORTHODOXY IN PRACTICE
Beginning on October 20 at 6:30pm, each Wednesday we will meet to re-learn common practices in Orthodoxy. Everything from entering the Church to setting up an icon corner, this class will review the “basics” of an Orthodox Life in Christ.
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $12/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevice, Matthew Hoover, or call the office at 717.939.3872.
SAVE THE DATE
The Mothers Club will be holding a meeting on November 14 after Liturgy. All members are urged to attend.
CHOIR SOUP & POGACA SALE
Orders due Sunday, October 24th
Pick Up Sunday, October 31st
Please place orders with Yovanka Hoover (717-623-8588) or give order forms to Daria in the church office (forms are available at the tutors stand)
By the Quart:
Chicken Paprikas: $10 Posno Veggie: $ 8
Beef Stew: $10 Pogaca: $ 4 per loaf
MOTHER’S CLUB NUT ROLL SALE
It’s time again for the Mother’s Club Nut and Poppy Seed Roll sale
Rolls are $20 each and the last day to order will be Sunday, October 31st
Order forms are available at the tutors stand and can be turned in to Popadija Andreja.
Or call her at 717-939-0251
Pick Up will be Saturday, Nov 13 from 10 am - 12 noon
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Will You Help Kosovo This Growing Season?
Summer may be the growing season, but it is never too early to think about what seeds come next.
Lasting impact is the goal of IOCC’s efforts, motivating us to provide the foundation for stable lives and livelihoods. Our efforts in Kosovo have resulted in a Church farm estate that provides for the surrounding communities, complete with grain mills, a dairy farm, and holdings for hundreds of livestock. These efforts are only possible through generous contributions from people like you.
And today, your gift can go twice as far.
IOCC's Chairman of the Board, Jasmina T. Boulanger, has offered to match all gifts for Kosovo up to $50,000. That means that your donation will be doubled to support struggling families. Our world is longing for the hope that your gifts can bring. We thank you for them and pray that the summer months bring a rejuvenation of spirit and body to you and your loved ones.
Let’s plant seeds of hope together.
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October Charity
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
OCF celebrates October as Orthodox Awareness Month and is the official campus ministry program established by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) to support Orthodox Christian student organizations on university and college campuses. OCF offers support to 270 campus chapters in the US and Canada, convenes conferences and service projects, and encourages students to develop deeper connections to our faith. Visit the OCF website at www.ocf.net to learn more about their worship, service, and fellowship programs and to check on specific campus chapters. Penn State University at State College formed one of the earliest OCF chapters and continues to have an active agenda. Other Pennsylvania chapters include Hershey Medical School, F&M College, Millersville, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Penn, Pitt, and Bucknell. There are also chapters at Delaware and Ohio State. Encourage college students in your family to participate with the OCF chapter on their campuses or to contact OCF for assistance in organizing a chapter. Participation is a great pan-Orthodox experience.
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