Church Bulletin - April 6, 2003 - Fourth Sunday of Great Lent

FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT - April 6, 2003
St. John of the Ladder
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 6:13-20; Mk 9:17-31]
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"FOR THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE"

When the Apostles James and John approached Christ and requested places of honor in His Kingdom, the Lord replied with these words: "For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His Life as ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) At the Mystical Supper on Great and Holy Thursday, Jesus put these words into action by washing the feet of His Apostles prior to their final meal together. The washing of feet was a common expression of hospitality in the ancient Middle East. However, it was normally done by slaves and servants, not by the Master of the house. In performing this humble act, Christ showed His followers what true service really was. In essence, He was teaching them to remember that as His chosen leaders, they must always be willing to serve others.

The profound message in this ultimate act of humility is for us as well. As Orthodox Christians, we, too, are called to serve. It is our sacred duty to show love, kindness, mercy and charity to all with whom we come in contact. In doing so, we are merely imitating the divine example set by our Savior. We must not expect others to reward and honor us. The Lord will take care of that -- IF we have been a true servant to all!

The following hymn from Matins on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee illustrates the great significance of Christ's actions at the Mystical Supper: "The Savior and Master, ever leading us to diving exaltation, REVEALED TO US THE HUMILITY THAT RAISES US ON HIGH. For with His own hands, He humbly washed the feet of the disciples."

TETARTH KURIAKH TWN NHSTEIWN
IWANNOU KLIMAKOS

jIwavnnou Suggrafevw~ th`~ Klivmako~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

JEx u{you~ kath`lqe~ oJ eu[splagcno~, tafhvn katedevxw trihvmeron, i{na hJma` ejleuqerwvsh/~ tw`n paqw`n. JH zwhv kaiv hJ ajnavstasi~ hJmw`n, Kuvrie, dovxa soi.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
JOHN OF THE LADDER
John, Author of The Ladder

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

O merciful One, You came from on high, and condescended to Your three-day burial to save us from passions. You are our life and our Resurrection, O Lord. Glory to You.

jApolutivkion tou` Jagivou

JTai`~ tw`n dakruvwn sou rJoai`~, th`~ ejrhvmou tov a[gonon ejgewvrghsa~, kaiv toi`~ ejk bavqou~ stenagmoi`~, eij~ eJkatovn touv~ povnou~ ejkarpofovrhsa~: kaiv gevgona~ fwsthvr, th`/ Oijkoumevnh/ lavmpwn toi`~ qauvmasin, jIwavnnh Pathvr hJmw`n o{sie: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of the Saint

With the rivers of your tears, you have made fertile the barren desert. Through signs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles, you have become a light shining upon the world. O John, our Holy Father, intercede to Christ our God to save our souls.

Qeotokivon

JJO di¢ hJma`~ gennhqeiv~ ejk Parqevnou, kaiv stauvrwsin uJpomeivna~ ajgaqev, oJ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton skuleuvsa~, kaiv e[gersin deivxa~ wJ~ Qeov~, mhv parivdh/~ ou{~ e[plasa~ th`/ ceiriv sou: dei`xon thvn filanqrwpivan sou ejleh`mon: devxai thvn tekou`savn se Qeotovkon, presbeuvousan uJpevr hJmw`n: kaiv sw`son Swthvr hJmw`n, laovn ajpegnwsmevnon.

Theotokion

O Pure One, who were born for us of a Virgin, and endured Crucifixion, who vanquished death by death and, as God, showed forth the Resurrection; do not forget those You created by Your own hand. Show Your love, O Merciful One, and accept on our behalf the intercession of the Theotokos who bore You, and save us, O Savior, a desperate people.

jApolutivkion tou` JAgivou Nikolavou

JJJKanovna pivstew~ , kaiv eijkovna praovthto~, ejgkrateiva~ Didavskalon, ajnevdeixev se th`/ poivmnh/ sou, hJ tw`n pragmavtwn ajlhvqeia: diav tou`to ejkthvsw th`/ tapeinwvsei tav uJyhlav, th`/ ptwceiva/ tav plouvsia, Pavter iJeravrca Nikovlae: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of Saint Nicholas

An example of the Faith and a life of humility, as a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock and through your truthfulness of your deeds were exalted by greatness through your humility uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and hierarch Nicholas intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontavkion

JJJJTh`/ uJpermavcw/ strathgw`/ tav nikhthvria, JW~ lutrwqei`sa tw`n deinw`n, eujcaristhvria, jAnagravfw soi hJ Povli~ sou, Qeotovke. JAll¢ wJ~ e[cousa tov kravto~ ajprosmavchton, jEk pantoivwn me kinduvnwn ejleuqevrwson, {Ina kravzw soi: Cai`re, nuvmfh ajnuvmfeute.

Kontakion

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ baruv~. (Yalmov~ kh¢ .
Kuvrio~ ijscuvn tw`/ law`/ aujtou` dwvsei.
Stivc. jEnevgkate tw`/ Kurivw/ uiJoiv Qeou`,...
ejnevgkate tw`/ Kurivw/ dovxan kaiv timhvn.
Prov~ JEbraivou~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. ST¢ . 13<20

jAdelfoiv, tw`/ jAbraavm ejpaggeilavmeno~ oJ Qeov~, ejpeiv kat¢ oujdenov~ ei\ce meivzono~ ojmovsai, w[mose kaq¢ eJautou`, levgwn: \H mhvn eujlogw`n eujloghvsw se kaiv plhquvnwn plhqunw` se: kaiv ou{tw makroqumhvsa~ ejpevtuce th`~ ejpaggeliva~. [Anqrwpoi mevn gavr katav tou` meivzono~ ojmnuvousi, kaiv pavsh~ aujtoi`~ ajntilogiva~ pevra~ eij~ bebaivwsin oJ o{rko~: ejn w/| perissovteron boulovmeno~ oJ Qeov~ ejpidei`xai toi`~ klhronovmoi~ th`~ ejpaggeliva~ tov ajmetavqeton th`~ boulh`~ aujtou`, ejmesivteusen o{rkw/, i{na diav duvo pragmavtwn ajmetaqevtwn, ejn oi|~ ajduvnaton yeuvsasqai Qeovn, ijscuravn paravklhsin e[cwmen oiJ katafugovnte~ krath`sai th`~ prokeimevnh~ ejlpivdo~: h{n wJ~ a[gkuran e[comen th`~ yuch`~ ajsfalh` te kaiv bebaivan kaiv eijsercomevnhn eij~ tov ejswvteron tou` katapetavsmato~, o{pou provdromo~ uJpevr hJmw`n eijsh`lqen jIhsou`~, katav thvn tavxin Melcisedevk ajrciereuv~ genovmeno~ eij~ tovn aijw`na.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Seventh tone. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God,
bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.
Chapter 6. 13-20.

Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two changeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Mavrkon.
Kef. Q¢ . 17<31

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, a[nqrwpov~ ti~ prosh`lqe tw`/ jIhsou`, gonupetw`n aujtw`/ kaiv levgwn: Didavskale, h[negka tovn uiJovn mou prov~ sev, e[conta pneu`ma a]lalon. Kaiv o{pou a[n aujtovn katalavbh,/ rJhvssei aujtovn, kaiv ajfrivzei kaiv trivzei touv~ ojdovnta~ aujtou`, kaiv xhraivnetai: kaiv ei\pon toi`~ maqhtai`~ sou i{na aujtov ejkbavlwsi, kaiv oujk i[scusan. JO dev ajpokriqeiv~ aujtw`/ levgei: \W geneav a[pisto~, e{w~ povte prov~ uJma`~ e[somai; [Ew~ povte ajnevxomai uJmw`n; Fevrete aujtovn prov~ me. Kaiv h[negkan aujtovn prov~ aujtovn. Kaiv ijdwvn aujtovn eujqevw~ tov pneu`ma ejspavraxen aujtovn, kaiv peswvn ejpiv th`~ gh`~ ejkuliveto ajfrivzwn. Kaiv ejphrwvthse tovn patevra aujtou`: Povso~ crovno~ ejstivn wJ~ tou`to gevgonen aujtw`/; JO dev ei\pe: Paidiovqen. Kaiv pollavki~ aujtovn kaiv eij~ pu`r e[bale kaiv eij~ u{data, i{na ajpolevsh/ aujtovn: ajll¢ ei[ ti duvnasai, bohvqhson hJmi`n splagcnisqeiv~ ejf¢ hJma`~. JO dev jIhsou`~ ei\pen aujtw`/ tov, eij duvnasai pisteu`sai, pavnta dunatav tw`/ pisteuvonti. Kaiv eujqevw~ kravxa~ oJ pathvr tou` paidivou metav dakruvwn, e[lege: Pisteuvw, Kuvrie: bohvqei mou th`/ ajpistiva/. JIdwvn dev oJ jIhsou`~ o{ti ejpisuntrevcei oJ o[clo~, ejpetivmhse tw`/ pneuvmati tw`/ ajkaqavrtw/ levgwn aujtw`/: Tov pneu`ma tov a[lalon kaiv kwfovn, ejgwv soi ejpitavssw, e[xelqe ejx aujtou` kaiv mhkevti eijsevlqh/~ eij~ aujtovn. Kaiv kravxan kaiv pollav sparavxan aujtovn ejxh`lqe, kaiv ejgevneto wJseiv nekrov~, w{ste pollouv~ levgein o{ti ajpevqanen. JO dev jIhsou`~ krathvsa~ aujtovn th`~ ceirov~ h[geiren aujtovn, kaiv ajnevsth. Kaiv eijselqovnta aujtovn eij~ oi\kon oiJ maqhtaiv aujtou` ejphrwvtwn aujtovn kat¢ ijdivan, o{ti hJmei`~ oujk hjdunhvqhmen ejkbalei`n aujtov; Kaiv ei\pen aujtoi`~: Tou`to tov gevno~ ejn oujdeniv duvnatai ejxelqei`n eijmhv ejn proseuch`/ kaiv nhsteiva/. Kaiv ejkei`qen ejxelqovnte~ pareporeuvonto diav th`~ Galilaiva~, kaiv oujk h[qelen i{na ti~ gnw`/: ejdivdaske gavr touv~ maqhtav~ aujtou` kaiv e]legen aujtoi`~ o{ti oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou paradivdotai eij~ cei`ra~ ajnqrwvpwn, kaiv ajpoktenou`si aujtovn, kaiv ajpoktanqeiv~, th`/ trivth/ hJmevra/ ajnasthvsetai.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Mark
Chapter 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus and kneeling said to him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, " I believe, Lord; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street - Church
986 Chapman Street - Office
San Jose, California 95126