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!
DIVINE LITURGY BEGINS AT 4 P.M. EVERY SUNDAY
February 1, 2004
Divine Liturgy Intention: If you would like the Divine Liturgy offered for a loved one, deceased or living, please give your offering to Father O’Connell and obtain a Liturgy intention card from William Gogar. Please write down the intention so it can be printed in the bulletin.
Our Offerings
Feast of the Encounter: Feb. 2nd
Luke 2:22-40
The Christmas cycle of feast days concludes 40 days after the Nativity of our Lord, with the feast of the Encounter, or the
Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. This feast is closely connected with the Nativity of our Lord, for just as
Christ’s divinity was revealed at His Nativity, so it is also manifested at His Presentation in the Temple. The feast, a
solemn holy day, receives its name from the meeting of the Divine Child and His most Holy Mother with the just Simeon.
Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Encounter will begin at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 2, here at the church.
Journey to Pascha: The Publican and the Pharisee
This Sunday we encounter the Publican and the Pharisee. These two figures introduce the second theme preparing us for the
Great Fast, humility. Throughout the history of salvation, those closest to God seek to do God’s will for His glory
— not their own. This witness of Scripture sets our God apart from all others in the ancient world. A god of a people
should give them power and glory. This god should help them feel proud. As master of all creation, the one God is alone worthy
of praise.
The Pharisee seeks not the glory of God but his own glory. He follows the commandments not to “walk in the way of the
Lord” but to earn the praise of men here and now (Psalms 118, 119). The Pharisee follows all of God’s laws but
misses the spirit. From all appearances, the Pharisee is a model citizen of God’s kingdom, but we see inside his heart
and know that the correct intention is not there. The Pharisee is a warning to us that the road to God is not simply following
the rules, but living the life of God; the why is more important than the what. Am I following the rules or living in the
spirit of God? Do I seek praise of others or follow the spirit of the law?
The Publican is another Zacchaeus. Our own sinfulness may not be as public, but are we able to acknowledge the existence of
sin in our lives? The humility of the Publican is built on the acknowledgement of his sinful past. We cannot begin to improve
unless we see where we fall short. Do we spend time in prayer acknowledging our shortcomings?
Throughout Jesus’ ministry he was the model of humility. When preaching on the mount He first blessed the humble of
heart. He took the role of a slave and washed the apostles’ feet. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, says,
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality
with God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And
being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.”
—Father Alexander Schmemann
Jesus, the Model
Jesus is the best model of a caring person. Jesus used a variety of caring techniques, depending on the persons and
circumstances. He considered the specific situation and problem.
At times Jesus listened to people carefully without giving much outward direction or counseling. At other times He spoke
decisively. He encouraged people and supported them. But He also challenged and confronted them when necessary. He accepted
those who were sinful and those who were in need of help. But he also demanded repentance, obedience, and a new attitude.
Caring persons should learn to listen attentively, to understand the situation and problem from the other person’s
perspective. They should try to encourage, pray for, and assist that person according to their own abilities and within their
own means.
Pastoral Ponderings: St. John Chrysostom on Fate and Free Will
Here is a quote from St. John Chrysostom I find interesting. St. John blasts the notion of predetermined fate while
glorifying the great wisdom and providence of our Creator:
We are directed by free will and not, as some say, subjected to the compulsion of inescapable fate. For if fate were the cause
of our actions rather than our free will, what justification have you for whipping the slave who is a thief? Why, if your
wife has committed adultery, do you take her to court? When you do stupid things, why are you ashamed? Why are you
intolerant of accusations and regard it as an insult if anyone calls you an adulterer or a fornicator or a drunkard or
suchlike? The myth of a compelling destiny is nonsense. Our lives are subject to no unavoidable fate. Everything, as I have
argued, points to the beauty of free will.
Enough theology for today.
—Father O’Connell
Last updated: 8-Feb-2004 |
