21st Sunday after Pentecost
St. Nicholas Bulletin - November 14, 2021
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! |
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On the Varying Effects of God’s Word Upon Man’s Heart, Owing to Differences Among Hearts
from St. John of Kronstadt
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Today, beloved, the Gospel parable was read about the sower and the seed, about the unequal quality of the land upon which the seed fell, and about the varying fates of the seed. At the end of the Gospel reading the Lord Himself, at the request of His disciples, explained the parable (Luke 8:5-15).
Pitiful man! Poor man! How many obstacles he has in this most important matter, that of saving his soul! In that he himself treads upon the saving seed of the word of God, which can make him wise unto salvation, treading upon it either intentionally, consciously, and sneeringly, or out of frivolity, neglect, and ignorance; in that the universal malefactor and blighter of the human race, the devil, snatches away the saving word; in that his hardened and obdurate heart does not permit him to be saved; in that thorns – or the various cares, passions, and pleasures of life, along with riches – set before him insurmountable barriers to salvation. Only a few, who with honest and goods hearts and true reason value their salvation as they should, patiently making use of the means for salvation that have been given us, are saved.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Astonishing! What is ultimately happening here? Who is to blame for this absurdity, for this voluntary perdition of men? Man himself is to blame, for treading upon – and often learning to tread upon daily – the wondrous, great, and countless gifts of God. The Lord God, Who created him in His image and likeness, in righteousness and holiness, granted him every opportunity, every means and strength, for life and piety. Man, in his laziness and ignorance, his negligence and obstinancy, his unreasonable predilection for the here and now, is like a shadow passing through life, rushing headlong towards perdition while pushing aside the saving hand of God.
Who is to blame for this perdition, if not man himself? You will say: it is impossible, or at least difficult, to be saved! But, in fact, countless multitudes of men like you have been saved; they are even now being saved, though not many. “Being saved is difficult!” But do you really want to obtain eternal life – in blessed union with God, the Mother of God, the Angels, and all the Saints – without labor? Without the labor of self-purification, assisted by grace, without the labor of prayer and vigilance, without almsgiving, without meekness, without humility, without abstinence? In the acquisition of earthly goods we do not judge labor to be superfluous, and we often work at this with all our strength; but when it comes to obtaining eternal blessedness, we throw up our hands. It is not as though the matter of salvation were extremely difficult: “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light,” says the Saviour (Matthew 11:30). Yes, with God’s help it gradually becomes easy, though at first it is hampered by the persistent warfare with sin. But is not sin itself a matter of extreme difficulty, since it is unnatural and alien to our divine nature? Is sin not torturous? If we labor in sin, how then can we not labor in righteousness, in saving our soul from sin? There, the end is death; but here, eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23).
The present parable of the sower and the seeds was given not only to encourage listeners with honest and goods hearts to fulfill the word of God more zealously or unto greater perfection in virtue, but also so that people who are dissolute, neglectful, hard-hearted, and filled with passions might be prompted to take heed, listen attentively to the word of God, and work out their salvation with fear. The grace of God can change any heart for the better, accomplishing the miracle of salvation in any man, if only he would believe, desire to be saved, seek salvation, and admit the abyss of his sins, as well as the abyss that his sins have created between wanton sinners and God; if only he would submit himself to God’s saving grace and not push aside the saving hand of God.
There were, and are, thousands of examples of men being saved who were previously dissolute, frivolous, hard-hearted, and subject to all manner of passion. They heeded the word of God, did not resist it, followed it – and they were saved, and are now in the blessedness of the Heavenly Kingdom. Nothing is impossible for God: He can save an inveterate sinner; He can raise him from the pit of hell to the height of His Kingdom and eternal blessedness – like the wise thief, like Mary of Egypt, who was drowning in the abyss of sin. Man himself must simply desire, ask for, and earnestly seek salvation; for the Lord does not desire to draw us unto salvation forcibly, so that salvation, like something forced upon us, would not become repellent to him: for we hold dear and pleasing to us only that which we ourselves have come to love and to which we have grown akin, which has become our treasure and, as it were, our nature. And such precisely is Christian virtue, such is the Kingdom of God: one must come to know it, to love it with one’s whole heart, to assimilate it here on earth, to root it in one’s heart in such a way that it wholly penetrates one’s entire soul, leaving no place in the heart for pernicious and insidious sin.
Christian! Cast aside your perilous dissipation, your unbelief, negligence, and sloth, your laziness for salvation; do not trample upon the wondrous gifts of grace; earnestly read or listen to the word of God, which opens unto you the path to salvation; accomplish it with the utmost understanding and strength; conquer your hard-heartedness and obdurateness; soften your heart like wax with the flame of the grace of the Holy Spirit and with tears of repentance; cast from your heart the thorns of sin, even though this be grievous and painful, for they have become second nature to you. You cannot, you say; but God’s grace is omnipotent: it will help you easily accomplish the whole work of your salvation.
Speaking of the seeds of the word of God that nourish the soul of man, I call to mind also that earthly, perishable seed: the seed of bread, the present bad harvest of bread crops, and the high cost of bread, its unprecedentedly high cost. The bad harvest came about from the destruction of wheat by insects and worms, or from drought. Where do these afflictions come from? From our sins. We did not offer the Lord God the fruits of our repentance and the correction of our wretched life; the Lord takes away our earthly goods, for which we did not know how to be, and were unwilling to be, thankful to Him; we did not want to do His will, and we became evil, crafty, proud, untruthful, unrestrained, idle-talking and foul-mouthed, avaricious, cruel, stingy, merciless, and unclean. Obviously, a rod of paternal justice hangs over us. God punishes us with crop failures, fires, floods, grueling wars, and destructive hardships and diseases. But do we come to our senses, do we repent, do we correct ourselves? Have we not become obdurate, have not our hearts turned wholly to stone? Deliver us, O God! Where then will the Kingdom of God be on earth, if not in Christians that call themselves Orthodox, in an Orthodox land, where there are so many precious Orthodox shrines dedicated to God, so many holy relics of God-pleasers, so many wonder-working icons, so many magnificent churches, in which there are such heavenly services on earth? “The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). Yes, may we not forever be put to shame; may the Lord correct us with the rod of punishment, and may He not deprive us of His mercy and His Kingdom. Amen.
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Commemorating Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Mesopotamia and their mother St Theodota, Hieromartyrs John the Bishop and Jacob the Presbyter of Persia, Martyrs Kyriaina and Juliana in Cilicia, Martyr Hermeningilda the Goth of Spain, Martyrs Caesarius, Dacius, Savva, Sabinian, Agrippa, Adrian and Thomas at Damascus, Monastic Martyrs James and his two disciples James the Deacon and Dionysios the Monk
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 4
When the women Disciples of the Lord learned from the Angel the joyous message of the Resurrection, they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the Apostles: “Death is overthrown! Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy!”
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.
HOLY MARTYRS KYRIAINA AND JULIANA TROPARION—TONE 1
As reasonable lambs, you were guided by Christ, the Chief Shepherd, along the path of martyrdom. You finished your course and kept the faith; therefore, honored Kyriaina and Juliana, with joyful hearts, we magnify Christ today, as we honor your holy memory!
WONDERWORKERS COSMAS AND DAMIAN TROPARION—TONE 8
Holy unmercenaries and wonderworkers, Cosmas and Damian, heal our infirmities. Freely you have received; freely you give to us.
RESURRECTION KONTAKION—TONE 4
My Savior and Redeemer as God rose from the tomb and delivered the earth-born from their chains. He has shattered the gates of hell, and as Master, He has risen on the third day!
HYMN OF THE THEOTOKOS—TONE 6
Steadfast Protectress of Christians, Constant Advocate before the Creator; despise not the cry of us sinners, but in your goodness come speedily to help us who call on you in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you!
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Nick Ressetar Epistle: Aleksandra Saran
Matins Next Week: Milan Radanovic Epistle Next Week: Natalija Gligorevic
EPISTLE: Galatians 2: 16-20, 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:8
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Fourth Tone: O Lord, how manifold are Your works; in wisdom have You made them all.
CHOIR: O Lord, how manifold are Your works; in wisdom have You made them all.
READER: v: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, You are very great!
CHOIR: O Lord, how manifold are Your works; in wisdom have You made them all.
READER: O Lord, how manifold are Your works...
CHOIR: ...in wisdom have You made them all.
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, you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Go forth, prosper and reign, for the sake of meekness, righteousness and truth!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: For You love righteousness, and hate iniquity.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Галаћанима 2: 16-20 1 Коринћанима 12:27-13:8
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 4 Како је много дјела Твојих, Господе! Све си премудро створио.
Хор: Како је много дјела Твојих, Господе! Све си премудро створио.
Читач: Благослови, душо моја Господа! Господе Боже мој, велик си веома.
Хор: Како је много дјела Твојих, Господе! Све си премудро створио.
Читач: Како је много дјела Твојих, Господе!
Хор: Све си премудро створио.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање је од посланице Светог апостола Павла до 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.
Брацо, ви сте тело Христово, и иланови појединачно. И Бог их је поставио у цркви: први апостоли, други пророци, трежи наставници, после тих иуда, онда дарови излеиења, помагања, администрације, разноврсности језика. Јесу ли сви апостоли? Јесу ли сви пророци? Јесу ли сви наставници? Јесу ли сви радници иуда? Да ли сви имају дарове излецења? Да ли сви говоре језицима? Да ли сви тумаие? Али искрено ћудим за најбољим поклонима. А ипак вам показујем изврстан наиин. Иако говорим језицима људи и анрела, али без љубави, постао сам звуиао као месингани или клемпави цимбал. Иако имам дар пророианства, и разумем све мистерије и знање, и иако имам сву веру, тако да могу да уклоним планине, али без љубави, ја сам ниљта. И иако дајем све од себе да нахраним сиромаљне, и иако дајем своје тело да буде спаљен, али без љубави, то ми ниљта не даје. Љубав дуго пати и љубазна је; Љубав не завиди; Љубав не парадира сама од себе, није удувана; не понаша се грубо, не тражи своје, не провоцира, не мисли да је зло; не радуј се неправди, него се радуј истини; носи све ствари, верује у све ствари, нада се свим стварима, подноси све ствари. Љубав никад не омаљи. Али без обзира да ли има пророианства, они же пропасти; без обзира да ли има језика, они ће престати; Било да има знања, нестаже.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Похитај, напредуј и владај, ради истине, кротости и правде.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Љубиш правду и мрзиш безакоње.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Luke 8: 5-15; Matthew 10:1, 5-8
“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?” And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’ “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Лука 8: 5-15; Матеј 10:1, 5-8
Каза Господ причу ову: Изиђе сијач да сије сјеме своје; и кад сијаше, једно паде крај пута, и погази се, и птице небеске позобаше га. А друго паде на камен, и изникавши осуши се, јер немаше влаге. А друго паде усред трња, и узрасте трње и угуши га. А друго паде на земљу добру, и изникавши донесе стоструки род. Говорећи ово повика: Ко има уши да чује, нека чује! А ученици његови питаху га говорећи: Шта значи ова прича? А он рече: Вама је дано да знате тајне Царства Божијега; а осталима бива у причама, да гледајући не виде, и чујући не разумију. А ова прича значи: Сјеме је ријеч Божија. А које је крај пута то су они који слушају, али потом долази ђаво и узима ријеч из срца њиховога, да не вјерују и да се не спасу. А које је на камену то су они који када чују с радошћу примају ријеч; и ови коријена немају те за неко вријеме вјерују, а у вријеме искушења отпадну. А које у трње паде, то су они који чуше и, живећи у бригама и богатству и сластима овога живота, буду угушени, и не донесу рода. А које је на доброј земљи, то су они који чувши ријеч, у доброме и чистом срцу држе је, и род доносе у трпљењу. Ово говорећи повика: Ко има уши да чује, нека чује!
И када је позвао својих дванаест уиеника, дао им је мож над неиистим духовима, да их избаце, и да излеие све врсте болести и болести. Тих 12 Исуса их је послало и заповедало им, говорежи: "Не иди на пут Не иди на пут нежнима, и не улази у град Самарижана. Али радије иди у изгубљену овцу куже Израела. И док ти одлазиљ, проповедај, говорежи, 'Краљевство небеско је на дохоку.' Леииљ болесне, иистиљ губавце, подићељ мртве, истераљ демоне. Слободно сте примили, слободно давате.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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November Birthdays
Vadim Reznitchenko (Nov 2), Calvin Filepas (Nov 5), Dori & Doug Bert (Nov 6), Mila Ann Livingston (Nov 6), Jim Werner (Nov 9), Marko Rocknage (Nov 11), Tomislav Gligorevic (Nov 13), Leann Cox (Nov 13), Trenton Petrovich Jr, (Nov 13), Philip Lamancusa (Nov 15), Helen Kapac (Nov 16), Dori Barry (Nov 16), Matt Healy (Nov 18), Millie Yezdimir (Nov 19), Tomislav Lojpur (Nov 19), Michelle Kingsbury (Nov 20), Michael Dean Stefan (Nov 21), Brian Lewis Sr (Nov 21), Brandon Mumma (Nov 22), Dianne Martin (Nov 23), Marko Miljkovic (Nov 24), Fr Srboljub Jockovich (Nov 29), Eva Stimac (Nov 29)
November Anniversaries
Danielle & Joseph VanHuysen (Nov 4), Paula & Jim Werner (Nov 5), Nicholas & Joann Hernjak (Nov 5), Mira & Milijan Lukic (Nov 11), Doni & Steve Cashman (Nov 21), Nick & Terry Govelovich (Nov 23)
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MOTHERS CLUB MEETING (TODAY)
The Mothers Club will be holding a meeting today (November 14) after Liturgy. All members are urged to attend.
DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH TO ST GEORGE
The Dedication of the Church to St George will be celebrated with Liturgy on Tuesday, November 16 beginning at 9:00 am.
SENIORS MEETING/LUNCHEON
The Seniors will be having their November Meeting/Luncheon on Tuesday, November 16 starting at 12 noon, in the Church Social Hall. We will be having a Turkey Dinner and the price will be $10 (meal and dessert will be provided). It has been so long since we have had a meeting, so we hope to see you there.
THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING
If you are not receiving envelopes and wish to. If you are receiving envelopes and no longer wish to. Or if you need to make an address change. Please inform the church office by next Sunday, November 21.
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.
ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES (BACK THIS WEEK)
The Bible Study and Orthodoxy in Practice classes will begin again November 15 and 17, respectively. Thank you for your understanding.
HOLY RESURRECTION FUNDRAISER
Holy Resurrection will be holding their Annual Potato Filling Sale on Saturday, November 20th at 120 East Weidman Street, Lebanon. Preorder by calling 717-274-6698, $7 per quart. Let’s help support our sister parish!
NEW ITEMS AVAILABLE IN THE DISPLAY CASE
The Mother’s Club Display Case has new Nativity/Christmas Cards available. Check them out!
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $12/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic, Matthew Hoover, or call the office at 717.939.3872.
CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS TO GOD
We offer thanks to God for the Honorable Judge, William Wenner, who was once again elected as Magisterial District Justice. May God continue to grant him the discernment and wisdom to serve the people of Dauphin County, helping all to live in peace and accord.
I humbly thank all who reached out with prayers, calls, cards and messages before and after my surgery. You lifted my spirits and helped in my recovery. –Fr. Chris
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November Charity
International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)
IOCC has maintained an active partnership with the Serbian Orthodox Church since 1992, initially responding to crises of war, dislocation, and other hardships. IOCC aids those in need around the world, without discrimination, as it works to strengthen the capacity of national and local Orthodox Churches and organizations to avert disasters, respond to emergencies, and rebuild communities. IOCC has provided emergency assistance and sustainable development programs in all parts of Serbia. The more we practice spiritual hospitality, the closer we draw ourselves to Christ, and with Christ in our hearts and souls, the greater is our love for all people. Our donations become IOCC’s humanitarian works. It is our responsibility and our blessing to help IOCC continue its ministry. To learn more about IOCC’s programs, please visit the website at www.iocc.org
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