Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Mission

Icon of the Archangel Gabriel

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.

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HOLY RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC MISSION
FATHER THOMAS O’CONNELL, PASTOR
FATHER DEACON RON VOLEK, PASTORAL ASSISTANT
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH
307 BLACK OAK RIDGE ROAD PO BOX 817
SEYMOUR, TN 37865
PHONE: 865-609-1081
www.hrbcc.org

Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na Niky!
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Divine Liturgy begins at 4 p.m. Every Sunday
Ninth Hour Prayer precedes Liturgy at 3:30 p.m.

Potluck supper follows Liturgy on the third Sunday of the month
Also at this time non-perishable foods and items for those in need

AUGUST 26, 2007
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY MARTYRS ADRIAN AND NATALIA
ICON OF OUR BLESSED THEOTOKOS OF VLADIMIR

Our Offerings
August 19: $401 — Candles: $17

GOSPEL THOUGHT: “HE WHO IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME!”

When our Lord spoke in parables, He often used allegory familiar to His listeners. In today’s Gospel reading, the vineyard represents Israel; the vineyard owner represents God; and the managers or tenants of the vineyard represent the political and religious leaders of the time. Just as the responsibility of the vineyard managers was to produce a profit for the vineyard owner; so was it the responsibility of the religious leaders, in the time of Jesus, to bring God’s people to fruitfulness in knowing, loving, and serving God. But they failed in this, just as the vineyard managers in the parable failed to bring a profit to the vineyard owner.

In response to this, the vineyard owner sent his servants to the vineyard owner, just as God sent the prophets into the world. However, like the prophets, the servants in the parable were rejected, mistreated, ignored, and even killed. Finally, the vineyard owner sent his son to reason with the mangers, but they killed him out of jealously. Jesus, too, was rejected and ultimately crucified at the hands of devious and jealous men.

Are we, at times, like the managers of the vineyard who rejected the Son? How often do we knowingly distance ourselves from God and His commandments? There is a pride in the human heart that urges us to take control of our own lives—even if it means disobedience to all that we know to be right and true. Our Lord tells us, “He who is not for Me is against Me.” (Matthew 12:30) When we act in such a way, we really are no different from the tenant farmers in the parable.

THE ICON OF OUR BLESSED THEOTOKOS OF VLADIMIR COMMEMORATED ON MAY 21, JUNE 23, AND AUGUST 26

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God receives its name from the Russian city of Vladimir where it was for so many years. There is a tradition that it was painted by St. Luke, though this is doubtful. We do know that it was in Jerusalem as early as 450 A.D. and then after which it went to Constantinople.

In the early part of the 12th century, it was sent to Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in Kiev as a gift. Later, in 1155, his son, Prince Andrew Bogoluibsky, a great venerator of the Mother of God, wanted to take it to Sudal.

On the journey, they went to through the City of Vladimir. There the horses refused to travel any further. They simply stopped and would not go on. The team of horses were changed for a fresh team, and the fresh team also would not move!

Prince Andrew prayed fervently before the icon, and it was revealed to him that it was the desire of the Holy Theotokos that her icon remain in Vladimir. Orders were given immediately that a church be built. In 1160, when the construction was completed, the icon was installed with much honor and solemnity.

The holy image was famous for many victories achieved through its protection. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, the Tartars were defeated and rebellions were calmed. In 1395, when Moscow was besieged by Tamerlane, the icon was taken there, and the city was saved. It remained there in the Dormition Cathedral till the Russian Revolution in 1917.

It now resides in the Tretyakov Art Museum in Moscow where it can be seen in a glass case that is atmospherically controlled. Even in the gallery, pious believers constantly come to venerate it and make prostrations and pray. The feast days commemorate the three times that Moscow was delivered from the Tartars by prayers to the Mother of God.

Today the city of Moscow is radiant for it receives
the sunbeam of thy wonder-working icon, O Lady!
As we greet it, we pray to thee and cry:
O wonderful Mother of God, pray to Christ our God,
who was incarnate of thee, that this city be saved
and all cities and countries be kept safe from all
enemy assaults and that our souls, too, may be saved,
for He is merciful.

PASTORAL PONDERINGS

Several parishioners have suggested that the ponderings have been a bit heavy. Granted that quoting from the Catholic Catechism can become a bit tedious, I have decided this week. I shall pick a story instead.

A ninety-two year old priest was venerated by everyone in town. People respected him everywhere, and each time the Rotary Club met, the priest would be there always on time and always seated as his favorite spot in a corner of the room.

One day the priest disappeared. It was as if he vanished into thin air because, search as they might, the townsfolk could find no trace of him. The following month, however, when the Rotary Club met, there he was as usual sitting in his corner.

“But, Father,” everyone cried, “where have you been?” “In prison,” said Father calmly. “In prison? For heaven's sake, you couldn't hurt a fly. What happened?” “It’s a long story,” said the priest, “but briefly this is what happened. I bought myself a train ticket to the city and was waiting on the platform for the train to arrive when this stunningly beautiful girl appears on the arm of a policeman. She looks me over, turns to the cop and says, ‘He did it.’ And to tell you the truth, I was so flattered that I pleaded guilty.”

Have a good week, and don't be alarmed by stunningly beautiful damsels in distress...

—Father Thomas O’Connell

Last updated: 1-Sep-2007