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Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
St. Nicholas Bulletin - October 9, 2022
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo está entre nosotros! | |
Unlike Idolatry True Worship Calls Us into Question
by V. Rev. Fr. Philip LeMasters
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In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...
We all like to get what we want when we want it and on our own terms. Experience teaches, however, that very often it is better to have to wait and overcome obstacles we had not anticipated before our desires are met. When we have to persevere, we learn to accept our own limitations as we learn to see ourselves and our place in the world more clearly.
That was the case in today’s gospel lesson for a Gentile woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon who wanted the Lord to cast a demon out of her daughter. In that setting, she was likely of higher social class than were the Jews of the area, who were typically poor farmers. There was also a history of severe tension between the Jews and Gentiles of the region. Those dynamics surely colored the scene when this Canaanite woman called on the Jewish Messiah as “Son of David” to deliver her daughter. At first, He did not answer her at all. Then the disciples made the situation even more tense by begging Him to send her away. That is when the Savior said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” In response, she knelt before Him and simply said, “Lord, help me.” Christ then truly put her to the test by saying, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” With those harsh words, He reminded her that she was not a descendant of Abraham and had no claim on the blessings brought by the Messiah. As a pagan, she and her people were thought by the Jews to be as unclean as dogs and spiritually inferior. The Lord spoke to her in terms that pressed the point of her presumed distance from the God of Israel as a Gentile.
That is when the Canaanite woman uttered a shocking theological truth: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” With those words, she acknowledged that, if God’s promises applied only to those of Hebrew heritage, she had no more claim on them than dogs had to the food of their owner. Those dogs would not have been beloved pets, but more like scavengers viewed with suspicion. Nonetheless, even those dogs could lick up the crumbs that fell from the table. Her response showed that she knew better than our Lord’s disciples that the ancient promises were ultimately for the salvation of all. The Lord praised her great faith and healed her daughter when she put the request in those terms.
It may be hard to understand why Christ responded to this woman’s pleas as He did. We would be happier had He immediately granted her request and not referred to her as a dog. In order to understand this conversation, we have to remember that He was challenging a particular person to grow in her faith. He forced her to face head-on what it meant for a Gentile to receive mercy from the Messiah of Israel. He prodded her to grow into a mature understanding of how the blessings of His ministry could extend to her and her fellow Gentiles. That was not only a truth she needed to learn, but that His disciples needed to see enacted before their very eyes as He praised the faith of a despised foreigner and delivered her daughter.
The Savior put this woman to the test and she responded with humble faith. She did not take offense when a lowly Jew at first ignored her and then said that she should go away and stop bothering Him. She did not deny that, as a Gentile, she was an enemy who had the standing of a dog, an unclean animal that was not really part of the family, in the eyes of the Jews. Indeed, her great expression of faith reflects her acceptance of that lowly designation. She acknowledged that she deserved nothing from the Lord. The Savior’s response enabled her to see clearly who she was in relation to Him and how shocking it was that His mercy extended even to the Gentiles. He made clear that she was not entitled to a religious favor that she could receive and then simply go back to life as usual. Christ spoke to her in this way because He knew she had the spiritual strength to respond as she did for her own benefit and that of her daughter, the disciples, and the Church. She saw as clearly as anyone who encountered the Savior that His salvation extends to all people with faith in Him.
The ministry of St. Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles conveys the same shocking truth. He addressed the Gentile Christians of Corinth as “the temple of the living God.” He called them to live in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy by separating themselves from all that is unclean as God’s sons and daughters. Their ancestry was not the question, but whether they would cleanse themselves “from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.” The question was not whether they were circumcised or followed the dietary laws of Judaism, but whether they were rejecting the idolatry that was all around them in their culture and had been part of their lives before their conversion in order to offer themselves fully to Christ.
Perhaps the Lord challenged the Canaanite woman so strongly in order to underline the profound difference between idolatry and the worship of the one true God. People worship idols in order to get what they want from them in almost magical ways. Nothing more than burning incense or shedding the blood of an animal is required. In contrast, the Savior’s words to the Gentile woman shook her to the core. Only someone with deep faith could have humbled herself so profoundly and persistently before Him. She embodies the kind of sacrifice the Lord requires of us that goes to our hearts. She shows that true worship is not about getting what we want on our own terms, but about personally encountering the God Who calls us into question.
That is the kind of faith that the early martyrs had when they refused to worship the gods which the Romans thought protected their empire. The pagan Romans actually worshiped themselves and their way of life in this world. Of course, we are unlikely to fall into the idolatry of literally performing rituals to gain favors from false gods. We are more likely to worship ourselves and our way of life in more subtle ways that are all the more dangerous as a result. Perhaps we expect that God will reward us with health, wealth, and success if we come to church and say our prayers. Maybe we think that our salvation is in the flourishing of a nation, a political party, or an ethnic group—and that God will bless those entities if we believe and behave in certain ways. We might assume that those we label as our enemies for whatever reason in this life are also God’s enemies—and that He will deliver us from them if we are good enough. In other words, we may be trying to use God simply to get what we want on our own terms. And if He does not deliver for us, then why should we worship Him?
In contrast to such idolatrous distortions of the Christian faith, the example of the Canaanite woman shines brightly. She cast aside the conventional social and religious assumptions of her day as she encountered Christ from the depths of her soul. She had the humble faith to recognize the very difficult truth about herself before God and then to see how His mercy could extend even to her. That is what we must all do with the persistence of this blessed Gentile woman, for in Jesus Christ the promises to Abraham are extended and fulfilled for the salvation of all with faith in Him. Let us stop worshiping our desires and instead offer them to the Savior for healing as His sons and daughters. That is truly the only way to “make holiness perfect in the fear of God” as we entrust ourselves to Christ like that holy woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon.
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Commemorating the Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Venerable Ephraim Abbot of Perekop Wonderworker of Novgorod
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 8
You did descend from on High, O Merciful One, You did accept the three-day burial to free us from our sufferings. O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!
EVANGELIST JOHN TROPARION—TONE 2
O Apostle beloved of Christ God, hasten to deliver a defenseless people. He Who permitted you to recline on His breast receives you as you bow before Him; entreat Him, O Theologian, to dispel the persistence of the heathen, and to grant us peace and great mercy.
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
Truly you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION—TONE 8
By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam. Eve exults in Your Resurrection, and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O Greatly Merciful One!
HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD KONTAKION—TONE 6
Steadfast Protectress of Christians and constant Advocate before the Creator; despise not the cry of us sinners, but come speedily to help those who call on You in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for You always protect those who honor You!
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | |
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READERS:
This Week: Matins: Nick Ressetar, Epistle: Marijana Rocknage
Next Week: Matins: Lenny Tepsich, Epistle: Theodore Sukernik
EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1
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 Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord! Let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: 2 Коринћанима 6:16-7:1
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 8 Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.
Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.
Читач: Зна се у Јудеји за Бога, у Израиљу је велико име Његово.
Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.
Читач: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете
Хор: Господу Богу нашему.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање је од друге посланице Светог апостола Павла до Коринћанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, какво је слагање храма Божијег са идолима? Јер ви сте храм Бога живога, као што рече Бог: Уселићу се у њих, и живјећу у њима, и бићу им Бог, и они ће бити мој народ. Зато изиђите из њихове средине и одвојте се, говори Господ, и не дохватајте се нечистог, и ја ћу вас примити, и бићу вам отац и ви ћете бити моји синови и кћери, говори Господ Сведржитељ. Имајући, дакле, оваква обећања, о љубљени, очистимо себе од сваке нечистоте тијела и духа, творећи светињу у страху Божијему.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Ходите, запјевајмо Господу, покликнимо Богу Спаситељу нашем.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Изађимо пред лице Његово с хвалом, ускликнимо му у пјесмама.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Matthew 15: 21-28; John 19: 25-27
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
At that time there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Матеј 15: 21-28;
Јован 19: 25-27
У вријеме оно, Исус отиде у крајеве тирске и сидонске. И гле, жена Хананејка изиђе из оних крајева и повика му говорећи: Помилуј ме, Господе, сине Давидов, кћер моју много мучи ђаво! А он јој не одговори ни ријечи. И приступивши ученици његови мољаху га говорећи: Отпусти је, јер виче за нама. А он одговарајући рече: Ја сам послан само изгубљеним овцама дома Израиљева. А она приступивши поклони му се говорећи: Господе, помози ми! А он одговарајући рече: Није добро узети хљеб од дјеце и бацити псима. А она рече: Да, Господе! али и пси једу од мрва што падају са трпезе господара њихових. Тада одговори Исус и рече јој: О жено, велика је вјера твоја; нека ти буде како хоћеш! И оздрави кћи њена од онога часа.
Код Исусова крста стајаху мати његова, и сестра матере његове Марија Клеопова, и Марија Магдалина. А Исус видјевши матер и ученика кога љубљаше гдје стоји поред ње, рече матери својој: Жено, ето ти сина! Потом рече ученику: Ево ти мајке! И од онога часа узе је ученик к себи. Ово је онај ученик који свједочи о овоме, и написа ово, и знамо да је истинито свједочанство његово. А има и много друго што учини Исус, које кад би се редом написало, ни у сами свијет, мислим, не би стале написане књиге. Амин.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | |
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~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
The Newly Illumined Misha Aleksander Bowser, his parents and sponsors, Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protopresbyter Srboljub and 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 Danijela and her parents Mark and Jennifer Belo, Melissa Thomason and the child newly born of her, Clare Jurkovic and the child newly born of her, Jazmin Cruz and the child newly born of her, Lauren Spangler and the child newly born of her, Mara Bebeau and the child newly born of her, Bethany Peterson and the child to be born of her, Addy Andy, Louise Bare, Dori Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Darlene & Larry Black, Carole Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Walter “Bud” Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Leann Cox, Joseph Derk, Art Dils, Draga Donato, Tommy and Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, Anaya Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Nick & Terry Govelovich, Kata Gruich, Dan Hazlett, Basil Havalchak, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Tijana Jaksic, Slobodan Jovicic, Spencer Klinge, Ljuban Kosovac, Dorothy Krnjaich, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Catherine Lewis, Dick Livingston, Maggie Livingston, Stephen Lundingrin, Dianne & Jim Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, Annabelle McLaughlin, Marija Miljkovic, Daria Milletics, Infant of God Ryan Leigh Moffitt, Peter Mrgich, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Eva Orr, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Ljubomir Pejanovic, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Tracy Petrovich, Logan Roszkowski, Greg Selman, Michael Schaffner, Michael Semic, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheaffer, Pat Shoemaker, Branko Smitran, Tracey Stanovich, Tim Stefan, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Dewey Yetter, Mileva “Millie” Yezdimir, Demetrios & Eleni Ziogas, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski
Those Who Need Special Care
COUNTRY MEADOWS HERSHEY: Eva Stimac; COUNTRY MEADOWS MECHANICSBURG: Florence Ivanoff; MASONIC HOME ELIZABETHTOWN: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic; SPRING CREEK: Chuck Belic
Those to be Baptized
Sloane Ivey & Berkeley Blythe Semic, Emilia Renee Peterson, Barrett Scott, Divna and Danica Mitrovic, Nora Katherine & Maeve Noelle Van Huysen, Sloane York, Logan Michael Livingston, Bennett Noah Spangler, Ethan and Lauren Bebeau
Our College Students
Anastasija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Kyranna Radanovic, Maxim Reznitchenko, Madison Vorkapich
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Matushka Anna Hopko, Protinica Miryana Trbuhovich, Protinica Donna Merick, Elizabeth Rupich, Margaret Radanovic, Nenad ‘Nesho’ Pantelich, Mark Gruin, Slobodanka Balaban, Mihailo Novakovic, Ljubica Tajkovic
~Vigils Offered~
DENNIS RUFF Offered in joyous celebration of his birthday (Oct 12). God’s blessings for Many More! Mnogaja Ljeta! Ziveli! Love Baba
ARLENE BARBER Offered in celebration of my beautiful and loving wife’s birthday (Oct 12). “FROM SERBIA WITH LOVE” Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!
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.
DARLENE BLACK Offered with love by the Barber & Geib Families for God’s Blessings during her recovery. We pray that He will bless her with good health. Our Love & Prayers are with her.
MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.
†JOSEPHINE SVITCHAN Offered in loving memory of Jane's mother who passed yesterday morning. May her soul dwell with the righteous and be numbered among the just. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†MARY KAUFFMAN Offered in loving memory of Kuma Linda Wolf’s mother on what would have been her 110th birthday (Oct 12) with prayers for her peaceful repose. Given by the Yanich & Matich family. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†DECEASED KSS MEMBERS Offered on behalf of the Circle of Serbian Sisters for their Krsna Slava, “Protection Of The Most Holy Theotokos” (Oct 14), in loving memory of all Sisters who have fallen asleep in the Lord. We ceaselessly pray to her to intercede for us as she covers the world with her veil, praying and weeping for the sins of the world. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†LOUISE MILLETICS Offered in loving memory of her repose (10 years—Oct 14) by Daria, Dave, Jason and Sarah Milletics. 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, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Sudan, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for all of those suffering from the pandemic, for those who minister, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no race.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 10/2/2022
Collection: $4,520.00
Date 9/25/2022
Collection: $1,180.00
Date 9/18/2022
Collection: $1,306.00
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October Birthdays
Caroline Donato (Oct 2), Dave Milletics (Oct 2), Sonora Viola Mae Cruz (Oct 2), Adeline & Peter Meadow (Oct 3), Marcia Breinich (Oct 4), Kate Nation (Oct 4), Madison Vorkapich (Oct 5), Lenny Tepsich (Oct 6), Craig Heilman (Oct 6), Alex Filepas (Oct 6), Owen Kingsbury (Oct 8), Dejan Raic (Oct 11), Arlene Barber (Oct 12), Dennis Ruff (Oct 12), Milan Yovic (Oct 15), Yovanka Hoover (Oct 17), Andrea Govelovich (Oct 17), Nicole Petrovich (Oct 18), Anastasija Gligorevic (Oct 18), Nina Gilroy (Oct 19), Mira Lukic (Oct 26), John Nicholas Hernjak (Oct 27), Carole Radosinovich (Oct 29), Jimi Werner (Oct 29), Marijana Rocknage (Oct 30), Brad Kingsbury, David Christ, Ognjen Pejanovic
October Anniversaries
Bobbi & William Wenner (Oct 1), Katya Kotchnyeva & Eric Garvin (Oct 10), Jean & Paul Martin (Oct 11), Angie & Jim Bagley (Oct 12), Daria & Dave Milletics (Oct 16), Mackenzie & Stefan Lazarevic (Oct 21), Janis & Greg Meadow (Oct 29)
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FEAST OF THE PROTECTION OF THE THEOTOKOS
The Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos will be celebrated on Thursday (Oct 14) with Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am. There will be cutting of the Slavski Kolach for the KSS Slava, as well as a Parastos for departed sisters after the liturgy.
KOLO SRPSKIH SESTARA/CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS SLAVA (OCT 14)
The KSS will be celebrating their Krsna Slava, Pokrov Bogorodice (Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God) Friday, October 14th. Please note that church begins at 10 am. Following Divine Liturgy we will have the blessing of the Slavski Kolach and Wheat. Our honored Kumovi are Kata Gruich and Irina Miljkovic. We would like to thank Sladjana Gligorevic for making the Kolach and Wheat. After services we will be going out to lunch. Hope you can make it!
KOLO SRPSKIH SESTARA/CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS NEXT MEETING
The October 16 meeting of the Sisters is being postponed until October 30th. We urge all Sisters to attend.
LIVING THE FAITH
A class dedicated to answering the questions of how to live a Life in Christ according to the Orthodox Faith. The fourth class will be on Wednesday, October 12 after Vespers (6:30pm). Each Wednesday, we will meet, pray together, and explore some of the beauty of a life well lived: a Life in Christ.
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SAINT NICHOLAS SENIORS
The next meeting/luncheon for the Seniors will be Tuesday, October 11 at 12 noon in the Church Social Hall. Hope to see you there. Bring a friend or check with our parishioners who might be interested in joining. We meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month, except July and August, and the only criteria to join is you have to be 50 years or older.
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $15/pack (2 pounds, 32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic or call the office at 717-939-3872
DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER 23 BULLETIN
Daria will be out of the office the week of October 17th, please have any bulletin requests for the October 23rd bulletin to her by this Thursday, October 13.
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October Charity
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
OCF celebrates October as Orthodox Awareness Month and is the official campus ministry program established by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) to support Orthodox Christian student organizations on university and college campuses. OCF offers support to 270 campus chapters in the US and Canada, convenes conferences and service projects, and encourages students to develop deeper connections to our faith. Visit the OCF website at www.ocf.net to learn more about their worship, service, and fellowship programs and to check on specific campus chapters. Penn State University at State College formed one of the earliest OCF chapters and continues to have an active agenda. Other Pennsylvania chapters include Hershey Medical School, F&M College, Millersville, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Penn, Pitt, and Bucknell. There are also chapters at Delaware and Ohio State. Encourage college students in your family to participate with the OCF chapter on their campuses or to contact OCF for assistance in organizing a chapter. Participation is a great pan-Orthodox experience.
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MOTHER’S CLUB NUT ROLL SALE
It’s time again for the Mother’s Club
Nut and Poppy Seed Roll sale
Rolls are $20 each and the last day to order will be
Sunday, October 30th
Order forms are available at the tutors stand and can be turned in to Popadija Andreja.
Or call her at 717-939-0251
Pick Up will be Saturday, Nov 12 from 10 am - 12 noon
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CHOIR SOUP & POGACA SALE
Orders Due: Sunday, October 30th
Pick Up: Sunday, November 6th
Please place orders with Yovanka Hoover (717-623-8588) or give order forms to Daria in the church office
(forms are available at the tutors stand)
Chicken Paprikas: $10, Posno Veggie: $8,
Beef Stew: $12, Pogaca: $5 per loaf
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Homily on the Protection of the Mother of God
St. Nikolai of Zica and All-America
The bright feast of the Protection of the Mother of God! It is a witness to us of the great glory with which the Most Holy Mother of God is crowned in the heavens. On this day she appeared in heavenly glory, and people saw her and rejoiced. In her hands she held a wondrous protecting veil, to show how she protects and defends people from all evil. There is a two-fold joy for us on this feast: One is that we see a great and righteous woman, a sufferer in earthly life, crowned with such heavenly glory; and the other is that, while abiding in the heavens, she attentively cares for Christians, for the heirs of her Son and God. And if she makes us glad by her defense, by her appearances, both before, and now, and always, we also, brothers and sisters, should make her glad. We truly can bring joy to the Most Holy Mother of God. You ask, how? If we believe in the Son of God and the Son of the Virgin Mary, we bring joy to the Mother of God. If we love Him, as She loves us, we bring joy to the Mother of God. If we keep Christ’s commandments, by this we bring joy to the one who gave birth to the Lord Christ. If we repent of our sins, she rejoices with the angels and all the heavenly powers of God. For the Lord said, Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance (Lk. 15:7). But if we sin and do not repent, we offend the Most Pure Mother of God, we offend the bright angels of God, and all the righteous ones in heaven. What then would be the use of our celebration? What profit is there in prayerful assembly and spiritual hymns? The Lord looks not at the lips, but at the heart; and when He comes to judge the world, He will judge not our talk, but our hearts. If our hearts are not pure He will reject us, but if He finds our hearts pure and filled with mercy and love, He will accept us into His eternal Kingdom. This is why the wise one of the Old Testament said, Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life (Prov 4:23). If the core of a tree is rotten, will it live much longer? But the human heart rots from sin and when it rots, then a man becomes the shadow of a man and he drags across the earth until he disappears from it entirely. May it not be so with you, my brothers and sisters—do not turn into a shadow but remain people of God; and if you are people of God, then you are also the heirs to the Kingdom of God. That the righteous inherit the Kingdom of God is witnessed by the Most Pure Mother of God through her appearance in glory and light, with her protecting veil, with which she protects from evil all who run to her with tears, prayer and faith. She appeared and she still appears—not just for the sake of appearing, but in order to open the spiritual eyes of those without faith, so that they would learn of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven; To console the sorrowing, so that they would know what great joy awaits them in the next life; To be a support to the little and the weak, so that they might walk their earthly path with joy, and enter into the Kingdom; To encourage the penitent, so that they would not stumble on the path of repentance, but stand fast and be saved; To repay every drop of her Son’s blood with the salvation of many, many human souls; So that for every drop of her Son’s blood she might protect from destruction thousands and thousands of human souls—for precious, brothers and sisters, is the Blood of the Son of God spilled for mankind. Woe to him who disdains this precious blood—eternal torment will be his just reward. Blessed are you who revere this blood and are voluntarily and consciously saved through it—your reward will be eternal life. Truly precious is the Blood of the Virgin Mary’s Son. All people from the beginning of the world to its end, be they numerous as the blades of grass on the earth and grains of sand in the sea, can be saved by this Blood. But alas, not all will be saved. Only those who want it—and those who do not want it will be turned away, for they disdained the price by which they were purchased.
Be contemptuous of no one, brothers and sisters. There is not a person on earth for whom the Son of the Most Pure Virgin did not give His precious Blood. If one disdains the Blood by which he was bought, he will answer for his own demise; but may none of you be the cause of anyone’s demise. And if you have contempt for a person you have contempt for the blood Christ spilled for his salvation. Strive to bring the sinner to reason and confirm him in the faith, and if you are able to do so, you will obtain a brother and co-heir of Christ’s Kingdom. Praise the righteous, correct the sinner, encourage those who repent. But just as dirty water cannot whiten soiled cloth, neither can the sinner cleanse another sinner until he has cleansed himself. Therefore the Lord warns you to heal thyself! If you want to correct others, correct yourself, and then be zealous for others. This is the law of Christ.
This is how you will bring joy top the Most Pure Mother of God, who brings us joy always. She guards us from attacks and prays for us to God, and kisses us as a mother does her children. She burns with the desire that everyone be saved and enter into Her Son’s Kingdom. Glory and praise be to our God, and to you peace, health, joy, and blessing unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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