Church Bulletin - August 4, 2002 - Sixth Sunday of Matthew

Sixth Sunday of Matthew - August 4, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Rom 12:6-14; Mt 9:1-8]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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"HE TOOK WITH HIM PETER, JAMES AND JOHN ..."

On August 6/19, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Observed since the 4th century, it is viewed as one of the 12 Major Feasts of the Holy Orthodox Church. Christ's Transfiguration occurred as His public ministry was drawing to a close. Soon before entering Jerusalem for the final time, our Lord went to the top of Mt. Tabor to pray, taking with Him the Apostles Peter, James and John. Scriptural accounts tell us that Christ's face "shone like the sun," and His garments became "white as snow." Appearing with Him were Moses and Elijah, prompting Peter to exclaim: "Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (Matt. 17:4) After God's awesome voice reminded them that "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well-pleased. Hear Him," the Apostles found themselves alone with their Master once again. The mysterious manifestation had ended.

Why were these three Apostles selected to behold the glory of the Lord? According to St. John Damascene, Peter was chosen, since he had boldly acknowledged Christ's Divinity when he said: "1 believe You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) James was selected because he would be the first of the Apostles to suffer martyrdom. John accompanied the Lord on Mt. Tabor because he is considered the "beloved disciple" of Christ.

These three witnesses to Christ's glory would never forget this majestic experience. John would later write about it in his Gospel: "And we beheld His glory, the glory as it were of the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

KURIAKH ST J MATQAIOU
Tw`n ejn jEfevsw/ JEptav Paivdwn

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

Tovn sunavnarcon Lovgon Patriv kaiv Pneuvmati, tovn ejk parqevnou tecqevnta eij~ swthrivan hJmw`n, ajnumnhvswmen pistoiv kaiv proskunhvswmen: o{ti hujdovkhse sarkiv, ajnelqei`n ejn tw`/ Staurw`/, kaiv qavnaton uJpomei`nai, kaiv ejgei`rai touv~ teqnew`ta~, ejn th`/ ejndovxw/ ajnastavsei aujtou`.

SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
The Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

O faithful, let us sing a hymn of praise and worship to the Logos who is co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, who was born of the Virgin for our salvation. Of His own will, He went upon the Cross in the flesh and suffered death, to raise the dead through His glorious Resurrection.

jApolutivkion

Cai`re, puvlh Kurivou hJ ajdiovdeuto~: cai`re, tei`co~ kaiv skevph tw`n prostrecovntwn eij~ sev: Cai`re, ajceivmaste limhvn kaiv ajpeirovgame, hJ tekou`sa ejn sarkiv tovn poihthvn sou kaiv Qeovn, presbeuvousa mhv ejlleivph/~, uJpevr tw`n ajnumnouvntwn, kaiv proskunouvntwn tovn Tovkon sou.

Dismissal Hymn

Hail, uncrossed portal of the Lord! Hail! Defense and protection of all who come to you! Hail, peaceful haven who have never known a man, yet gave birth to your Creator and God. Never cease to intercede for those who sing the praise of the One born of you, for those who worship your Son.

jApolutikion tou` JAgivou Nikolavou

Kanovna 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 St. 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

JEpiv tou` [Orou~ metemorfwvqh~, kaiv wJ~ ejcwvroun, oiJ Maqhtaiv sou, thvn dovxan sou, Cristev oJ Qeov~, ejqeavsanto: i{na o{tan se i[dwsi staurouvmenon, tov mevn pavqo~ nohvswsin eJkouvsion, tw`/ dev kovsmw/ khruvxwsin, o{ti suv uJpavrcei~ ajlhqw`~, tou` Patrov~ tov ajpauvgasma.

Kontakion

You were transfigured upon the mount O Christ our God and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ pl. a j. (Yalmov~ ia j).
Suv, Kuvrie, fulavxai~ hJma`~ kaiv diathrhvsai~ hJma`~.
Stivc. Sw`sovn me, Kuvrie, o{ti ejklevloipen o{sio~.
Prov~ JRwmaivou~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov
jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. ib j 6<14

jAdelfoiv, e[conte~ carivsmata katav thvn cavrin thvn doqei`san hJmi`n diavfora, ei[te profhteivan, katav thvn ajnalogivan th`~ pivstew~, ei[te diakonivan, ejn th`/ diakoniva/, ei[te oJ didavskwn, ejn th`/ didaskaliva/, ei[te oJ parakalw`n, ejn th`/ paraklhvsei, oJ metadidouv~, ejn aJplovthti, oJ proi>stavmeno~, ejn spoudh`/, oJ ejlew`n, ejn iJlarovthti. JH ajgavph ajnupovkrito~. JApostugou`nte~ tov ponhrovn, kollwvmenoi tw`/ ajgaqw`/, th`/ filadelfeiva/ eij~ ajllhvlou~ filovstorgoi, th`/ timh`/ ajllhvlou~ prohgouvmenoi, th`/ spoudh`/ mhv ojknhroiv, tw`/ pneuvmati zevonte~, tw`/ Kurivw/ douleuvonte~, th`/ ejlpivdi caivronte~, th`/ qlivyei uJpomevnonte~, th`/ proseuch`/ proskarterou`nte~, tai`~ creivai~ tw`n aJgivwn koinwnou`nte~, thvn filoxenivan diwvkonte~. Eujlogei`te touv~ diwvkonta~ uJma`~, eujlogei`te kaiv mhv katara`sqe.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fifth Tone. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man
has failed.
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s
Letter to the Romans.
Chapter 12: 6-14

BRETHREN, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on.
Kef. q j (9), 1<8.

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, ejmbav~ oJ jIhsou`~ eij~ tov ploi`on, diepevrase, kaiv h\lqen eij~ thvn ijdivan povlin. Kaiv ijdouv, prosevferon aujtw`/ paralutikovn, ejpiv klivnh~ beblhmevnon: kaiv ijdwvn oJ jIhsou`~ thvn pivstin aujtw`n, ei\pe tw`/ paralutikw`/: Qavrsei, tevknon, ajfevwntaiv soi aiJ ajmartivai sou. Kaiv ijdouv, tinev~ tw`n Grammatevwn ei\pon ejn ejautoi`~: Ou|to~ blasfhmei`. Kaiv ijdwvn oJ jIhsou`~ tav~ ejnqumhvsei~ aujtw`n, ei\pen: {Ina tiv uJmei`~ ejnqumei`sqe ponhrav ejn tai`~ kardivai~ uJmw`n; Tiv gavr ejsti eujkopwvteron, eijpei`n: jAfevwntaiv soi aiJ aJmartivai: h[ eijpei`n: [Egeirai kaiv peripavtei; {Ina dev eijdh`te, o{ti ejxousivan e[cei oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou ejpiv th`~ gh`~ ajfievnai aJmartivai~: (tovte levgei tw`/ paralutikw`/): jEgerqeiv~ a\rovn sou thvn klivnhn, kaiv u{page eij~ tovn oi\kon sou. Kaiv ejgerqeiv~, ajph`lqen eij~ tovn oi\kon aujtou`. JIdovnte~ dev oiJ o[cloi ejqauvmasan, kaiv ejdovxasan tovn Qeovn, tovn dovnta ejxousivan toiauvthn toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
Chapter 9: 1-8

At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"– he then said to the paralytic- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street, San Jose, California 95126