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Sunday of the Blind Man
6th Sunday of Pascha
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Христос Међу Нама! Christ is in our midst! Cristo esta' entra nosotros! | |
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Homily on the Sunday of the Blind Man
By St Anthony of Sourozh
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Before his meeting with Christ the blind man had never seen anything. Everything was dark, he had to guess at things, to explore them by touch, to use his imagination. He had no clear authentic image of things. Then he met Christ, and Christ opened his eyes. And what was the first thing this man saw? The face of Christ, His gaze; the face of God become man, the divine gaze full of attentive, compassionate love resting on him, on him alone out of the whole crowd. Straight away he came face to face with the living God and encountered the miracle which so astonishes us: that God can focus His attention on each one of us — as on the lost sheep — and not see the crowd but see the one and only person. After that the man probably surveyed everything around him, and what he had known by description, by hearsay, became reality — "now I see".
It happens at the present time also; it can happen to each one of us. Like the man born blind we live most of our lives on alms, we sit like beggars at the roadside holding out a hand in the hope that someone will notice, if not us at least our hand, and give us something to sustain us for the next few hours at any rate. Such sustenance comes for us in the form of a friendly gaze resting upon us, a word spoken to us, a kindness done to us. But all this still leaves us by the roadside, blind and begging for help.
When Christ was passing another blind man, Bartimeus, that one did not wait for the Saviour to come up to him and ask him if he wanted to be saved, if he wanted his sight. As soon as he sensed that something unusual was happening in the noisy crowd, and in answer to his question was told who was passing by, he began to shout for help. True, people tried to stop him; true, a slight doubt may have crept into his mind, was it worth shouting, calling for help, would the Lord hear, would he respond to such a trifling need as his? He went on clamouring for help because his suffering was so great, his need was so desperate. He was prepared to push past the people, fight his way through the crowd in order to reach God and be heard by Him.
If only we could realise how blind we are. If only we could realise that our knowledge of life, not only eternal, divine life, but earthly life, depends almost entirely on hearsay, that the life around us is dim and ghostly because we are blind, or (like the other blind man in the Gospel, not immediately cured by Christ) see things in a mist. If only we could remember what the Saviour tells us about the beauty and the glory of both eternal and earthly life and not be satisfied with our blindness, how earnestly would we try to detain Christ, so that He might pierce us with His gaze and speak His sovereign, healing, life-giving word to us. Then indeed we might see the astonishing beauty of Christ's face, the fathomless beauty of the divine gaze resting upon us with mercy and compassion and tenderness. We use our eyes so easily, but we see little, and that superficially. Let us seek the vision that can be ours only, when our hearts become bright and pure. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God; and in the brilliance of God's presence we might see each other, each one either illuminated by God's love, shining with the glory of eternal life, or else wounded, darkened, expecting from us not just alms but the surrender of our whole life through love in order that he might receive sight, that to him also the Kingdom of Heaven might already be revealed on earth.
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Commemorating Hieromartyr Theropon Bishop of Sardis, Translation of the relics of Saints Cyprian, Photius and Jonah Metropolitans of Moscow and All Russia, Virgin Martyr Theodora and Martyr Didymus the Soldier of Alexandria, St John the Russian and Confessor whose relics are on the island of Euboia, Translation of the relics of Venerable Nilus of Stolobensk, Venerable Therapon Abbot of White Lake, Venerable Therapon Abbot of Monza, Venerable Bede the Church Historian, St Basil of Georgia son of King Bagrat III, Venerable Michael of Parekhi, Venerable Matthew of Zaransk
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN KONTAKION —TONE 4
I come to You, O Christ, blind from birth in my spiritual eyes, and call to You in repentance: “You are the most radiant Light of those in darkness.”
PASCHA KONTAKION —TONE 8
You descended into the tomb, O Immortal, You destroyed the power of death. In victory You arose, O Christ God, proclaiming: “Rejoice!” to the Myrrhbearing Women, granting peace to Your Apostles, and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.
Instead of “It is Truly Meet…”
The Angel cried to the Lady, full of grace: “Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Again, I say: ‘Rejoice, your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb! With Himself He has raised all the dead.’” Rejoice, O Ye people! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shone on you. Exult now, and be glad, O Zion! Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your Son!
Priest: “Blessed is the Kingdom…” Choir: Amen. Priest: Tropar 2 1/2 times. Choir: Finishes.
Priest: “In the fear of God …” Choir: “Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord...”
Priest: “O Lord, save Your people …” Choir: “Christ is risen from the dead … “ (slow version)
Priest: “Always, now and ever …” Choir: “Let our mouths be filled …”
(At the Dismissal, the Priest says: “Glory to You, O Christ….,” and the choir sings “Christ is risen from the dead….” (thrice). And unto us He has given eternal life. Let us worship His resurrection on the third day!)
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | |
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READERS:
This Week: Matins:Milan Radanovic Epistle: Natasha Milanovich
Next Week: Matins: Lenny Tepsich Epistle: Jovan Milanovich
EPISTLE: Acts 16:16—34
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Eighth Tone: Pray and make your vows before the Lord, our God!
CHOIR: Pray and make your vows before the Lord, our God!
READER: v: In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.
CHOIR: Pray and make your vows before the Lord, our God!
READER: Pray and make your vows ...
CHOIR: … before the Lord, our God!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Look upon me and have mercy on me!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Guide my steps according to Your word!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Дјела Апостолска 16:16-34
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 8 Молите се и извршујте своје завете Господу Богу нашему.
Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завете Господу Богу нашему.
Читач: Зна се у Јудеји за Бога, у Израиљу је велико име Његово.
Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завете Господу Богу нашему.
Читач: Молите се и извршујте своје
Хор: завете Господу Богу нашему!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: читање из књиге дјела апостолских
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: И кад иђасмо на молитву, догоди се пак да нас срете једна робиња која имаше дух погађачки и гатајући доношаше велики добитак својим господарима. Ова пође за Павлом и за нама, и викаше говорећи: Ови су људи слуге Бога Вишњега, који нам јављају пут спасења. И овако чињаше много дана. А када се Павлу досади, окрену се и рече духу: Заповиједам ти именом Господа Исуса Христа, изиђи из ње! И изиђе у тај час. А када видјеше њезини господари да изиђе нада њиховог добитка, узеше Павла и Силу и одвукоше их на трг пред поглаваре. И кад их доведоше војводама, рекоше: Ови људи узбуњују наш град, а Јевреји су, и проповиједају обичаје које нама не приличи примати ни творити, јер смо Римљани. И слеже се народ на њих, и војводе им раздријеше хаљине, и заповједише да их шибају. И пошто им ударише много батина, бацише их у тамницу, и заповједише тамничару да их добро чува. Примивши такву заповијест, он их баци у најдоњу тамницу и ноге им метну у кладе. А око поноћи Павле и Сила мољаху се и слављаху Бога; а сужњи их слушаху. Одједном пак настаде велики земљотрес, тако да се потресоше темељи тамнице; и одмах се отворише сва врата и свима спадоше окови. А кад се пробуди тамничар и видје отворена врата тамничка, извади нож и хтједе да се убије, мислећи да су сужњи побјегли. А Павле повика јаким гласом говорећи: Не чини себи зла никаква, јер смо сви овдје! А он заискавши свјетиљку улетје и дрхтећи паде пред Павла и Силу; И извевши их напоље рече: Господо, шта ми треба чинити да се спасем? А они рекоше: Вјеруј у Господа Исуса Христа и спашћеш се ти и сав дом твој. И говораху му ријеч Господњу, и свима у дому његову. И узевши их у онај час ноћи опра им ране; и одмах се крсти он и сви његови. И уведе их у свој дом и постави трпезу, и радоваше се са свим домом својим што је повјеровао у Бога.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Погледај ме и смилуј се на ме.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Утврди стопе моје у речи Твојој.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
John 9:1-38
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Јован 9:1-38
У вријеме оно кад Исус пролазаше, видје човјека слијепа од рођења. И запиташе га ученици његови говорећи: Рави, ко сагријеши, овај или родитељи његови, те се роди слијеп? Исус одговори: Не сагријеши ни он ни родитељи његови, него да се јаве дјела Божија на њему. Мени ваља чинити дјела Онога који ме посла, док је дан. Долази ноћ кад нико не може радити. Док сам у свијету, свјетлост сам свијету. Рекавши ово, пљуну на земљу и начини блато од пљувачке, и помаза блатом очи слијепоме. И рече му: Иди умиј се у бањи Силоамској, што преведено значи: послан. Он оде, дакле, и уми се, и дође гледајући. А сусједи и они који га бијаху видјели прије да бјеше слијеп говораху: Није ли ово онај што је сједио и просио? Једни говораху да је он а други да је налик на њега. Он говораше: Ја сам. Тада му говораху: Како ти се отворише очи? Он одговори и рече: Човјек који се зове Исус начини блато, и помаза очи моје, и рече ми: иди у бању Силоамску и умиј се. И кад отидох и умих се, прогледах. Тада му рекоше: Гдје је он? Рече: Не знам. Онда њега, некадашњега слијепца, одведоше фарисејима. А бјеше субота кад Исус начини блато и отвори му очи. А фарисеји га тада опет питаху како прогледа. А он им рече: Блато ми метну на очи, и умих се и видим. Тада говораху неки од фарисеја: Није овај човјек од Бога, јер не светкује суботу. Други говораху: Како може човјек грјешан таква знамења чинити? И наста раздор међу њима. Опет рекоше слијепцу: Шта ти велиш за онога што отвори очи твоје? А он рече: Пророк је. Тада Јудејци не вјероваше за њега да је био слијеп и прогледао, док не дозваше родитеље тога што је прогледао, и запиташе их говорећи: Је ли ово син ваш за кога ви кажете да се роди слијеп? Како, дакле, сада види? А родитељи његови одговорише им и рекоше: Знамо да је ово син наш, и да се роди слијеп; А како сада види не знамо, или ко му отвори очи ми не знамо: сам је већ одрастао, питајте њега, нека сам каже за себе. Ово рекоше родитељи његови јер се бојаху Јудејаца; јер се Јудејци већ бијаху договорили да буде одлучен од синагоге ко год њега призна за Христа. Зато рекоше родитељи његови: Одрастао је, њега питајте. Тада по други пут дозваше човјека који је био слијеп и рекоше му: Подај славу Богу, ми знамо да је онај човјек грјешан. А он одговори и рече: Јели грјешан, не знам; једно знам, да ја бијах слијеп, и сада видим. Тада му опет рекоше: Шта ти учини? Како отвори очи твоје? Одговори им: Већ вам казах и не слушасте. Шта опет хоћете да чујете? Да нећете и ви да постанете ученици његови? Они га изгрдише и рекоше: Ти си ученик његов, а ми смо ученици Мојсејеви. Ми знамо да је Мојсеју говорио Бог; а овога не знамо откуда је. Одговори човјек и рече им: У томе и јесте чудо што ви не знате откуда је, а он отвори очи моје. А знамо да Бог не слуша грјешнике; него ако ко Бога поштује и вољу његову твори, тога слуша. Откако је вијека није се чуло да ико отвори очи рођеноме слијепцу. Кад он не би био од Бога, не би могао ништа чинити. Одговорише и рекоше му: Ти си се родио сав у гријесима, па ти нас да учиш? И истјераше га напоље. Чу Исус да га истјераше напоље, па нашавши га рече му: Вјерујеш ли ти у Сина Божијега? Он одговори и рече: А ко је он, Господе, да у њега вјерујем? А Исус му рече: И видио си га и онај који говори с тобом, тај је. А он рече: Вјерујем, Господе! И поклони му се.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | |
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Sermon on the Ascension of the Lord
St. Nicholai of Žiča, Ochrid and All America
Thus did the One ascend to Heaven Who held heaven within Himself. He who carries hell within himself will end up in hell, but he who bears heaven within his soul will ascend to heaven. And truly, no one can ascend to heaven other than those who have heaven within; and no one can end up in hell besides those who have hell within. The familiar is drawn to what is familiar and unites with the familiar; but it rejects what is not familiar. Matter submits to the spirit to the extent that the human soul is filled with the Divine Spirit; and the laws of nature are obedient to moral laws, which govern the world. Because the Lord Jesus Christ is the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the perfection of moral law, to Him is subject all matter—the entire physical world, with all the laws of nature.
Any person, as a spirit, can be victorious in his life over a certain law of nature, with the help of another law of nature—that is, he can overcome it with his own spirit. Christ, as the God-Man, could subject the laws of nature to Himself through the law of the Spirit, which is the supreme law of the created world. However, this concept, just as any other spiritual concept, can be but partially explained by ordinary earthly conceptualizations and reasoning—and that only by examples and comparisons.
Spiritual things only become clear beyond a doubt when the spirit sees them and perceives them. In order to see and feel the manifestations of the spiritual world, long and exhausting spiritual practice is needed, after which, by God’s grace, spiritual vision may be opened in a person; this vision allows him to see what seems unbelievable and impossible to ordinary mortals. Nevertheless, a person must first believe those who have seen the unbelievable, and strengthen their faith from day to day, striving to see what is inaccessible to the common gaze.
Not in vain does the Lord say, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” [John 20:29]. The Lord God rejoices in their faith just as a father on earth rejoices that his children believe his every word. All the apostles were present at the Ascension of the Lord, gathered on the hill. This was their last collective meeting. However, this was not the last appearance of Christ. Later He appeared in a vision to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos, and to other apostles, as well as to martyrs, holy hierarchs, and confessors, over the course of the entire history of the Christian Church.
But the day will come—and that day is not far off—when all the righteous men and women who firmly believed in Him throughout their lives will see Him. And around Him in the heaven will gather all those who were baptized on earth in His name—not only with water, but also with the Spirit and Fire. And they will enter into His joy, which the Heavenly Father has prepared for all His chosen, and will inherit a joy that they have never known before.
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Homily on the Ascension of the Lord
St John of Kronstadt
The Holy Church now rouses all the people of the earth to joy and says, “All ye nations, clap your hands, Christ hath ascended whither He was Before,”1 i.e., to heaven.
And so, on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, all Christians should rejoice. What is there to be happy about? It would seem that it was necessary rather to be sad and grieve, because our sweetest Savior Jesus Christ departed from us with His visible presence and ascended to heaven, from whence he will come again—but he will come as a terrible Judge of all earthly people. No, on the day of remembrance of the Ascension of the Lord, there are more reasons for joy than for sadness. Let’s just consider why the Lord ascended to heaven from us.
The Lord ascended from us to heaven not to grieve us with His departure, but to arrange things most usefully for us. His whole life, all His works were for our benefit, for our salvation; in the same way, His ascension was for our good. Loving us, He came down to us from heaven and, having lived with people, laid His soul on the cross for them. So out of love for us he also ascended to heaven, to benefit us. As He himself said to His disciples: It is better for you that I go, for if I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you (Jn. 16, 7). So, the Lord ascended to heaven in order to send One equal to Himself, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Who would comfort the holy apostles and all true Christians in their sorrows, troubles and persecutions. That's the first reason for joy. Come, come, Lord Jesus, and send us the Comforter!
Further, the Lord ascended from us to heaven so that He could look down on us from above, as a Father on a child, as a Shepherd on His sheep, as an Eagle on the chicks, as a Leader on his army, so that He could see everyone and consider the distress and needs of each of us and give help to everyone. Like some king, having gathered his numerous troops for war and wanting to see all his regiments, ascends to a high place—on a mountain or on some building—and looks down from a height and arranges them; and when he sees that they are prevailing, rejoices over them. And if he notices that they are being overcome, he quickly sends aid to them. So our Lord, the King of kings, having His Church militant on earth—that is, His faithful Christians—ascended to heaven, as if to a mountain, so that from a height He could see everyone’s ascetic labors and weave crowns for those who are struggling and give a helping hand to those who are exhausted; in order to restore the fallen and make them stronger against their enemies, and to place an obstacle before those who persecute us. The Holy Protomartyr Stephen is struggling in an anguishing feat, he is being stoned by the Jews, and our Lord, having opened the sky, looks at him from the height of His glory, so that seeing this the sufferer exclaims: I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God (Acts. 7, 56).
The Lord ascended from us to heaven in order to shine like the sun on all of us from the height of heaven with His grace. As the sun hiding in the west produces the evening darkness throughout the celestial empire, and when it rises to the heights, the darkness flees from the entire celestial empire, and the sun's rays illuminate the universe with wondrous light, so our spiritual Sun, Christ, while He lived on earth, as if in the west, did not show His luminous divinity to people. Until then, over all the earth was the darkness of ignorance of God’s essence; and after He shone forth from His tomb He ascended to heaven, then the lightning of His divinity illuminated the universe, His name became glorious from the east to the west, over all the earth, and the whole universe was enlightened by the knowledge of God.
The Lord ascended from us to heaven in order to arrange for us a path to heaven, and to be our Leader in the mountainous countries. There was no path to heaven for man until the very ascension of the Lord to heaven; And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven, says the Lord (Jn. 3:13). He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. (Eph. 4:10). So, before this, no one could ascend to heaven, even if he were righteous and holy; and when our Lord, clothed in human nature, ascended to heaven, the way to heaven was arranged for the whole human race, and the souls of the holy forefathers and prophets, led out of hell, followed Christ by that way. Apostles, saints, martyrs, confessors, ascend to them; worthy righteous people who follow Christ's footsteps ascend to them even now. Now everyone knows the way to heaven. Just don’t you be lazy to ascend, Christians!
So, the Lord ascended from us to heaven—in order to open the doors of heaven to us—for an unhindered entrance there. Our forefather Adam closed the doors of Paradise to the whole human race, and a Cherub with a flaming weapon stood at the doors. I say, Adam closed Paradise and the entrance to life, but he opened only the entrances to death and hell, but the Lord did the opposite—He closed the entrances to death and hell, and Paradise opened—first to the robber, to whom he said, Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise (Lk. 23:43), then to everyone. And finally, He opened heaven itself with His Ascension.
Such are the all-joyful reasons for the Ascension of the Lord from us to heaven. Further, the Lord ascended from us to heaven to intercede for us before God the Father. Thus says the Holy Apostle John the Theologian: And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn. 2:1–2). And so, we sinful people will not despair of our salvation, but we will be faithful, for we have a good Intercessor for us to God the Father—Christ our Savior Himself, Who intercedes for us. Only let’s not be lazy, and with Christ’s intercession we will send our warm prayers to the Heavenly Father. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes for us to God the Father and propitiates Him.
But for whom is he petitioning? For sinners. For which sinners? For those who repent; He propitiates His Father for them. But he does not propitiate for unrepentant sinners because they crucify for the second time the Son of God by their grave sins; also, by touching the blood of the Son of God without repentance they trample on it with their impenitence. And so sinner, have fear, O you who are unrepentant, lest the sudden punishment of God overtake you and you be consumed from the land of the living, and you be condemned together with the murderers who crucified the Son of God.
Finally, the Lord ascended from us to heaven in order to prepare for us a place in heaven where we will live forever and reign with Him, our Lord. So He Himself says: I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (Jn. 14:2–3). What a joyful reason for the Ascension! The Lord ascended from us to heaven to prepare a place in heaven for all the righteous and pious people, as well as for us sinners, if we turn and repent from the bottom of our hearts. Where the place is for the Apostle Peter, who rejected the Lord and wept bitterly about it afterwards; where the harlot is, who wept at His feet, where the prodigal son is, where the publican is, where the robber is, there also will be a place for us; only we must weep bitterly over our sins. We will fall at His feet with repentance like Peter and like the harlot; as the publican we will be converted. Let us be crucified with Him, like the good thief. Let us repent, and we will be saved.
Let us all rejoice in the Ascension of our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protinica Ljubica Jockovic, Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, Popadija Sara Golic, Matushka Barbara Ealy, the child Katie Elizabeth and her parents Mileva and Michael Repasky, the child Metodija and his parents Fr. Dn. Milan and Mira Damljanovic, the child Louise Bare and her parents Zachary & Elizabeth, Shayle York and the newborn Šeren Lily, Kaitlyn Hook and the newborn Bowen William, Cassandra Semic and the newborn Palmer Belle, Catherine Lewis and the newborn Caleb Ereno, Kyranna Baker and the child to be born of her, Mara Bebeau and the child to be born of her, Michelle Adams, Addy Andy, Lori Bare, Dori & Doug Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Larry Black, Carole Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Walter “Bud” Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Irina Chudinova, Susan & Jim Cibort, Leann & Tim Cox, Victoria Cox, Art Dils, Tommy & Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, JoAnn Filepas, Jovanka Foltz, Anaya Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Nevenka Gojkovic, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Nick & Terry Govelovich, Kata Gruich, George Gutshall, Dan Hazlett, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Kay Himes, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Slobodan Jovicic, Tony Kepp, Myong Sook Kim, Spencer Klinge, Dorothy Krnjaich, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Jovan Lemajic, Dick Livingston, Maggie Livingston, Boro Lojpur, John Luksic, Stephen Lundingrin, Penny MacDonald, Dianne & Jim Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, George Milakovic, Marija Miljkovic, Peter Mrgich, George Myers, Katherine Nation, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Kobe Petrovich, Sue Petrovich, Tracy Petrovich, Christopher Radanovic, Linda Rodgers, Logan Roszkowski, Chloe Ruff, Jane Rush, Greg Selman, Michael Schaffner, Maryann Seiders, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheaffer, Branko Smitran, Zorka Starcevich, Tim Stefan, Michael Stepanovich, Stevan and Mary Stojic, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Savka Trivun, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Michael Vishnesky, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Beverly Yanich, Tosh Yanich, Dewey Yetter, Mila “Millie” Yezdimir, Marija Zabrodnaya, Jason Zeigler, Ashley Ziobrowski, Demetrios & Eleni Ziogas, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski
Those Who Need Special Care
HOMELAND: Draga Donato; MASONIC HOME ELIZABETHTOWN: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic
Those to be Baptized
Sloane, Berkeley & Palmer Semic, Barrett Scott, Divna & Danica Mitrovic, Nora & Maeve Van Huysen, Sloane & Šeren York
Our College Students
Sophia Adams, Cameron Barber, Michael Geppert, Anastasija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Kalei Howard, Faith Kingsbury, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Madison Vorkapich, Anastasija Vukalo
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Florence Ivanoff, Sofija Wuselich, Dr Stevan ‘Rick’ Zivic, Radenko Kuzmanovic, Nathan Rush, Slavko Djordjic, Slobodan Saran, George Radanovic, Edward Hojnicki, Meilka “Sandy” Marijan
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~Vigils Offered~
MIKE & JANET KRNJAIC Offered with much love and God’s Blessings on your Wedding Anniversary (June 15). May God Bless you with many more! Mnogaja Ljeta! Happy Anniversary, from Kat & family.
JIM MARTIN Offered in joyous celebration of his birthday (June 9), from Kat and family. Love & God’s blessings for many more years! Mnogaja Ljeta!
JOVANKA (JOANN) & RAY FOLTZ Offered prayerfully for peace and comfort. The Govelovich Family.
JOVANKA FOLTZ Prayers offered that God may comfort her and return her to good health. With love from Pete and Arlene Barber.
LARRY BLACK Offered with love by the Barber, Geib & McLaughlin Families for God’s Blessings during his recovery. We pray that He will bless him with good health. Our Love & Prayers are with him.
TOOTSIE KRNJAICH Offering vigils and prayers for our Kuma Tootsie. May God’s blessings be with her during her rehab period. From her Godchildren, Kat and families.
MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.
†MILKA MILLICENT ’SANDY’ MARIJAN Offered as we observed the 40 day Parastos for our dear friend Sandy last Sunday. It is still hard to believe she is no longer with us. We miss her stories, her ready willingness to go out to eat, her droll sense of humor and quick commentary on every topic. We continue to pray our Risen Lord establishes Sandy’s soul where the just repose, where there is no sickness, sorrow nor sighing but life everlasting. Offered with love by the Yanich, Matich, Wenner, Hook, Wolf, Cruz, Fithian & Semic families. Christ is Risen! Hristos Vaskrse! Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†WILLIAM G SLADE Offered in loving memory of his repose (9 years—June 14) by his wife Mary. May he rest in eternal peace. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
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Please continue to pray for all of those currently being persecuted for Christ's sake in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no division.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 6/2/2024
Collection: $2,618.00
Date 5/26/2024
Collection: $1,165.00
Date 5/19/2024
Collection: $2,466.00
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June Birthdays
Nikolas Lukic (June 1), Kolton Myers (June 2), Danica Mitrovic (June 2), Theodore Havalchak (June 3), Nora Van Huysen (June 5), Danilo Yanich (June 6), Marie Hernjak (June 6), Luke Jacobs (June 8), Jim Martin (June 9), Guiliana Carricato (June 10), Kyranna Radanovic (June 11), Jimmy Hernjak (June 11), Russell Heilman (June 13), Baylor Hook (June 13), Braydon Fithian (June 16), Xenia Grabbe (June 20), Aleksandar Bracale (June 20), Seren York (June 20), Brian Lewis Jr (June 22), Cayden Healy (June 26), Michael Krnjaic (June 26), Matthew Hoover (June 28), Wayln John (June 28)
June Anniversaries
Dr. James & Liliya Moses (June 1), Brian & Nikki Lewis (June 4), Mike & Terra Heilman (June 4), Fr Christopher & Protinica Andreja (June 13), Mike & Janet Krnjaic (June 14), Nick & Carole Blitva (June 16), Meghan & Brad Livingston (June 25), Mike & Samantha Stefan
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JUNIOR SOTAYA SLAVA (TODAY)
Today, our Junior SOTAYA group celebrates their patron, St. Jovan Vladimir. They invite the parish to join them in the celebration with the cutting of the kolach, and a “Grill and Chill” after Liturgy!
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS
We will meet June 11 in the Social Hall at 12 noon for lunch and an ICE CREAM SOCIAL and GAMES. Please be so kind to call Nick to RSVP to help prepare adequately. Invite a friend!!
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $17/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic or call the office at 717.939.3872.
PANTRY BOX IN THE LOBBY
The Pantry Box helps to supply much needed goods to the Bethesda Women’s Shelter. Please remember to drop off items like tissues, paper towels, and toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, combs, hair brushes, feminine hygiene products, etc…
MOTHER’S CLUB KIOSK
New items have arrived. Stop by and check out the new Eye Glass Cases, Cards and Prayer Bracelets.
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CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Office is CLOSED until June 25.
PLEASE HELP — BETHESDA MISSION WOMEN’S SHELTER OUTREACH
On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers from our four Orthodox churches prepare and serve lunch for shelter residents. We also help with various projects and activities that assist with shelter operations. If anyone would like to volunteer or learn more about this important program, please contact Andrea Gunther.
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SAVE THE DATE!!
Club Picnic ..................... July 28
Kids Back to School BBQ September 7
Serb Fest ........................ Sept 14
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June Charity
Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg
The Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. (OCCGH,) was formed in October of 2009 as a non-profit organization comprised of clergy and faithful from five local Orthodox Churches of the greater Harrisburg metropolitan area. Our goal is to provide opportunities for the citizens of the greater Harrisburg area to come into contact with Orthodoxy, to serve as an educational support to our local parishes, and to develop projects that witness to our Faith, as well as provide financial assistance to organizations and individuals who are in need.
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