Church Bulletin - February 23, 2003 - Sunday of the Prodigal Son

SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON - February 23, 2003
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 1 Cor 6:12-20; Lk 15:11-32]
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"WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?"

Our Lord was once asked a very interesting question by His disciples: "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matt. 18:1) Undoubtedly, the question was posed with selfish motives in mind, for most assuredly they felt that their Master would single them out because of their loyalty to Him. In their own minds, Christ's disciples felt they deserved a special place in God's kingdom. How surprised they must have been at the Lord's response: "UNLESS YOU ARE CONVERTED AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF AS A LITTLE CHILD IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." (Matt. 18:3-4)

Adults today tend to view themselves as being "superior" to children. There is much, however, that we can learn from them. Children are models for those who seek God, for they do so with unlimited openness and simple trust. They believe without question, and they believe, without any pretense to greatness. Christ saw these wonderful qualities in children, and often used them as examples for His followers to imitate. Our own faith is often "childish" in nature, with our motivation lacking the real commitment needed to attain a place in God's kingdom. Instead, we must strive to possess a "child-like" faith, emulating the virtuous traits that His "little ones" have naturally perfected. Is it any wonder that Christ would say: "Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14) May we strive to keep some of the traits of children: humble but not helpless, gentle but not weak, simple but not foolish.

KURIAKH TOU ASWTOU
Polukavrpou jEpiskovpou Smuvrnh~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

J{Ote kath`lqe~ prov~ tovn qavnaton, hJ zwhv hJ ajqavnato~, tovte tovn a{/dhn ejnevkrwsa~, th`/ ajstraph`/ th`~ qeovthto~: o{te dev kaiv touv~ teqnew`ta~, ejk tw`n katacqonivwn ajnevsthsa~, pa`sai aiJ Dunavmei~ tw`n ejpouranivwn ejkrauvgazon: Zwodovta Cristev, oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n, dovxa soi.

SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON
Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

When You descended to death, O Immortal Life, then the light of Your divinity destroyed Hades. When You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers cried out, "Glory to You, O Christ our God, the Giver of Life."

Qeotokivon

Pavnta uJpevr e[nnoian, pavnta uJperevndoxa tav sa,v Qeotovke musthvria: th`/ aJgneiva/ ejsfragismevnh kaiv parqeniva/ fulattomevnh, mhvthr ejgnwvsqh~ ajyeudhv~, Qeovn tekou`sa ajlhqinovn. Aujtovn ijkevteue, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Theotokion

Your Mysteries, O Theotokos, are beyond comprehension and glory. You gave birth to the true God, and became a mother indeed, while you remained sealed in purity and in virginity. Beseech Him to save our souls.

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`~ patrwv/a~ dovxh~ sou, ajposkirthvsa~ ajfrovnw~, ejn kakoi`~ ejskovrpisa, o{n moi parevdwka~ plou`ton: o{qen soi thvn tou` jAswvtou fwnhvn kraugavzw: {Hmarton ejnwvpiovn sou, Pavter oijktivrmon: devxai me metanoou`nta, kaiv poivhsovn me, wJ~ e{na tw`n misqivwn sou.

Kontakion

O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory and, in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You, Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ a¢ . (Yalmov~ lb¢ )
Gevnoito, Kuvrie, tov e[leov~ ejf¢ hJma`~
Stivc. jAgallia`sqe, divkaioi, ejn Kurivw/.
Prov~ Korinqivou~ A¢ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma. (Kef. ST 12<20)

jAdelfoiv, pavnta moi e[xestin, ajll¢ ouj pavnta sumfevrei: pavnta moi ejxevstin, ajll j oujk ejgwv ejxousiasqhvsomai uJpov tino~. Tav brwvmata th`/ koiliva/ kaiv hJ koiliva toi`~ brwvmasin: oJ dev Qeov~ kaiv tauvthn kaiv tau`ta katarghvsei. Tov dev sw`ma ouj th`/ porneiva/, ajllav tw`/ Kurivw/, kaiv oJ Kuvrio~ tw`/ swvmati: oJ dev Qeov~ kaiv tovn Kuvrion h[geire kaiv hJma`~ ejxegerei` diav th`~ dunavmew~ aujtou`. Oujk oi[date o{ti tav swvmata uJmw`n mevlh Cristou` ejstin; [Ara~ ou\n tav mevlh tou` Cristou` poihvsw povrnh~ mevlh; Mhv gevnoito. [H oujk oi[date o{ti oJ kollwvmeno~ th`/ povrnh/ e{n sw`ma ejstin; [Esontai gavr, fhsivn, "oiJ duvo eij~ savrka mivan": oJ dev kollwvmeno~ tw`/ Kurivw/ e{n pneu`mav ejsti. Feuvgete thvn porneivan. Pa`n aJmavrthma o{ ejavn poihvsh/ a[nqrwpo~ ejktov~ tou` swvmatov~ ejstin, oJ dev porneuvwn eij~ tov i[dion sw`ma aJmartavnei. [H oujk oi[date o{ti tov sw`ma uJmw`n naov~ tou` ejn uJmi`n JAgivou Pneu`matov~ ejstin, ou| e[cete ajpov Qeou`, kaiv oujk ejstev eJautw`n; jHgoravsqhte gavr timh`~: doxavsate dhv tovn Qeovn ejn tw`/ swvmati uJmw`n kaiv ejn tw`/ pneuvmati uJmw`n, a{tinav ejsti tou` Qeou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. First Tone. Psalm 32.22,1
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Chapter 6.12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Louka`n
Kef. ie¢ 11<32

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~ thvn parabolhvn tauvthn: [Anqrwpov~ ti~ ei\ce duvo uiJouv~. Kaiv ei\pen oJ newvtero~ aujtw`n tw`/ patriv: Pavter, dov~ moi tov ejpibavllon mevro~ th`~ oujsiva~. Kaiv diei`len aujtoi`~ tovn bivon. Kaiv met j ouj pollav~ hJmevra~ sunagagwvn a{panta oJ newvtero~ uiJov~ ajpedhvmhsen eij~ cwvran makravn, kaiv ejkei` dieskovrpise thvn oujsivan aujtou` zw`n ajswvtw~. Dapanhvsanto~ dev aujtou` pavnta ejgevneto limov~ ijscurov~ katav thvn cwvran ejkeivnhn, kaiv aujtov~ h[rxato uJsterei`sqai. Kaiv poreuqeiv~ ejkolhvqh eJniv tw`n politw`n th`~ cwvra~ ejkeivnh~, kaiv e[pemyen aujtovn eij~ touv~ ajgrouv~ aujtou` bovskein coivrou~. Kaiv ejpequvmei gemivsai thvn koilivan aujtou` ajpov tw`n kerativwn, w|n h[sqion oiJ coi`roi, kaiv oujdeiv~ ejdivdou aujtw`/: eij~ eJautovn dev ejlqwvn ei\pe: Povsoi mivsqioi tou` patrov~ mou perisseuvousin a[rtwn, ejgwv dev limw`/ ajpovllumai! JAnastav~ poreuvsomai prov~ tovn patevra mou kaiv ejrw` aujtw`/: Pavter, h{marton eij~ tovn oujranovn kaiv ejnwvpiovn sou: oujkevti eijmiv a[xio~ klhqh`nai uiJov~ sou: poivhsovn me wJ~ e{na tw`n misqivwn sou. Kaiv ajnastav~ h\lqe prov~ tovn patevra aujtou`. [Eti dev aujtou` makravn ajpevconto~ ei\den aujtovn oJ pathvr aujtou` kaiv eujsplagcnivsqh, kaiv dramw`n ejpevpesen ejpiv tovn travchlon aujtou` kaiv katefivlhsen aujtovn. Ei\pe dev aujtw`/ oJ uiJov~: Pavter, h{marton eij~ tovn oujranovn kaiv ejnwvpiovn sou, kaiv oujkevti eijmiv a[xio~ klhqh`nai uiJov~ sou. Ei\pe dev oJ pathvr prov~ touv~ douvlou~ aujtou`: jExenevgkate thvn stolhvn thvn prwvthn kaiv ejnduvsate aujtovn, kaiv dovte daktuvlion eij~ thvn cei`ra aujtou` kaiv uJpodhvmata eij~ touv~ povda~, kaiv ejnevgkante~ tovn movscon tovn siteutovn quvsate, kaiv fagovnte~ eujfranqw`men, o{ti ou|to~ oJ uiJov~ mou nekrov~ h\n kaiv ajnevzhse, kaiv ajpolwlwv~ h\n kaiv euJrevqh. Kaiv h[rxanto eujfraivnesqai. \Hn dev oJ uiJov~ aujtou` oJ presbuvtero~ ejn ajgrw`/: kaiv wJ~ ejrcovmeno~ h[ggise th`/ oijkiva/, h[kouse sumfwniva~ kaiv corw`n, kaiv proskalesavmeno~ e{na tw`n paivdwn ejpunqavneto tiv ei[h tau`ta. JO dev ei\pen aujtw`/ o{ti oJ ajdelfov~ sou h{kei kaiv e[qusen oJ pathvr sou tovn movscon tovn siteutovn, o{ti uJgiaivnonta aujtovn ajpevlaben: wJrgivsqh dev kaiv oujk h[qelen eijselqei`n. JO ou\n pathvr aujtou` ejxelqwvn parekavlei aujtovn. JO dev ajpokriqeiv~ ei\pe tw`/ patriv: jIdouv tosau`ta e[th douleuvw soi kaiv oujdevpote ejntolhvn sou parh`lqon, kaiv ejmoiv oujdevpote e[dwka~ e[rifon, i{na metav tw`n fivlwn mou eujfranqw`: o{te dev oJ uiJov~ sou ou|to~, oJ katafagwvn sou tovn bivon metav pornw`n, h\lqen, e[qusa~ aujtw`/ tovn movscon tovn siteutovn. JO dev ei\pen aujtw`/: Tevknon, suv pavntote met¢ ejmou` ei\, kaiv pavnta tav ejmav, sav ejstin: eujfqranqh`nai dev kaiv carh`nai e[dei, o{ti oJ ajdelfov~ sou ou|to~ nekrov~ h\n, kaiv ajnevzhse, kaiv ajpolwlwv~ h\n, kaiv euJrevqh.

Gospel
From the holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants." And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.

‘Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’

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