CATHEDRAL E-BULLETIN
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Feast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple;
Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam from Paradise
(Sunday of Forgiveness)
MEETING OF OUR LORD TROPARION, Tone One:
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Full of Grace! From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those who sat in darkness! Rejoice and be glad, O Righteous Elder; you accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, who grants us the Resurrection.
MEETING OF OUR LORD KONTAKION, Tone One:
By Your Nativity You sanctified the Virgin's Womb, and blessed Simeon's hands, O Christ God. Now You have come and saved us through love. Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O Only Lover of Man!
SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS KONTAKION, Tone Six:
O Master, Teacher of wisdom, Bestower of virtue, Who teaches the thoughtless and protects the poor, strengthen and enlighten my heart. O Word of the Father, let me not restrain my mouth from crying to You: “Have mercy on me, a transgressor, O merciful Lord!”
HYMN TO THE THEOTOKOS, Instead of “It is truly meet…”, TONE THREE
O Virgin Theotokos, hope of all Christians! Protect, preserve, and save those who hope in you!
We faithful saw the figure in the shadow of the law and the Scriptures: every male child that opened the womb was holy to God. Therefore, we also magnify the first-begotten Son of the unoriginate Father, the first-born Son of the unwedded Mother!
The Epistle Lesson— Hebrews 7: 7-17; Romans 13:11-14:4
Brethren, now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood, being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Brethren, do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
ALLELUIA
Lord, now allow Your servant to depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High.
COMMENTARY on ROMANS 13:11-14:4
As Orthodox Christians, we understand that there are certain things that can not be compromised, while there are other things in which the Church allows some flexibility. God is gracious, and allows diversity in these doubtful things (matters not related to essential doctrines and moral teachings). The weak in the faith are people who assign primary importance to secondary matters. The two examples of flexible areas given here involve food restrictions and the observance of liturgical calendars--things which the weak might try to use to judge others, or to divide the Church. In both cases, we are commanded to give flexibility to others, just as God Himself does. May Christ our God strengthen our weak faith, and help us to sacrificially love each other as He intended!
The Holy Gospel—Luke 2:22-40; Matthew 6: 14-21
At that time, when the days of purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD” ), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “ A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. So when they had performed these things, according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
J esus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
COMMENTARY on Matthew 6: 14-21
Christ's words reinforce one simple fact: we must forgive others in order to be forgiven by God. Or, put another way, those who do not forgive are not forgiven. This teaching is repeated in the parable of the unforgiving servant (18: 21-35), which concludes with the same teaching. To not forgive others is to willfully flee from the forgiveness of God for ourselves. This teaching explicates the fact that our intention must remain on our eternal reward, and not our earthly one. Our fasting must reflect this as well. Fasting is for the growth of the spirit and the glory of God, not so that others may see and praise our effort. The focus of our fast, just as the focus of our forgiveness, must be so that God sees it in secret and rewards us openly. May Christ grant us the humility, strength and endurance to forgive those who have offended us and fast for the glory of God.
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday, February 15
Isaiah 1:1-20, Genesis 1: 1-13, Proverbs 1:1-20
Tuesday, February 16
Isaiah 1:19-2:3; Genesis 1:14-23, Proverbs 1:20-33
Wednesday, February 17
Isaiah 2:3-11, Genesis 1:24—2:3, Proverbs 2:1-22
Thursday, February 18
Isaiah 2: 11-22; Genesis 2: 4-19; Proverbs 3: 1-18
Friday, February 19
Isaiah 3:1-14; Genesis 2:20—3:20; Proverbs 3:19-34
Saturday, February 20
Hebrews 1:1-12; Mark 2:23—3:5
Bulletin Board
SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY 2010
On Sunday, February 21, 2010, we will be hosting the Pan-Orthodox Sunday of Orthodoxy Celebration here at St. Steven's Cathedral. Come one and all, for there will be events for the entire family. After the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, there will be a procession of icons by the Orthodox Children of the Los Angeles Area, so be sure to bring an icon with you to Church. After lunch, there will be both Pan-Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Rallies, as well as a speaker for the adults. This is an event you do not want to miss!
ANNUAL & QUARTERLY CONGREGATION MEETING
On Sunday, February 28, 2010, St. Steven's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral will host its annual and quarterly congregation meeting following the luncheon. Only members in good standing are eligible to vote and participate in the business of these meetings. According to article 4 of our by-laws, “ Members in good standing are those persons who regularly fulfill their spiritual and material obligations to the Church…” Members whose obligations are more than 6 months in arrears may pay their dues before the annual meeting is called to order and thereby have their voting privilege restored. Please contact Financial Secretary Mercia Martich for any questions regarding dues payment. We look forward to seeing all of our members in good standing at this important meeting.