Church Bulletin - March 2, 2003 - Sunday of Meatfare

MEATFARE SUNDAY - March 2, 2003
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 1 Cor 8:8-9:2; Mt 25:31-46]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek and English ]

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SMILE . . . GOD LOVES YOU!

There was a story in the news recently about a young California girl who was afflicted with a muscular disorder in her face that made it impossible for her to smile. After two lengthy, extensive surgeries, the problem was corrected. When the bandages were finally removed, it is said that her facial expression literally lit up her hospital room!

Sadly, many of us go through life with a perpetual frown on our face. We look at our hardships and difficulties and lament that we have no reason to smile or be happy. Nothing could be further from the truth!

We are all children of God. Isn't that enough reason to rejoice and have our hearts filled with joy? And if we are true children of God, we should confidently understand that the tribulations in this world pale in comparison to what awaits those who have faithfully served the Lord in the world to come. St. Paul puts it beautifully when he exhorts the Philippians to "Rejoice in the Lord always," and to "be anxious for nothing." (Phil 4:4,6) It should be pointed out that the Apostle Paul wrote these powerful words at a dark point in his life: he was confined to a prison cell in Rome at the time.

The first word of our Resurrected Lord, spoken to the Myrrhbearing Women, was "REJOICE." (Matt. 28:9) May we strive to find cause each day to do precisely what Christ proclaimed. We must not allow the worry for tomorrow suffocate the joy of today. Indeed, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)

KURIAKH THS APOKREW
JHsucivou Mavrturo~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

Eujfrainevsqw tav oujravnia, ajgalliavsqw tav ejpivgeia, o{ti ejpoivhse kravto~ ejn bracivoni aujtou` oJ Kuvrio~: ejpavthse tw`/ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton, prwtovtoko~ tw`n nekrw`n ejgevneto, ejk koiliva~ a/{dou ejrjrJuvsato hJma`~, kaiv parevsce tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

SUNDAY OF MEAT FARE
Hesychios the Maryr

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord, by His Mighty Arm, has created a Dominion. He has conquered death by death, and become the firstborn of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy.

Qeotokivon

Sev thvn mesiteuvsasan thvn swthrivan tou` gevnou~ hJmw`n, ajnumnou`men Qeotovke Parqevne: ejn th`/ sarkiv gavr th`/ ejk sou` proslhfqeivsh/, oJ UiJov~ sou kaiv Qeov~ hJmw`n, tov diav Staurou` katadexavmeno~ pavqo~, ejlutrwvsato hJma`~ ejk fqora`~, wJ~ filavnqrwpo~./

Theotokion

We praise you, Virgin Theotokos, who mediated the salvation of our race. From the flesh He received from you, your Son, and our God, accepting the Passion of the Cross, freed us from corruption as loving Lord.

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

{Otan e[lqh/~ oJ Qeov~, ejpiv gh`~ metav dovxh~, kaiv trevmousi tav suvmpanta: potamov~ dev tou` purov~ prov tou` Bhvmato~ e{lkh, kaiv bivbloi ajnoivgwntai, kaiv tav kruptav dhmosieuvwntai: tovte ru`saiv me, ejk tou` purov~ tou` ajsbevstou, kaiv ajxivwson, ejk dexiw`n souv me sth`nai, Kritav dikaiovtate.

Kontakion

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most Just.

jApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ b¢ . (Yalmov~ riz¢ ).
jIscuv~ mou kaiv u{mnhsiv~ mou oJ Kuvrio~.
Stivc. Paideuvwn ejpaivdeusev me oJ Kuvrio~.
Prov~ Korinqivou~ A¢ jEpistolh`~
Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma
Kef. H¢ 8<13, Q¢ 1<2

jJAdelfoiv, brw`ma hJma`~ ouj parivsthsi tw`/ Qew`/: ou[te gavr ejavn favgwmen perisseuvomen, ou[te ejavn mhv favgwmen uJsterouvmeqa. Blevpete dev mhvpw~ hJ ejxousiva uJmw`n au{th provskomma gevnhtai toi`~ ajsqenou`sin. JEavn gavr ti~ i[dh/ se, tovn e[conta gnw`sin, ejn eijdwleivw/ katakeivmenon, oujciv hJ suneivdhsi~ aujtou` ajsqenou`~ o[nto~ oijkodomhqhvsetai eij~ tov tav eijdwlovquta ejsqivein; Kaiv ajpolei`tai oJ ajsqenw`n ajdelfov~ ejpiv th`/ sh`/ gnwvsei, di j o{n Cristov~ ajpevqanen. Ou{tw dev aJmartavnonte~ eij~ touv~ ajdelfouv~ kaiv tuvptonte~ aujtw`n thvn suneivdhsin ajsqenou`san eij~ Cristovn aJmartavnete. Diovper eij brw`ma skandalivzei tovn ajdelfovn mou, ouj mh favgw kreva eij~ tovn aijw`na, i{na mhv tovn ajdelfovn mou skandalivsw. Oujk eijmiv ajpovstolo~; Oujk eijmiv ejleuvqero~; Oujciv jIhsou`n Cristovn tovn Kuvrion hJmw`n eJwvraka; Ouj tov e[rgon mou uJmei`~ ejste ejn Kurivw; Eij a[lloi~ oujk eijmiv ajpovstolo~, ajllav ge uJmi`n eijmi: hJ gavr sfragiv~ th`~ ejmh`~ ajpostolh`~ uJmei`~ ejste ejn Kurivw/.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Second Tone. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strengthmand my song.
Verse. The Lord has chastened me sorely
The reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.
Chapters 8.8-13; 9.1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on
Kef. (ke j) 25, 31-46

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: {Otan e[lqh/ oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou ejn th`/ dovxh/ aujtou` kaiv pavnte~ oiJ a{gioi a[ggeloi met¢ aujtou`, tovte kaqivsei ejpiv qrovnou dovxh~ aujtou`, kaiv sunacqhvsontai e[mprosqen aujtou` pavnta tav e[qnh, kaiv ajforiei` aujtouv~ ajp¢ ajllhvlwn, w{sper oJ poimhvn ajforivzei tav provbata ajpov tw`n ejrivfwn, kaiv sthvsei tav mevn provbata ejk dexiw`n aujtou`, tav dev ejrivfia ejx eujwnuvmwn. Tovte ejrei` oJ Basileuv~ toi`~ ejk dexiw`n aujtou`: Deu`te oiJ eujloghmevnoi tou` Patrov~ mou, klhronomhvsate thvn hJtoimasmevnhn uJmi`n basileivan ajpov katabolh`~ kovsmou. JEpeivnasa gavr, kaiv ejdwvkatev moi fagei`n: ejdivyhsa, kaiv ejpotivsatev me: xevno~ h[mhn, kaiv sunhgavgetev me: gumnov~, kaiv periebavletev me: hjsqevnhsa, kaiv ejpeskevyasqev me: ejn fulakh`/ h[mhn, kaiv h[lqete prov~ me. Tovte ajpokriqhvsontai aujtw`/ oiJ divkaioi levgonte~: Kuvrie, povte sev ei[domen peinw`nta kaiv ejqrevyamen; h[ diyw`nta kaiv ejpotivsamen; povte dev se ei[domen xevnon kaiv sunhgavgomen; h[ gumnovn kaiv periebavlomen; povte dev se ei[domen ajsqenh` h[ ejn fulakh`/, kaiv h[lqomen prov~ sev; Kaiv ajpokriqeiv~ oJ basileuv~ ejrei` aujtoi`~: jAmhvn levgw uJmi`n, ejf¢ o{son ejpoihvsate eJniv touvtwn tw`n ajdelfw`n mou tw`n ejlacivstwn, ejmoiv ejpoihvsate. Tovte ejrei` kaiv toi``~ ejx eujwnuvmwn: Poreuvesqe ajp¢ ejmou` oiJ kathramevnoi eij~ tov pu`r tov aijwvnion, tov hJtoimasmevnon tw`/ diabovlw/ kaiv toi`~ ajggevloi~ aujtou`. JEpeivnasa gavr, kaiv oujk ejdwvkatev moi fagei`n: ejdivyhsa, kaiv oujk ejpotivsatev me: xevno~ h[mhn, kaiv ouj sunhgavgetev me: gumnov~, kaiv ouj periebavletev me: ajsqenhv~ kaiv ejn fulakh`/, kaiv oujk ejpeskevyasqev me. Tovte ajpokriqhvsontai aujtw`/ kaiv aujtoiv levgonte~: Kuvrie, povte se ei[domen peinw`nta h[ diyw`nta h[ xevnon h[ gumnovn h[ ajsqenh` h[ ejn fulakh`/, kaiv ouj dihkonhvsamevn soi; Tovte ajpokriqhvsetai aujtoi`~ levgwn: jAmhvn levgw uJmi`n, ejf¢ o{son oujk ejpoihvsate eJniv touvtwn tw`n ejlacivstwn oujdev ejmoiv ejpoihvsate. Kaiv ajpeleuvsontai ou|toi eij~ kovlasin aijwvnion, oiJ dev divkaioi eij~ zwhvn aijwvnion.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
Chapter 25:31-46

The Lord said: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give Thee drink? And when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee?" And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

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