O Holy Apostle Philip,
Intercede with the merciful God
That He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!
My Dear Friends,
Today’s Epistle reading can be seen as a continuation of last week’s Epistle message: we were reminded that there is no place to boast that one is baptized by Peter, Paul or Apollo. I quoted last week St Augustine who went further saying that it would not matter even if it were Judas baptizing because the principal agent at work is Christ Himself. We looked at the economy of Sacraments as infallible channels of an increase in grace precisely because Christ is the principal agent at work in them. As I told you water in and of itself does not wash away sin, it cleanses the body. But water through the invocation of the Trinity at Baptism will wash away all sin. We in the East are keenly aware of the importance of Christ’s own baptism and that His contact with the Jordan sanctified all the waters used for baptism.
Today’s epistle is to remind us that just as the sacraments are Christ at work so the Christian message is Christ’s wisdom. It is not man made. Historically, St Paul was mocked as he was not an eye witness to Jesus Christ as were all the other Apostles. St Paul however speaks of the exceptional grace which was his conversion and enlightenment to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. St Paul did not give us his own wisdom, rather he preached the wisdom of Christ which is not that of the worldly wise. With irony he points out the false preachers who enjoy fame and riches and he tells us that this is not the message of Christ who sought no fame and no riches. Indeed Christ chose his path of self-emptying, his kenosis, that we might be made rich through his poverty. St Paul is pointing out that he is not fleecing his flock but preaching the true message of Christ.
In today’s Gospel we have a pericope that follows on from last week’s Gospel reading. We looked at the multiplication of the loaves and we saw the significance of the five loaves and two fish as a symbol of the capital role the sacraments, the sacred mysteries we celebrate paly in our lives. Moving further in the same chapter of St Matthew’s Gospel we see Christ not just as someone who provides temporal goods (he did feed 5000 people) but Christ the One who dominates nature. The One who calms the waves. In other Gospel accounts of this miracle an ‘exceedingly big great’ calm pervades. Of course the Hebrew is saying something awkward: It is redundant to say exceedingly greatly big. The point is that the Evangelist is capturing the moment, he is sizing up Who Christ is.
Christ’s words: “fear not, it is I,” we will hear as Christ conquers death, this is the greeting of the Risen Lord! That knowledge should produce in us a great calm.
And yet we look at St Peter and wonder why he slipped? St Peter became frightened for he lost sight of who Christ is. The good news is that St Peter shows us what to do when he cries out; “Lord, save me.” As Christians knocked about on the stormy waves of life we can all too often sink when we lose sight of Christ. Our prayer should be: Lord save us, for we perish. This is indeed one of the oldest prayers and a prayer very dear to us who pray the Jesus Prayer: “Jesus Son of the Living God have mercy on me.”
We learn from today’s Gospel that we need to pray and sometimes even cry out, but we must always have faith in Christ in his message which is not the wisdom of the world.
News of the parish: Please note that next Sunday we will have a parish meeting. I do want to hear your concerns and present ideas of how we can grow and become better known as a Community. You will see a change in the timing of Liturgies during the week. So far there has been a good response from the faithful wishing to come to a later Liturgy after work. For practical reasons we are having more early Liturgies this week and this has to do with the cooling of the Church. Please do come with your questions, input and suggestions.
This Sunday will be the last Sunday that Pani Kim Murin and her children are among us and so I take the opportunity to thank Fr Francis for his coverage while I was in New Zealand and to wish them all God’s blessings and prosperity in Slovakia. I trust that you will all take a moment to see and speak with her before their departure.
Please also pay attention to the sign-up sheet for Hospitality – and of course many thanks to you all for signing up.
Last week’s collection amounted to $.
- Prayer requests. Please remember Alex Kachmar who passed away very recently. Also Iosif Grecu the father of Ingrid Stewart and Peter Haines recently deceased. Fr. Brian Escobedo, Fr. Michael, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Fr. Patrik, Fr Christopher, Fr Theodore, Sr. Patricia, Margaret, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Darlene, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Thomas, Carol, Michael, Jennifer, John, Elizabeth, Judy, Ruth, Dimitri, Christie, Viktoria, Emily, Margaret, Patricia. Nadezda, Dan, Doug. Murin family, Aisha, Faustyna, John, Maia, Najwa, Nadia, Fabin, Nazmin, Deacon Dave, Gene Ford, Barbara, Trish, Abdul and family, Shalom World. Charles, and my mother Martha Andrews.
- Liturgical schedule
Aug 7 Sunday – Ninth Sunday after Pentecost |
8:30 a.m. Confessions 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy |
Post Feast of the Transfiguration |
Tone 8 |
Aug 9 Tues |
6:30 p.m. Divine Liturgy |
St Matthias, Apostle |
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Aug 10 Weds |
6:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy |
St Lawrence, Archdeacon Martyr |
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Aug 11 Thurs |
6:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy |
St Euplus, Martyr |
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Aug 13 Saturday |
9:00 am Divine Liturgy |
Otdanije (Leave Taking) of the Feast of the Transfiguration |
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Aug 14 Sunday – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost |
8:30 a.m. Confessions 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy |
Prefeast of the Dormition. Translation of relics of St.Theodosius |
Tone 1 |
For Confession, please call Fr. Christopher for an appointment, or come 30 minutes before or after scheduled services. If you desire Spiritual Direction then please see Fr Andrews for an appointment during the week so as to allow everyone an opportunity on Sundays for Confessions. Please consider those traveling from long distances.