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
March 21, 2004 — St. John Climacus
Divine Liturgy Intention:
Our Offerings
Solemn Holy Day
Readers Service Matins — March 27 — Akathistos Saturday
Matins will begin at 8 a.m. at the church. During the service, we will pray the Akathist to thank God for giving us the
most Holy Theotokos and to thank her for her prayers in helping us, and that by her prayers she will continue to deliver us
from both visible and invisible enemies. Call William Gogar at 865-xxx-xxxx
for more information.
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN CLIMACUS
Today we celebrate the memory of St. John Climacus (AD 525-606), the abbot of a Mount Sinai monastery and the author of
The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Although his feast falls on March 30, we customarily celebrate his memory on the
fourth Sunday of the Great Fast because religious studied his book during the fast. His book consists of 30 steps toward the
spiritual perfection of man. Each step represents one year in the life of Christ. It is a fundamental book for religious because it describes the perfect unity of man and God and gives directions to those who follow the words of our Lord:
“Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt.5:48).
—Fr. Basil Shereghy, The Liturgical Year of the Byzantine-Salvonic
Rite
The Icon of the Feast of the Annunciation
The joy of the Incarnation finds its first expression in the icon of the Annunciation. This icon helps us enter the “Good News of Grace.” The very posture of the Archangel Gabriel is depicted in graceful motion, as though
dancing, and holding in his left hand a staff, the ancient symbol of the messenger. His right hand stretches toward the Mother
of God in greeting and communication.
The Mother of God herself is in a unique position. It is said that at the time of the Annunciation, she was occupied with
spinning. Thus, the ball of thread in her hand dropped, as if forgotten in her surprise at the appearance of the Angel and the
weight of his message. The hesitant gesture of her hand conveys the gravity of the angel’s question.
The power of this scene is expressed over and over by the hymns of the Feast. The church enters this mystery in poetic exuberance:
“Why does your figure blaze with fire?” said she, whom we venerate, to Gabriel in her amazement. “What is
your rank, and what is the value of your words? You announce to me that I shall bring forth a child, yet I have no experience
of man. Lead me not astray with crafty words, O Man, as the crafty serpent once led Eve, our mother” (Vesper Hymn).
The Mother of God accepts the message of the Annunciation and is thusly depicted with her head inclined in consent. She
humbly agrees, “I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done to me as you say.” (Lk. 1:38) This
icon celebrates the Virgin’s agreement to be the mother of the Incarnate Son of God.
One final detail remains to be mentioned: The rays of light descending on the Virgin illustrate the message of the Angel,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Lk. 1:35)
Prescribed as a pictorial element for the Royal Doors of the Iconostas, this icon is among the simplest, but it symbolizes
both God’s love and humanity’s freedom. The clarity of its expression and the plenitude of its inner joy remain
with us throughout the ages.
—God With Us Icon Study
Pastoral Ponderings: All the Small Things
Unleavened cakes and parched grain doesn’t sound like much of a menu, but it was a banquet for the Israelites of long
ago.
Freed from slavery in Egypt, they made the long trek through the desert to reach the Promised Land. They trudged a long,
tiring, and dangerous journey. Moses, their leader, died. Now Joshua, his successor, brought them to their homeland again.
It was Passover, the festival commemorating their departure from Egypt. So the people celebrated the feast with food from
their new home: unleavened cakes and parched grain. They no longer ate the food of Egypt. They no longer ate the manna from
the desert. Now camped on a plain in Gilgal; they ate the food of their new home, the food of freedom.
You appreciate things more if you have had to go without them. Food tastes better if you are hungry. Employment is more
satisfying if you were unemployed. Shelter feels safer is you have been without a home. God’s presence feels stronger
when you rediscover prayer.
It may not seem like much — unleavened cakes and parched grain, but for the Israelites it was a banquet. They may not
seem like much, these little blessings God gives us, but for those who experience God’s mercy, they are wonderful.
— Father O’Connell
Last updated: 24-Mar-2004 |
