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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 MICHAEL MAPLES, ASSISTANT PASTOR
FATHER DEACON RON VOLEK, PASTORAL ASSISTANT
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH
307 BLACK OAK RIDGE ROAD
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
SEPTEMBER 21, 2008
SUNDAY AFTER AND THE OTDANIJE (LEAVE-TAKING) OF THE FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS
THE HOLY APOSTLE CODRATUS OF MAGNESIA
(THE OFFICE OF THE SAINT IS TRANSFERRED TO MONDAY)

Our Offerings
Sept. 14: $230 — Candles: $21

THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
In today’s Gospel, we hear the warning given by our Lord: “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it.”
In this is found the practical outcome of this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is not only to some chosen disciples that Jesus addresses these words; it is to all of us: “When He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them…”
Our Lord establishes an instructive graduation, if we know how to meditate on it, between the three acts of: self-renunciation; taking up one’s cross; and following Christ.
Each one of us must take up his own cross — that is to say, the portion of suffering and trial — that God has assigned to each person especially, and which is one of the aspects of the cross of Jesus Himself.
—by a monk of the Eastern Church
JOY OF THE AFFLICTED
“Treat others as you would like them to treat you. Be compassionate, therefore, even as your Father is compassionate.” — Luke 6:31-36
Our Lord gave His mother to be our spiritual mother and to be a role model for each of us. The Church presents her in this role by her loving concern for us in a beautiful icon titled “Joy of the Afflicted.”
In some iconographic portrayals, she is pictured standing with her arms outstretched to indicate her loving concern and compassion for all afflicted humanity, while two angels are shown holding a crown above her head as a symbol of her role as Queen of Heaven and of the Universe. At the top of the icon on each side are the titles in Slavonic: “Icon of the Immaculate Mother of God” and “Joy of the Afflicted.” These titles of the Mother of God express her loving care and concern for her spiritual children. They indicate her compassion in their illnesses and difficulties.
Small banners introduce six groups of afflicted people. These titles are taken from the Hymns-Stichera of the Devotion (Moleben) to the Mother of God.
The first Hymn is a prayer for Mary’s intercession: “O gracious Lady, you pray for all those who with faith take refuge in your powerful protection. We sinners, ever in misery and affliction, have no other recourse to God than you.”
The Second Hymn indicates her titles, some of which are on the icon: “Sustainer of the Hungry; Consolation of those in Exile: Haven to the Storm-tossed; Comfort to the Sick; Protectress and Patroness of the Weak; Staff of the Aged.”
The holy and precious Mother of God — the Theotokos — is a beautiful example and role model for us all. Follow in her footsteps by prayer and assistance.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
A group of children were asked what love is. One little girl answered, “Love is when your mother reads a bedtime story to you.” A little boy quickly chimed in, “But true love is when she doesn’t skip any of the pages!”
The story of God’s true love can be found written on the pages of the Bible — especially on the pages attributed to St. John the Theologian, Apostle, and Evangelist, whose repose we commemorate this week on September 26.
St. John was known as the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” He was present at our Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor and was the disciple who laid his head on the breast of Jesus at the Last Supper. Moreover, he, together with the Mother of God, remained at the foot of Jesus’ cross when all the other apostles had abandoned Him.
St. John lived a long life and was eventually exiled to the island of Patmos. There is an ancient tradition about this saint’s last days. In his advanced years, St. John was unable to deliver his long discourses to his disciples as was his custom. Instead, he was said to just repeat the following words: “Love one another.” When his disciples asked him why he never said anything else to them, he responded: “Do this alone and it is enough.”
Let us take those words of St. John to heart and put into practice the “new” commandment of the Lord: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Last updated: 28-Sep-2008