Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
St. Nicholas Bulletin - August 22, 2021
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! |
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Homily for the 9th Sunday
from Fr. Philip LeMasters
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People view the church in many different ways. Some think of it as a private club for meeting the spiritual needs of its members in a way that is ultimately self-centered and insular. Contrary to popular opinion, the mission of Christ’s Body is not to help us ignore or escape from the world, but to manifest a sign of its salvation. As members of the Savior’s Body and of one another, we must accept the challenge that St. Paul gave to the Corinthians to live as God’s fellow workers, God’s field, and God’s building. Those are all active images that require something of us. Jesus Christ is our one true foundation, but we must not simply rest content with having a foundation, any more than someone would lay the foundation for a building and then stop construction. As St. Paul wrote, “you are God’s temple and…God’s Spirit dwells in you.” Our calling is to build up the Body of Christ as a holy temple that will shine brightly in a darkened world as we journey toward the Kingdom, where the true spiritual state of our souls will be revealed.
The Apostle is not writing about a building made of wood or stone, of course, but about our common life in Christ. Both collectively and personally, we are temples of the Holy Spirit, which gives us a great obligation to cooperate with the presence and power of God in our lives. There is tremendous responsibility in having the freedom to work together with the Lord to share more fully in His life as we grow in holiness. No one will ever force us to do so, but the consequences of rejecting this high calling are profound. As St. Paul wrote, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” He is not speaking here of burning down a building, but of the consequences of refusing to offer ourselves to Christ, of rejecting our identity as the living temples of the Lord.
Today’s gospel lesson provides a vivid example of what happens when we turn away from Christ as the one true foundation of our lives. St. Peter began to sink like a stone in a raging sea when he shifted his focus from entrusting His life to the Lord to being consumed with fear about the wind and the waves. By his own power, there was no way that Peter could have avoided drowning in this situation, but thankfully he retained the presence of mind to call out “Lord, save me!” That is precisely what the Savior did by reaching out to Peter and rescuing him as He said, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” The stress of the storm revealed the weakness of Peter’s faith, which is not surprising because he had gotten himself into this dangerous situation by putting Christ to the test, saying “Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water.” By his prideful lack of trust, Peter literally got himself in well over his head.
Our calling is to become faithful coworkers with God by offering our lives to Him as we become holier and more beautiful temples of the Holy Spirit. That will never happen by allowing the storms of our lives to turn our attention away from the opportunities that they present for actively cooperating with God for the healing of our souls and the strengthening of the Church. Like Peter, we bring about many of our own struggles by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. Out of pride, we may be ashamed to acknowledge that we have put ourselves in a situation in which, left to our own devices, we will sink like stones. Some leave or become inactive in the life of the Church out of hurt pride when they realize the harm that they have done to themselves and their neighbors. It is easy to lose hope for building on the one true foundation of Jesus Christ when we know that we have fallen into an abyss of sin that threatens to wound us and others in profound ways.
We become too much like Peter when we relate to God based on getting what we want, which is really a way of saying that our faith is conditional. Our trust is then not actually in the Lord, but in ourselves. We may not ask to walk on the water, but we judge the importance of faithfulness to the Lord on whether He gives us the results that we want. When things do not go as we would like, the weakness of our faith becomes clear, for then we sink into doubt, despair, and a lack of commitment to find the healing for our souls. When that happens, we still have the choice of whether to drown spiritually or to come to our senses and call out “Lord, save me!” We have the choice between destroying God’s temple by further weakening our faith and separating ourselves from the Body of Christ or of calling out to the Lord in humble repentance from the depths of our hearts. Remember that He had compassion on St. Peter, the thief on the cross, and the tax collector, who could only say “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” We must trust that He will do the same for us when we approach Him with the same spiritual clarity as they did.
As Orthodox Christians, we never encounter the Lord simply as isolated individuals, but as members of His Body, the Church. We have put Him on in baptism, become temples of the Holy Spirit through chrismation, and received His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We are members of Him and of one another. He is the vine and we are the branches. If we find ourselves spiritually weak, confused, and uninterested, we should take a clear look at our relationship with Christ in His Body, the Church. It is through conscientious participation in the full sacramental and ascetical life of the Church that we will open ourselves to receive the strength to offer ourselves to God as His fellow workers, field, and building. If we take the life of the Church for granted or separate ourselves from it, we risk destroying our integrity as God’s temple. We step away from our one true foundation and put ourselves in a place where can easily sink like stones.
Our small parish is not simply an association of people who share a common faith. Neither are we merely a non-profit institution that owns land and a building and has programs of various kinds. As hard as it may be to believe, this community manifests the fullness of the Body of Christ and provides us with everything necessary for the healing of our souls. We enter mystically into the Kingdom of God in every celebration of the Divine Liturgy and participate personally in the healing divine energies of the Savior through the holy mysteries. We are members of His Body and temples of the Holy Spirit, both collectively and personally. Absolutely nothing other than our own prideful refusal can keep us from building a life of holiness on the one true foundation of Christ available to us in this parish.
Peter learned the hard way not to put Christ to the test, and we must not make our active participation in the Church conditional upon any preconceived notions of how religion should fit into our lives or what we want from God. The point is not that we fit God into our lives, but that we offer ourselves to participate more fully in His. People involved in construction or farming have to work hard if they are to produce anything worthwhile. Should it be surprising that the same is true of the members of the Church, for our goal is nothing less than to become radiant with the holiness of God as a sign of the salvation of the world?
Before this high vision of our life together in the Church, we should each cry out with the spiritual clarity of sinking Peter, “Lord, save me!” He will raise us up and provide us the strength to build upon Him as our one true foundation in a fashion that will withstand even the most dangerous winds and waves of our lives. When Peter later confessed “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” the Savior said, “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16: 16-18) The one true foundation is Christ Himself, Who shares His victory over sin, death, and Hades with us through His Body, the Church. Let us unite ourselves to Him in the ministries of our common life in this parish. Remember what St. Paul wrote, “God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” Let us find the healing of our souls together as members of the Body of Christ.
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Commemorating the Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, Apostle Matthias of the Seventy, Hieromartyr Euthymios of Rhodes, Martyr Anthony of Alexandria, Martyr Julian of Constantinople and those with him, Holy New Martyr Ignatius, Venerable Psoi of Egypt, Synaxis of the Saints of Solovki Monastery, St Macarius of Oredezhsk, Restoration of the Temple of the 40 Martyrs
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION—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!
TRANSFIGURATION TROPARION—TONE 7
You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, revealing Your glory to Your Disciples as far as they could bear it. Let Your everlasting Light also shine upon us sinners, through the prayers of the Theotokos! O Giver of Light, glory to You!
ST MATTHIAS TROPARION—TONE 3
O Holy Apostle Matthias, intercede with the merciful God that he may grant to our souls the remission of our transgressions.
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION—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!
TRANSFIGURATION KONTAKION—TONE 7
On the mountain You were transfigured, O Christ God, and Your Disciples beheld Your glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold You crucified, they would understand that Your suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world that You are truly the Radiance of the Father.
INSTEAD OF "IT IS TRULY MEET...":
Magnify, O my soul, the Lord who was transfigured on Mount Tabor! Your childbearing was without corruption; God came forth from your body clothed in flesh, and appeared on earth and dwelt among men. Therefore, we all magnify you, O Theotokos!
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Nick Ressetar Epistle: Lincoln Govelovich
Matins Next Week: Milan Radanovic Epistle Next Week: Teddy Sukhernik
EPISTLE: I Corinthians 3: 9-17
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Eighth Tone: Pray and make your vows before the Lord our God.
CHOIR: Pray and make your vows before the Lord our God.
READER: v: In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.
CHOIR: Pray and make your vows before the Lord our God.
READER: Pray and make your vows ...
CHOIR: … before the Lord our God.
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord! Let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: I Коринћанима 3: 9-17
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 8 Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.
Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.
Читач: Зна се у Јудеји за Бога, у Израиљу је велико име Његово.
Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.
Читач: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете
Хор: Господу Богу нашему.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање је од Прве посланице Светог апостола Павла до Коринћана
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, ми смо Божији сарадници, а ви сте Божија њива, Божија грађевина. По благодати Божијој која ми је дата, ја сам као мудар неимар поставио темељ, а други зида на њему; али сваки нека гледа како зида. Јер темеља другога нико не може поставити осим постојећег, који је Исус Христос. Ако ли ко зида на овоме темељу злато, сребро, драго камење, дрва, сијено, сламу, свачије ће дјело изићи на видјело; јер ће дан показати, јер ће се огњем открити, и свачије ће се дјело огњем испитати какво је. Ако остане чије дјело што је назидао, примиће плату; Ако чије дјело изгори, биће оштећен, а сам ће се спасти, но тако као кроз огањ. Не знате ли да сте храм Божији и да Дух Божији обитава у вама? Ако неко разара храм Божији, разориће њега Бог; јер је храм Божији свет, а то сте ви.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Ходите, запјевајмо Господу, покликнимо Богу Спаситељу нашем.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Изађимо пред лице Његово с хвалом, ускликнимо му у пјесмама.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Matthew 14: 22-34
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Матеј 14: 22-34
И одмах принуди Исус ученике своје да уђу у лађу и иду прије њега на ону страну док он отпусти народ. И отпустивши народ, попе се на гору да се насамо помоли. А наста вече и бијаше ондје сам. А лађа бјеше већ насред мора, угрожена од валова, јер бијаше противан вјетар. А у четврту стражу ноћи отиде к њима Исус ходећи по мору. И видјевши га ученици гдје иде по мору, узнемирише се говорећи: То је утвара; и од страха повикаше. А Исус им одмах рече говорећи: Не бојте се, ја сам, не плашите се! А Петар одговарајући рече му: Господе, ако си ти, реци ми да дођем теби по води. А он рече: Ходи! И изишавши из лађе, Петар иђаше по води да дође Исусу. Но видећи јак вјетар уплаши се, и почевши тонути, повика говорећи: Господе, спаси ме! И одмах Исус пруживши руку ухвати га, и рече му: Маловјерни, зашто посумња? И кад уђоше у лађу, преста вјетар. А они у лађи приступише и поклонише му се говорећи: Ваистину си ти Син Божији. И прешавши дођоше у земљу Генисаретску.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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August Birthdays
Ross Spangler (Aug 1), Tim Hook (Aug 1), Kaitlyn Hook (Aug 2), Protostavrophor Ilija Balach (Aug 2), Mara Sunajko (Aug 3), Ted Yanich (Aug 4), Mike Healy (Aug 5), Chris Radanovic (Aug 7), Cathy Fagan (Aug 7), Dieter Geib (Aug 7), Igor Pejcic (Aug 7), Russ Hewitt (Aug 9), Bo Venesevich (Aug 11), Ioanna Radanovic (Aug 11), Theodore Sukernik (Aug 11), Victoria Fithian (Aug 11), Tracey Stanovich (Aug 15), Eva Sutkliffe (Aug 15), Marina Skinder (Aug 20), Stefan Gligorevic (Aug 21), Chase Hewitt (Aug 23), Chuck Belic (Aug 25), Vaciona Petrovich (Aug 25), Ferris Atty (Aug 27), Maryann Seiders (Aug 28), Chuck Miller (Aug 30), Florence Ivanoff
August Anniversaries
Chris & Beth Ann Radanovic (Aug 1), Duke & Sue Petrovich (Aug 9), Chuck & Jean Miller (Aug 9), Mike & Stephanie York (Aug 20), Dn. Bojan & Sladjana Gligorevic (Aug 31)
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FEAST OF THE HOLY DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
The Feast will begin with the Vigil and Lamentations on Friday, August 27 at 6:30 pm and continue with Liturgy on Saturday, August 28 at 9:00 am with the blessing of fragrant flowers and herbs.
FLOWERS AND HERBS
We humbly ask that you bring fragrant flowers and herbs for the Eve of the Dormition of the Theotokos to be placed on and around her tomb. This tradition began with her death itself. The Holy Apostle Thomas was late returning to say goodbye to the Theotokos, and when he arrived three days late, he begged the other Apostles to open her tomb so he could venerate her body. When they did, they discovered that the tomb was empty. In place of her body, they found a tomb full of fragrant flowers and herbs. Thus, we bring them to Church to be blessed on this day, in honor of the bodily resurrection of the Theotokos.
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS
The regular scheduled meeting/luncheon for September 14, 2021 is being cancelled. You will be informed when our next meeting will take place. The Seniors will celebrate their Slava on September 26, 2021 at Divine Liturgy, and all preparations for this are made. Please attend if possible.
SERBFEST (HELP NEEDED)
Serb Fest is returning this year to an in-person event! The date will be Saturday, September 18th starting at 11am. Plan on a wonderful day of good food, music and fun! A mailer will be coming out shortly with more information. Sign up sheets are in the lobby. And fliers are available for distribution to local establishments (see Daria).
COVID19 REMINDER
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all people wear masks in crowded places while indoors. This is due to the possibility of spreading the Delta variant of the SARS-Cov2 virus among those who are not vaccinated (especially children under 12).
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August Charity
Zoe for Life
Many women are fortunate to have the love and support structure to lead them to marriage, children, and a meaningful life. Others, however, are from different circumstances, and may find themselves in crisis because of an unplanned pregnancy. Their situation may have them in turmoil and panic, where healthy decisions are difficult to make. ZOE for Life!® serves as a conduit, guiding women to a wider range of support organizations, providing an attractive set of options and a promising outlook on their situation. There is counseling, housing referral assistance, referral for prenatal care, adoption and other services available for which most women in distress are unaware. It is the goal of ZOE for Life!® to offer more opportunities to women in unplanned pregnancies, and to empower them to make decisions everyone can live with. ZOE for Life!® is a pan-Orthodox outreach of Orthodox Christians. It is funded privately, and has received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. All gifts are tax-deductible as specified by law.
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