Church Bulletin - August 11, 2002 - Seventh Sunday of Matthew

Seventh Sunday of Matthew - August 11, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Rom 15:1-7; Mt 9:27-35]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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"YOUR ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH"

Throughout the course of history, salt has been viewed as a valuable substance. We can find numerous references to salt in the Old Testament. The Righteous Job asks the question: "Can nothing which is unsavory be eaten without salt?" When the Prophet Elisha sweetened the waters of Jericho, he cast salt into them to illustrate its purifying power.

At the time of Christ, salt had many uses and served a multitude of purposes. In addition to its importance in seasoning and preserving food, salt was frequently used in the ritual of the Jewish people. So when our Lord said these words to His followers: "YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH," (Matt. 5:13) they fully understood that He was drawing attention to the significant role that they were expected to play in "preserving" God's covenant with mankind. They knew that Christ looked upon them as "precious commodities."

Orthodox Christians today must also consider themselves to be the "salt of the earth," for much is expected of us as well. We must remind ourselves, however, that we must not "lose our flavor." Just as tasteless salt becomes worthless, Orthodox Christians who do not live up to their calling are of little value to the Lord.

Along the shores of the Dead Sea, the primary source of salt in Biblical times, it is often difficult to distinguish this vital component from the white grains of sand that are plentiful as well. In like manner, it is not enough to merely APPEAR to be committed to Christ. Our devotion and loyalty to Him must be genuine. We must be the "real thing!" If not, then we, too, risk being "trampled underfoot by men" (Matt. 5:13) and rejected by our Divine Savior.

KURIAKH Z J MATQAIOU
Eu[plou tou` Diakovnou

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

jAggelikaiv Dunavmei~ ejpiv tov mnh`mav sou, kaiv oiJ fulavssonte~ ajpenekrwvqhsan: kaiv i{stato Mariva ejn tw`/ tavfw/ zhtou`sa tov a[crantovn sou sw`ma: ejskuvleusa~ tovn a{/dhn, mhv peirasqeiv~ uJp j aujtou`: uJphvnthsa~ th`/ Parqevnw/ dwrouvmeno~ thvn zwhvn. JO ajnastav~ ejk tw`n nekrw`n, Kuvrie, dovxa soi.

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
The Deacon Efplos

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

O Christ the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, the guards were as dead, and Mary stood by the grave, seeking Your sacred body. You destroyed Hades yet remained untouched by it. You encountered the Virgin and, through her, bestowed life. Glory to You who have risen from the dead!

jApolutivkion th`~ Metamorfwvsew~

Metemorfwvqh~ ejn tw`/ [Orei, Cristev oJ Qeov~, deivxa~ toi`~ Maqhtai`~ sou thvn dovxan sou, kaqwv~ hjduvnanto. Lavmyon kaiv hJmi`n toi`~ ajmartwloi`~, tov fw`~ sou tov aji?dion, presbeivai~ th`~ Qeotovkou: Fwtodovta, dovxa soi.

Dismissal Hymn of the Transfiguration

You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God, revealing Your glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You.

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. b j. (Yalmov~ kz j).
Sw`son, Kuvrie, tovn laovn sou kaiv
eujlovghson thvn klhronomivan sou.
Stivc. Prov~ sev, Kuvrie, kekravxomai oJ Qeov~ mou.
Prov~ JRwmaivou~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. ie j 1<7

jAdelfoiv, ojfeivlomen hJmei`~ oiJ dunatoiv tav ajsqenhvmata tw`n ajdunavtwn bastavzein, kaiv mhv eJautoi`~ ajrevskein. {Ekasto~ gavr hJmw`n tw`/ plhsivon ajrevskevtw eij~ tov ajgaqovn prov~ oijkodomhvn: kaiv gavr oJ Cristov~ oujc eJautw`/ h[resen, ajllav kaqwv~ gevgraptai, "OiJ ojneidismoiv tw`n ojneidizovntwn se ejpevpeson ejp j ejmev". {Osa gavr proegravfh, eij~ thvn hJmetevran didaskalivan proegravfh, i{na diav th`~ uJpomonh`~ kaiv th`~ paraklhvsew~ tw`n grafw`n thvn ejlpivda e[cwmen. JO dev Qeov~ th`~ uJpomonh`~ kaiv th`~ paraklhvsew~ dwv/h uJmi`n tov aujtov fronei`n ejn ajllhvloi~ katav Cristovn jIhsou`n, i{na oJmoqumadovn ejn eJniv stovmati doxavzhte tovn Qeovn kaiv patevra tou` Kurivou hJmw`n jIhsou` Cristou`. Diov proslambavnesqe ajllhvlou~, kaqwv~ kaiv oJ Cristov~ proselavbeto uJma`~ eij~ dovxan Qeou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless
your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried
O my God.
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter
to the Romans.
Chapter 15: 1-7.

BRETHREN, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it written, "The reproaches for those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on.
(Kef. q j (9), 27<35)

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, paravgonti tw`/ jIhsou`, hjkolouvqhsan aujtw`/ duvo tufloiv, kravzonte~, kaiv levgonte~: jElevhson hJma`~, UiJev Daui?d. jElqovnti dev eij~ thvn oijkivan, prosh`lqon aujtw`/ oiJ tufloiv, kaiv levgei aujtoi`~ oj jIhsou``~: Pisteuvete, o{ti duvnamai tou`to poih`sai; Levgousin aujtw`/: Naiv, Kuvrie. Tovte h{yato tw`n ojfqalmw`n aujtw`n, levgwn: Katav thvn pivstin uJmw`n, genhqhvtw uJmi`n. Kaiv ajnewv/cqhsan aujtw`n oiJ ojfqalmoiv: kaiv ejnebrimhvsato aujtoi`~ oJ jIhsou``~ levgwn: JOra`te mhdeiv~ ginwskevtw. OiJ dev, ejxelqovnte~, diefhvmisan aujtovn ejn o{lh/ th`/ gh`/ ejkeivnh/. Aujtw`n dev ejxercomevnwn, ijdouv, proshvnegkan aujtw`/ a[nqrwpon kwfovn, daimonizovmenon. Kaiv ejkblhqevnto~ tou` daimonivou, ejlavlhsen oJ kwfov~: kaiv ejqauvmasan oiJ o[cloi, levgonte~: {Oti oujdevpote ejfavnh ou{tw~ ejn tw`/ jIsrahvl. OiJ dev Farisai`oi e[legon: jEn tw`/ a[rconti tw`n daimonivwn ejkbavllei tav daimovnia. Kaiv perih`gen oJ jIhsou``~ tav~ povlei~ pavsa~ kaiv tav~ kwvma~, didavskwn ejn tai`~ Sunagwgai`~ aujtw`n, kaiv kurhvsswn tov Eujaggevlion th`~ basileiva~, kaiv qerapeuvwn pa`san novson kaiv pa`san malakivan ejn tw`/ law`/.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(Chapter 9: 27-35)

At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among people.

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