The story of the Man Born Blind is the third Sunday Gospel in Pascha about the mystery of baptism. This gospel is very clear, “Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his the blind man’s) eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see. (John 9:6-7)” The clay represents the anointing we receive at baptism, making us “Anointed Ones,”(Christs, or Christians) and the washing represents the washing in the water of baptism. The blind man can then see, he is “enlightened,” the name the Church gives to baptism. Two observations: to be truly enlightened, we need humility. We need to know that only God can give us the vision we need. To do that, we cannot rely on our own “opinions,” we must hear his Word in the gospel, we must worship him with his people, we must be attentive to the voice of his shepherds in the teaching of the Church. If we believe only in ourselves, we risk condemnation, as Jesus told the Pharisees, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains. (John 9:41)” True knowledge comes only from the Holy Spirit, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. (1 John 2:20)” The second observation is that in these three weeks, our Lord calls to baptism the most unlikely people: a friendless man lying lame by a pool, a shameless woman with serial husbands, and a blind man about whom the disciples ask, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2)” Jesus responds, ““Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. (John 9:3), thus separating the wrath of God from the judgment of sin. God truly hates evil, which brings death and failure, but he loves the sinner with infinite divine love. If we suffer because of our sins, it is because that is the “wages” of sin (Romans 6:23). We see in these three Sundays that God is merciful and wishes the salvation of all. He calls us all to enlightenment in baptism, so that we can live in the Holy Spirit and profess with the formerly blind man, now enlightened, ““I do believe, Lord! (John 9:38)”

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Sunday, 5/21/17   Sunday of the Man Born Blind
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 16:16-34
Gospel: John 9:1-38, Tone 5

Monday, 5/22/17   Holy Martyr Basilicus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 5/23/17   Holy Bishop and Confessor Michael
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 5/24/17   Our Venerable Simeon
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 5/25/17   Ascension of the Lord —Holy Day of obligation
10:00 a.m. For the people of the parish

Friday, 5/26/17   3rd Finding of Head of John
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy
7:00 P.M. Moleben to the Mother of God

Saturday, 5/27/17   Holy Priest-Martyr Therapontus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 5/28/17   Sunday of the Holy Fathers 1st Synod
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 20:16-18, 28-38
Gospel: John 17:1-13, Tone 6

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Sunday, 5/14/17     Fifth Sunday of Pascha —Samaritan Women at the Well
8:30 a.m. Moleben to the Mother of God —Sestrichi
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 11:19-26 and 29-30
Gospel: John 4:5-42, Tone 4

Monday, 5/15/17     Venerable Father Pachomius the Great
8:00 a.m. +Maria Sowa (Pan.) requested by Bohdan Sowa

Tuesday, 5/16/17     Venerable Theodore
8:00 a.m. +Charles Burger (20th Anniv., Pan.) requested by John Burger

Wednesday, 5/17/17     Holy Apostles Andronicus and companions
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 5/18/17     Holy Martyr Theodotus, Peter and Dionisius
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 5/19/17     Holy Bishop Martyr Patrick
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy
7:00 p.m. Moleben to the Mother of God

Saturday, 5/20/17     Holy Martyr Thalaleus
9:00 +Sofia Bruchalska requested by Parania Daniw

Sunday, 5/21/17      Sixth Sunday of Pascha —Sunday of the Man Born Blind
9:00 Special Intention
10:30 For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 16:16-34
Gospel: John 9:1-38, Tone 5

The theme of baptism continues in this Sunday’s Gospel, re-affirming that Pascha is a feast of resurrection and of baptism, being born into eternal life. The center of Jesus’ conversation with this unnamed woman (the Church later gave her the name Photine, the “enlightened woman”) is about water. They met at Jacob’s well, a place of great tradition, a sign and a promise of God’s love and mercy for his people. Jacob’s well provided the riches of water to a desert place, the sign that God would always provide for and bless his people. However, the encounter with the woman reveals something more: Jesus is the Messiah to come, he is greater than the Patriarch Jacob. The water of Jacob’s well is only for this world, Jesus would give “the water that would become a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14)” This clearly refers to our baptisms, as it comes immediately after the comparison of Jesus with John the Baptist, and the baptisms done by Jesus’ disciples.

We renew our baptism every time we receive Communion, and they are for life, for eternal life, from God, the giver of life. A couple of observations: as for Nathaniel, Jesus signs his ministry with intimate knowledge of the people he meets. He sees Nathaniel under the fig tree, and he tells the woman about her five husbands. In both cases, they become his disciple because of his knowledge of him. This is a theme of John’s Gospel, the shepherd knows his sheep and his sheep know him. Second, it should be to our wonder that Jesus always comes to the most underprivileged. To whom does he reveal the mystery of eternal life in baptism: to the paralytic who had no friends, to the woman who had led a shameful life, and came to the well at noon who no one else would be there, and to the blind man suspected of sin because of his blindness. And the disciples marvel that Jesus speaks to a woman! Not just any woman, but a heretical, decadent Samaritan woman! Are we humble enough to accept Jesus as our Messiah?

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Sunday, 5/07/17    Fourth Sunday of Pascha —Healing of the Paralytic Man
10:00 a.m. Pro Populo
Moleben to the Mother of God

Epistle: Acts 9:32-42
Gospel: John 5:1-15, Tone 3

Monday, 5/08/17    Holy Apostle and Evangelist John
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 5/09/17    Translation of the Relics of Nicholas of Myra
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 5/10/17    Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 5/11/17    Holy Apostles Cyril and Methodius
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 5/12/17    Holy Father Epiphanius and Germanus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 5/13/17    Holy Martyr Glyceria
8:00 a.m. +Catherine and Joseph Levitzky (Pan.) requested by Joseph M. Levitzky

Sunday, 5/14/17    Fifth Sunday of Pascha —the Samaritan Women
8:30 a.m. Moleben to the Mother of God – Sestrichi
9:00 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 11:19-26 and 29-30
Gospel: John 4:5-42, Tone 4

Looking ahead liturgically

May 25, Ascension Thursday
May 29, Fifth All Souls Sunday
June 4, Solemnity of Pentecost
June 5, Feast of the Holy Trinity
June 11, All Saints Sunday

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Sunday, 4/30/17     Third Sunday of Pascha of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
10:30 a.m.  Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 6:1-7
Gospel: Mark 15:43-16-8, Tone 2

Monday, 5/01/17 Holy Prophet Jeremiah
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 5/02/17    Holy Father Athanasius the Great
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Mary Ann Yursha requested by the Sestrichi

Wednesday, 5/03/17    Passing of Theodosius of the Cave
9:00 a.m.  +Ivan and Halyna Lobay  requested by Maria Lobay

Thursday, 5/04/17    Holy Venerable Martyr Pelagia
8:00 a.m.  no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 5/05/17    Holy and Glorious Martyr Irene
8:00 a.m.  no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 5/06/17    The Holy and Righteous Job
8:00 a.m.  no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday 5/07/17    Fourth Sunday of Pascha of the Paralytic
10:00 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 9:32-42
Gospel: John 5:1-15, Tone 2

Today is the eighth day of the celebration of the eighth day. Pascha! The Resurrection of our Lord! The Feast of Feasts!

It is a time of absence and presence.

Absence – when the risen Messiah comes to his apostles through locked doors, by divine providence, Thomas is not with them. May he come through the locked doors of our hearts!

Presence – when the risen Messiah comes to Thomas a week later, the doubting apostle gives the proclamation of faith that resounds through the ages: “My Lord and my God!

Absence – when the women come to the tomb, the body of Jesus is not there. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” the angels ask.

Absence – the disciples on the road to Emmaus do not recognize the Lord.

Presence – they do recognize him in the breaking of the bread, “were our hearts not burning when he explained the Scriptures to us?”

Absence – we do not stand in the presence of the Lord in the same way as the apostles did.

Presence – the Lord is with us in Holy Communion, as he comes to us more intimately than we could imagine.

Absence – “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. (John 16:7)”

Presence – “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)”

Today the Gospel tells us – “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29)”

Are not our two Christian greetings exactly the same:

Christ is risen! Indeed, he is risen!
Christ is among us! He is and he will be!

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Sunday, 4/23/17  – Thomas Sunday  —Holy and Glorious Great Martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George

9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Distribution of Artos (Blessed leavened bread)

10:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 5:12-20
Gospel: John 20:19-31, Tone 1

Monday, 4/24/17 – Holy Martyr Sabbas Stratelates
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Tuesday, 4/25/17 – Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark
9:00 a.m. +Ella Sowa requested by Ihor & Maria Kihiczak

Wednesday, 4/26/17 – Holy Priest-Martyr Basil, Bishop of Amasia
9:00 a.m. +Ella Sowa (40 days, Pan.) requested by Bohdan Sowa

Thursday, 4/27/17 – Holy Priest-Martyr Simeon, Relative of Lord
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Friday, 4/28/17 – Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Saturday, 4/29/17 – Nine Holy Martyrs of Cyzicus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Sunday, 4/30/17 – Third Sunday of Pascha of the Myrrh-Bearing Women —Holy Apostle James, Brother of Saint John the Theologian

10:30 Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 6:1-7
Gospel: Mark 15:43-16-8, Tone 2

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Easter Sunday, 4/16/17 Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ
8:30 a.m. Procession and Paschal Matins
9:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Blessing of Artos (leavened bread)
Blessing of Easter Foods

Epistle: Acts 1:1-8
Gospel: John 1:1-17, Tone 7

Bright Monday, 4/17/17 —Venerable Father Simeon of Persia
10:00 a.m. +Bohdan Antonyshyn (Pan.)

Bright Tuesday, 4/18/17 —Venerable Father John, Disciple of Gregory the Decapolitan
9:00 a.m. +Ella Sowa (Pan.)

Bright Wednesday, 4/19/17  —Venerable Father John the Ancient Hermit
9:00 a.m.  no intention for the Liturgy

Bright Thursday, 4/20/17 —Venerable Father Theodore Trichinas
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Bright Friday, 4/21/17 —Holy Priest-Martyr Januarius and companions
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Bright Saturday, 4/22/17 —Venerable Father Theodore of Syceum
8:30 a.m.  All the deceased of Parish —Sorokousty

Thomas Sunday, 4/23/17   —Holy and Glorious Great Martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George

9:00 a.m.  Special Intention for the Liturgy
Distribution of the Blessed Artos and Anointing

10:30 a.m. Pro Populo
Distribution of the Blessed Artos and Anointing

Epistle: Acts  5:12-20
Gospel: John 20:19-31, Tone 8