Byzantine Catholic Mission
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Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Mission |
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O ye incorporeal angels who stand before the throne of God, luminous with the brilliance thereof and everlastingly shining with radiance. As secondary luminaries, entreat Christ, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy. O immortal messengers of the truly incorruptible Life, ye most blessed ones who received life from the first Life, ye have become holy beholders of the eternal Wisdom, full of light, and reflecting lamps shown forth as is meet. O ye archangels and angels, principalities, thrones, dominions, six-winged seraphim, and divine, many-eyed cherubim, instruments of wisdom, virtues and powers most divine. Pray ye to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy. Archives:
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HOLY RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC MISSION
GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER! We welcome all visitors among us always! We hope you find our worship true and reverent and our people here friendly and cordial. If you are seeking a spiritual home, we would be honored by your presence in our family. We are glad you chose to worship with us. February 2 - Sunday of Zacchaeus - Encounter of Our Lord with Simeon Liturgy Intentions: Living - Leonard Stransky and Joni Dunn; Deceased - If you would like the Divine Liturgy offered for a loved one who is deceased or living, please give your offering to Father and obtain a Liturgy intention card from William Gogar. Please write down the intention so it can be put in the bulletin. Next Divine Liturgy - February 23, 2003 - Sunday of the Meatfare 3 PM - Akathist to the Mother of God 2:30 PM - Potluck after Divine Liturgy (Note: 4th Sunday) On Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM, Byzantine vespers are prayed here at Holy Family, when there is no Divine Liturgy that weekend. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Tithes for January 19th - $805.00 Food Sunday Third Sunday of the Month - bring non-perishable food items, soap, toiletries, for distribution to the needy. FROM THE FATHERS "That if God granted to some who were only His servants such power, that not only their touch but even their shadows healed the sick, how much greater power must we suppose that He has granted to her who was not only his handmaid, but His mother?" Saint Basil of Seleucia HOLY RESURRECTION NOW HAS A WEBSITE! It is www.hrbcc.org (hrbcc = Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Church). In addition to other information about our mission, any changes to the Divine Liturgy schedule will be prominently placed on the same page as soon as they are known. Look around the site and offer any suggestions for additions or enhancements to Ed Klages, or email him at webmaster@hrbcc.org. We have also set up a mailing list to help communicate any important information, such as changes to our schedule due to inclement weather. If you would be willing to receive an email announcement rather than a phone call, send a message to webmaster@hrbcc.org from the account to which messages should be sent. ENCOUNTER OF OUR LORD WITH SIMEON
The event takes place in the Temple of Jerusalem, in front of the gate of the altar. Immediately flanking the gates are, on
the right, the aged Prophet Simeon holding the Christ Child in his covered arms; and, on the left, a small group including
the Mother of God, the Holy Joseph, and the Prophetess Anna. Simeon is the most important person in the icon. In the imagery
of this event, he represents all that was good, all that was God-seeking in the Old Testament community. Encountering the
Incarnate Word of God present in the Infant Jesus, the Old Testament people - personified by Simeon - reached their
fulfillment. Thus completed, it can recognized the dawn of a new age, the Age of Redemption, and see the close of its own
era.
The Icon shows the Infant Jesus seated in the arms of St. Simeon as if on a throne. Simeon's hands are covered with his
garment as a sign of reverence. Jesus is clothed in a short robe or tunic. The Mother of God is depicted with her left hand
covered in a gesture of offering, having just given her Son to Simeon. Next to her is Joseph, carring in the folds of his
cloak the sacrifices of purification as prescribed for the poor in the Book of Leviticus: "two turtle doves or two young
pigeons; one for the holocaust and the other for a sin offering." (Lev. 12:8). The last figure is the image of the
Prophetess Anna, also introduced in the Gospel of St. Luke (2:36-38) announcing to all creation that the Child to Whom she is
pointing, now presented in the Temple, is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. For us, the Icon is a call to discover Christ, to
meet Him, and accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
From God With Us Publications
Sunday of Zaccheus
IN THE EARLY CHURCH, the main purpose of Great Lent was to prepare the newly converted person for baptism and the other
sacramental mysteries of initiation. Even though there have been many changes throughout the centuries, the basic meaning of
Great Lent remains the same - a spiritual journey of penance and fasting to prepare us for the joys of Easter, the
Resurrection.
However, before Great Lent actually begins, the Church has found it feasible to make remote preparations and has instituted
five consecutive Sundays for this purpose. Today, the Sunday of Zacchaeus, is the first of these. It begins with the story of
a man who desired so much to see Jesus that he climbed a tree. Jesus, seeing this desire, caught sight of him in the tree,
and dined with him. This visit of Jesus to the home of the Publican transformed his life and that of his family.
Desire is the first thing we must consider in preparation for a change in our lives, a "metanoia." Desire is the first symbol
of repentance. Our first desire should be to imitate Christ in all things and be Christ-like. This we must desire and will.
"God became man so that man could be like God." We actually must hunger and thirst for things spiritual, for Our Lord tells
us, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." (Luke 12:34)
We must understand our journey through this preparation for Great Lent and lent itself will not be easy. Our goal and the
will of God is our sanctification. We are asked to be perfect even as our heavenly father was perfect. This takes time and
effort. We can start now with "desire" even as Zacchaeus did. Our lives can have the same results.
From God With Us Publications
Last updated: 3-Feb-2003 |
