Church Bulletin - December 1, 2002 - Fourteent Sunday of Luke

Fourteenth Sunday of Luke - December 1, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Eph 2:4-10; Lk 18:35-43]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

[Click here to see past Church bulletin messages]
[ Home | Bulletin Menu | Previous | Next ]

"TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH"

When we read both the Old and the New Testament, we can find example after example of God asking His servants to do some pretty preposterous things! He ordered Noah to build an ark in a region with no water in sight. He commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land, even though they were shackled in the chains of slavery. He instructed Joshua to march around the walled city of Jericho with his troops, guaranteeing that the walls would come crashing down if His instructions were followed to the letter. He revealed to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Savior, even though she had no earthly husband. We can only imagine what went through the minds of these saintly individuals at the time of their encounter with the Lord. We do, however, know with certainty what their ultimate response was: THEY OBEYED. Whatever doubts they may have had, they were still willing to take that "leap of faith" and put their total trust in God.

There is a lesson here for all of us to learn. In our own life, there will be times when we will be called upon to show the strength of our faith. Perhaps we will not be asked to do something as dramatic as Noah, Moses, Joshua and the Theotokos were. Nonetheless, the time will come when our faith will be tested -- and God's tests are never easy. But rest assured that God's blessings are bestowed in abundance upon those who remain loyal to Him and are obedient to His commands. We must never be afraid to take a "leap of faith." The strong hand of the Lord is always there to catch us.

KURIAKH ID J LOUKA
Naouvm tou` Profhvtou

Anastavsimon 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.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Naoum the Prophet

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!

Qeotokivon

jJO thvn eujloghmevnhn kalevsa~ sou Mhtevra, h\lqe~ ejpiv tov Pavqo~ eJkousiva/ boulh`/, lavmya~ ejn tw`/ Staurw`/, ajnazhth`sai qevlwn tovn jAdavm, levgwn toi`~ jAggevloi~: Sugcavrhtev moi, o{ti euJrevqh hJ ajpollumevnh dracmhv. JO pavnta sofw`~ oijkonomhvsa~ Qeov~, dovxa soi.

Theotokion

O Lord, who called the blessed One Mother, and of Your own will came to Your passion, Who shone radiantly on the Cross, seeking Adam’s restoration and saying to the angels, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the lost piece of silver," You have provided all things in wisdom. 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

JJH Parqevno~ shvmeron, tovn proaiwvnion Lovgon, ejn sphlaivw/ e[rcetai, ajpotekei`n ajporrhvtw~. Covreue , hJ oijkoumevnh ajkoutisqei`sa, dovxason, metav jAggevlwn kaiv tw`n Poimevnwn, boulhqevnta ejpofqh`nai, paidivon nevon, tovn proj aijwvnwn Qeovn.

Kontakion

Today the Virgin comes to the cave to ineffably give birth, to the eternal Logos. Hearkening to this, rejoice, O Universe, with the angels and shepherds glorify Him, the God before all ages, who willed to be beheld as a young child.

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~ jEfesivou~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. b j 4<10

jjjjAdelfoiv, oJ Qeov~ plouvsio~ w[n ejn ejlevei, diav thvn pollhvn ajgavphn aujtou` h{n hjgavphsen hJma`~, kaiv o[nta~ nekrouv~ toi`~ paraptwvmasi sunezwopoijhse tw`/ Cristw`/: cavritiv ejste seswsmevnoi: kaiv sunhvgeire kaiv sunekavqisen ejn toi`~ ejpouranivoi~ ejn Cristw`/ jIhsou`, I{na ejndeivxhtai ejn toi`~ aijw`si toi`~ ejpercomevnoi~ tovn uJperbavllonta plou`ton th`~ cavrito~ aujtou` ejn crhstovthti ejf j hJma`~ ejn Cristw`/ jIhsou`. Th`/ gavr cavritiv ejste seswsmevnoi diav th`~ pivstew~: kaiv tou`to oujk ejx hJmw`n, Qeou` tov dw`ron, oujk ejx e[rgwn, I{na mhv ti~ kauchvshtai. Aujtou` gavr ejsmen poivhma, ktisqevnte~ ejn Cristw`/ jIhsou` ejpiv e[rgoi~ ajgaqoi`~, oi|~ prohtoivmasen oJ Qeov~ I{na ejn aujtoi`~ peripathvswmen.

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 Ephesians.
(Chapter 2: 4-10)

Brethren, but God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God- not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
Kef. ih j (18), 35<43.

Tw`/ kairw/` ejkeivnw/, ejgevneto ejn tw`/ ejggivzein tovn jIhsou`n eij~ JIericwv, tuflov~ ti~ ejkavqhto parav thvn oJdovn prosaitw`n. jAkouvsa~ dev o[clou diaporeuomevnou, ejpunqavneto tiv ei[h tou`to jAphvggeilan dev aujtw`/, o{ti jIhsou`~ oJ Nazarai`o~ parevrcetai. Kaiv ejbovhse, levgwn: jIhsou` uiJev Daui?d, ejlevhsovn me. Kaiv oiJ proavgonte~ ejpitivmwn aujtw`/, i{na siwphvsh: aujtov~ dev pollw`/ ma`llon e[krazen: UiJev Daui?d, ejlevhsovn me. Staqeiv~ dev oJ jIhsou`~ ejkevleusen aujtovn ajcqh`nai prov~ aujtovn. JEggivsanto~ dev aujtou`, ejphrwvthsen aujtovn, levgwn: Tiv soiv qevlei~ poihvsw; JO dev ei\pe: Kuvrie, i{na ajnablevyw. Kaiv oJ jIhsou`~ ei\pen aujtw`/: jAnavbleyon: hJ pivsti~ sou sevswkev se. Kaiv paracrh`ma ajnevbleye, kaiv hjkolouvqei aujtw`/, doxavzwn tovn Qeovn. Kaiv pa`~ oJ laov~ ijdwvn, e[dwken ai\non tw`/ Qew`/.

Gospel
From the gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 18: 35-43

At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

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