Galatians 6:11-16; John 3:13-17
The Gospel today refers back to a story of Moses from the Old Testament:
“The Lord sent among the people seraph serpents, which bite the people so that many of the Israelites died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the Lord said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover. Accordingly Moses made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever the serpent bit someone, the person looked at the bronze serpent and recovered. (Numbers 21:6-9)”
This is a very unusual story, almost magical where a representation of a serpent is a healing talisman. However, for the Christian believer the full meaning is revealed only in our Lord Jesus Christ. St. John tells us that just as Moses raised the serpent in the desert, so Jesus was raised on the Cross so that anyone who looked upon him was healed of their sins. The serpent in the desert was not the serpent Eve saw in the tree in Eden, who brought death into the world through sin through his lie, but it was a serpent of life, who brought healing through the truth of faithfulness to God. But this was only a foreshadowing of Jesus. Of our Lord, St. Paul said, “For our sake God made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)” The serpent in the desert was bronze, yet brought salvation from the fatal bites of serpents. Jesus is truly God and truly a man, and brings the salvation of freedom from sin and death. Yes, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. (John 3:16) ” That is why in this great feast we celebrate this week, “We bow to your Cross and glorify your holy resurrection.”
Meditation by Archpriest David Petras
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sunday, 9/10/17 Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross
9:00 a.m. +Michael Waselik (32th Anniv.) requestd by the Family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Galatians 6: 14-18
Gospel: John 3: 13-17, Tone 5
Monday, 9/11/17 Our Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 9/12/17 The Holy Priest-Martyr Autonomus
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 9/13/17 The Holy Priest-Martyr Cornelius the Centurion
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thursday, 9/14/17 The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
9:00 a.m. +Petro and Maria Makarenko, Clementina and Stepan Lobay (Pan.) requested by M. Lobay
7:00 p.m. For the people of the parish
Friday, 9/15/17 The Holy Great-Martyr Nicetas
9:00 a.m. +Petro and Anastazia Malyk requested by Kateryna Szymkiw
Saturday, 9/16/17 The Holy, Great Woman-Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised
9:00 a.m. +Luba Malyk requested by Kateryna Szymkiw
Sunday, 9/17/17 Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross
9:00 a.m. +Hryhorij Dubno requested by the Family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Galatians 2: 16:20
Gospel: Mark 8: 34-9:1, Tone 6
On the Byzantine liturgical calendar, today, September 6, we have the commemoration of the miracle of the holy archangel Michael at Colossae in Chionia.
Given that our heavenly patron is the Archangel Michael, it is good for us to spend a little time on the place of Michael in the spiritual life.
It seems that we can deepen our desire for God by knowing more and more of how He works in this saints and angels.
The Divine Liturgy speaks of the Archangel Michael in this manner:
O Commander of the Heavenly Hosts,
We who are unworthy beseech you
That by your prayers you will encompass us
Beneath the wings of your immaterial glory
And protect us who fall down and cry:
Deliver us all from harm,
For you are the commander of the powers on High. (Troparion, Tone 4)
The biographers say,
In Phrygia, not far from the city of Hieropolis, in a place called Cheretopos, there was a church named for the Archangel Michael, built over a miraculous spring.
This church was built by a certain inhabitant of the city of Laodicia in gratitude to God for healing his mute daughter. The holy Chief Commander Michael appeared to this man in a dream and revealed to him that his daughter would receive the gift of speech after drinking from the water of the spring. The girl actually did receive healing and began to speak. After this miracle, the father and his daughter and all their family were baptized. In fervent gratitude, the father built the church in honor of the holy Chief Commander Michael. Not only did Christians begin to come to the spring for healing, but also pagans [unbelievers]. In so doing, many of the pagans turned from their idols and were converted to the faith in Christ.
At this church of the holy Chief Commander Michael, a certain pious man by the name of Archippus served for sixty years as church custodian. By his preaching and by the example of his saintly life he brought many pagans to faith in Christ. With the general malice of that time towards Christians, and especially against Archippus, the pagans thought to destroy the church in order to prevent people from coming to that holy place of healing, and at the same time kill Archippus.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sunday, 9/03/17 13th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 16:13-24
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-42, Tone 4
Monday, 9/04/17 Holy Priest-Martyr Babylas, Bishop of Antioch; the Holy Prophet Moses who saw God
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 9/05/17 Holy Prophet Zachary and Elizabeth, Parents of John the Baptist
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 9/06/17 Commemoration of the Miracle Performed at Colossus in Chone by the Archangel Michael
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thursday, 9/07/17 Holy Martyr Sozon
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 9/08/17 Nativity of the Holy Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
Saturday, 9/09/17 Post-feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God; the Holy and Righteous Forebears of God Joachim and Anna
9:00 a.m. +Dario Aponte (9th Anniv., Pan.) requested by the Family
Sunday, 9/10/17 14th Sunday after Pentecost —Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross
9:00 a.m. +Michael Waselik (32nd Anniv., Pan.) requested by the Family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Galatians 6:14:18
Gospel: John 3:13-17, Tone 5
Special Petitions for the Victims of Hurricane Harvey at Divine Liturgy. You may take one or several of these petitions in the ektenia after the Gospel.
For those who experienced the destructive forces of Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding and now endure the anguish and suffering from personal injury and the loss of property, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Lord, have mercy! (3 x)
For those called home to the Lord during this natural disaster of Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding, may they be granted rest in the bosom of Abraham and numbered among the saints and may their grieving loved ones be comforted by Your divine grace, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Lord, have mercy! (3 x)
For all those involved in serving their neighbor during this time including the first responders and those assisting in the continuing relief efforts of the victims of Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding, strengthen them in mind, body and soul and inspire all of us to be charitable with our generosity to our brothers and sisters in their time of need, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Lord, have mercy! (3 x)
The Sacred Scripture for today’s Liturgy: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Matthew 19:16-26Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sunday, 8/27/17 12th Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Corinthians. 15-1-11
Gospel: Matthew 19:16-26, Tone 3
Monday, 8/28/17 Venerable Father Moses the Ethiopian and Holy Father Augustine of Hippo
9:00 +Wasyl Dobczansky (Pan.) requested by the Melnyk Family
Tuesday, 8/29/17 Beheading of the Honorable and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
Wednesday, 8/30/17 Holy Fathers and Patriarchs of Constantinople Alexander, John, and Paul the Younger
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thursday, 8/31/17 Placing of the Precious Sash of Our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God in Calcoprateia
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 9/01/17 Commemoration of Our Holy Father Symeon the Stylite and His Mother Martha
Beginning of the New Church Year (2017-2018)
8:30 a.m. +Halyna and Ivan Lobay (Pan.) requested by Maria Lobay
Saturday, 9/02/17 Holy Martyr Mamas
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 9/03/17 13th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 16:13:24
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-42, Tone 4
Glory to Jesus Christ
Sunday, 8/20/17 11th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. For people of the parish
10:30 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Anna Mazur requested by Stefanie Sisisky
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:2-12
Gospel: Matthew 18:2-35, Tone 2
Monday, 8/21/17 Holy Apostle Thaddeus and the Holy Martyr Bassa
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 8/22/17 Holy Martyr Agathonicus and companions
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 8/23/17 Holy Martyrs Luppus and Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thursday, 8/24/17 Holy Priest-Martyr Eutyches
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 8/25/17 Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Titus
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Saturday, 8/26/17 Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalia
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 8/27/17 12th Sunday after Pentecost —Venerable Father Pimen
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Gospel: Matthew 19: 16-26, Tone 3
Tonight at the Divine Liturgy, Father Iura blessed herbs and flowers.
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death. (Byzantine Liturgy; Troparion, Feast of the Dormition)