Meditation on Sunday’s Scripture readings 1 Timothy 4:9-16; Luke 19:1-10

Though there is no special office for this Sunday, it is commonly seen as the beginning of our preparation for the Feast of our Lord’s Resurrection. Today we must be Zacchaeus. When Jesus came to Jericho, “Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.” Today is where we start our search for God, who is coming to take away the sin of the world. Today we must be filled with the desire to see God, as was Zacchaeus. Today we must acknowledge our sins, for Jesus is coming to St. Stephens in Phoenix, today he is coming into our homes, more exactly, into the home of our heart. What a contrast between Zacchaeus and the Blind Man of last week’s gospel, who could not see and begged Jesus for sight. Zacchaeus could see and yet climbs the sycamore tree to get the best possible view.

What a contrast between Zacchaeus and the rich young man of two Sundays ago. The rich young man could not let even one penny of his riches escape his grasp, but Zacchaeus says, “Half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” Today, Jesus tells us, “Salvation has come to this home.” It is already Pascha, if we turn to our Lord in his mercy, if we seek him with the zeal of Zacchaeus. Today St. Paul’s promise is fulfilled, “We have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)” Today we must be among those who believe.

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

1 Timothy 1:15-17; Luke 18:35-43 (Readings of the 31st Sunday after Pentecost)

We must learn how to read Scripture. It is not lessons of the past, but the reality of God’s presence among us today, in the here and now. One of the most frequent ways that Jesus steps into our lives is by his works of healing. In Matthew 11:5 Jesus tells us, “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” Today we hear this good news, today the blind see. Jesus often gave sight to the blind, telling them, “Your faith has saved you.” This is what he says to the blind man of Jericho. He cannot see who Jesus is, but when those around him say, “Jesus is passing by,” he immediately shouts as loud as he can, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” For Jesus, though he is the Word of God, has become one of us, of the family of David. We might think that the gospel is about physical sight, but it is more than that, it is why faith is necessary.

All of us, whether physically blind or spiritually blind, need Jesus who said, “I am the light of the world.” This is why we call baptism “enlightenment.” This is why we must confess that Jesus came to save sinners, “of whom we are the first.” We can say this sincerely, because we know the power of sin in our own hearts, and not in the hearts of others. We will say this today here in this church as we approach Holy Communion, as we approach the light and life of the world today: you are Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first.” We say this not to crush ourselves down, but as St. Paul tells us to today’s Epistle, but that we might be “mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.” Only in faith, then, do we see the true “light and life.”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST * SLAVA ISUSU XRYSTU!

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Sun., January 15, 2017     35th Sunday after Pentecost
10:30 a.m.     Pro Populo * Za Parafin

Epistle: Col. 3:12-16
Gospel: Mt. 18:18-27 Tone 2

Mon., January 16, 2017     Veneration of the Chains of Peter
8:00 a.m.     no intention for the Liturgy

Tue., January 17, 2017     Our Venerable Father Anthony the Great
9:00 a.m.     +Halyna Choma (40 days, Pan.), requested by the Family

Wed., January 18, 2017     Our Venerable Father Athanasius & Cyril
8:00 a.m.     no intention for the Liturgy

Thu., January 19, 2017     Our Venerable Father Macarius
8:00 a.m.     no intention for the Liturgy

Fri., January 20, 2017     Our Venerable Father Euthemius the Great
8:00 a.m.     no intention for the Liturgy

Sat., January 21, 2017     Our Venerable Father Maximus
8:00 a.m.     no intention for the Liturgy

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Sun., January 22, 2017     36th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m.     +Nicholas Muryn, requested by Mary and Michael Muryn
10:30 a.m.     Pro Populo * Za Parafin

Epistle: 1 Tim. 1:15-17
Gospel: Lk. 18:35-43 Tone 3