Church Bulletin - November 4, 2001

5th Sunday of Luke - November 4, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 6:11-18; Lk 16:19-31]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

LIVING LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME

We are an anxious generation, excelling in the dubious "art" of "making mountains out of molehills." Yes, worry, anxiety and fear occupy a large percentage of our time. We worry about our finances, our jobs and our health. Thoughts of our material possessions cause us great anguish, and the prospect of growing old frightens some of us to death!

For Orthodox Christians, however, excessive worry must be viewed as a definite weakness in our faith. We are called upon to place our trust in the Lord and to obediently and willingly accept whatever comes our way each day. In His Sermon on the Mount, our Lord reminds us how pointless it is to worry. "Which of you, by worrying, can add a single cubit to his stature?" (Matthew 6:27) He is quick to point out that our Heavenly Father knows our needs, and He chides us for doubting His ability to take care of them. Christ also provides us with this timely advice: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34)

Are we people of FEAR or of FAITH? In all of life's difficult moments, we are reminded that Christ is there to strengthen us in our weakness. We must also remember St. Paul's wonderful words of comfort: "God will not allow you to be tested above your powers, but when the test comes, He will provide you with a way out by enabling you to sustain it." (I Cor. 10:13)

May we all "seek first the Kingdom of Heaven." If we do, all of our concerns will vanish, for we will have everything that we could possibly want.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

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

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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.

APOLUTIKION IWANNIKOU TOU OSIOU

Tai`~ tw`n dakruvwn sou rJoai`~, th`~ ejrhvmou tov a[gonon ejgewvrghsa~: kaiv toi`~ ejk bavqou~ stenagmoi`~, eij~ eJkatovn touv~ povnou~ ejkarpofovrhsa~: kaiv gevgona~ fwsthvr, th`/ oijkoumevnh/ lavmpwn toi`~ qauvmasin, jIwannivke pathvr hJmw`n o{sie. Prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION OF THE VENERABLE IOANNIKOS

With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundredfold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O Ioannikos, our venerable Father, intercede to Christ our God, to save our souls.

QEOTOKION

JO di j hJma`~ gennhqeiv~ ejk Parqevnou, kaiv stauvrwsin uJpomeivna~ ajgaqev, oJ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton skuleuvsa~, kaiv e[gersin deivxa~ wJ~ Qeov~, mhv parivdh/~ ou{~ e[plasa~ th`/ ceiriv sou: dei`xon thvn filanqrwpivan sou ejleh`mon: devxai thvn tekou`savn se Qeotovkon, presbeuvousan uJpevr hJmw`n: kaiv sw`son Swthvr hJmw`n, laovn ajpegnwsmevnon.

THEOTOKION

O Pure One, who were born for us of a Virgin, and endured Crucifixion, who vanquished death by death and, as God, showed forth the Resurrection, do not forget those, You created by Your own hand. Show Your love, O Merciful One, and accept on our behalf the intercession of the Theotokos who bore You, and save us, O Savior, a desperate people.

APOLUTIKION TOU AGIOU NIKOLAOU

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.

APOLYTIKION 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.

KONTAKION

tw`n cristianw`n ajkataivscunte, mesiteiva, prov~ tovn poihthvn ajmetavqete, mhv parivdh/~, aJmartwlw`n dehvsewn fwnav~, ajllav provfqason, wJ~ ajgaqhv, eij~ thvn bohvqeian hJmw`n, tw`n pistw`~ kraugazovntwn soi: Tavcunon eij~ presbeivan, kaiv speu`son eij~ iJkesivan, hJ prostateuvousa ajeiv, Qeotovke, tw``n timwvntwn se.

KONTAKION

Champion of Christians not put to shame, advocate before the Maker always steadfast, do not spurn sinners’ voices raised in prayer. In your goodness respond to bring help to us who devoutly petition you. Hasten your intercession and urgently make entreaty; for you unfailingly defend, Theotokos, those who honor you.

APOSTOLOS
(Galavta~ ~ j 11<18)

jAdelfoiv, i[dete phlivkoi~ uJmi`n gravmmasin e[graya th`/ ejmh`/ ceiriv. {Osoi qevlousin eujproswph`sai ejn sarkiv, ou|toi ajnagkavzousin uJma`~ peritevmnesqai, movnon i{na mhv tw`/ staurw`/ tou` Cristou` diwvkwntai. Oujdev gavr oiJ peritetmhmevnoi aujtoiv novmon filavssousin, ajllav qevlousin uJma`~ peritevmnesqai, i{na ejn th`/ uJmetevra/ sarkiv kauchvswntai. JEmoiv dev mhv gevnoito kauca`sqai eij mhv ejn tw`/ staurw`/ tou` Kurivou hJmw`n jIhsou` Cristou`, di j ou| ejmoiv kovsmo~ ejstauvrwtai kajgwv tw`/ kovsmw/. JEn gavr Cristw`/ jIhsou` ou[te peritomhv ti ijscuvei ou[te ajkrobustiva, ajllav kainhv ktivsi~. Kaiv o{soi tw`/ kanovni touvtw/ stoichvsousin, eijrhvnh ejp j aujtouv~ kaiv e[leo~, kaiv ejpiv tovn jIsrahvl tou` Qeou`. Tou` loipou` kovpou~ moi mhdeiv~ parecevtw: ejgwv gavr tav stivgmata tou` Kurivou jIhsou` ejn tw`/ swvmativ mou bastavzw. JH cavri~ tou` Kurivou hJmw`n jIhsou` Cristou` metav tou` pneuvmato~ uJmw`n, ajdelfoiv. JAmhvn.

EPISTLE
(Galatians 6: 11-18)

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and not only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts of anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` Katav Louka`n.
(Kef. i~ j (16), 19<31)

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: [Anqrwpov~ ti~ h\n plouvsio~, kaiv ejnediduvsketo porfuvran kaiv buvsson, eujfrainovmeno~ kaq j hJmevran lamprw``~. Ptwcov~ dev ti~ h\n, ojnovmati Lavzaro~, o{~ ejbevblhto prov~ tovn pulw`na aujtou` hJlkwmevno~, kaiv ejpiqumw`n cortasqh`nai ajpov tw`n yucivwn tw`n piptovntwn ajpov th`~ trapevzh~ tou` plousivou ajllav kaiv oiJ kivne~ ejrcovmenoi ajpevleicon tav e{lkh aujtou`. JEgevneto dev ajpoqanei`n tovn ptwcovn, kaiv ajpenecqh`nai aujtovn uJpov tw`n jAggevlwn eij~ tovn kovlpon tou` jAbraavm. JApevqane dev kaiv oJ plouvsio~, kaiv ejtavfh. Kaiv ejn tw`/ {A/dh/ ejpavra~ touv~ ojfqalmouv~ aujtou`, uJpavrcwn ejn basavnoi~, oJra`/ tovn jAbraavm ajpov makrovqen, kaiv Lavzaron ejn toi`~ kovlpoi~ aujtou`. Kaiv aujtov~ fwnhvsa~ ei\pe: Pavter jAbraavm, ejlevhsovn me, kaiv pevmyon Lavzaron, I{na bavyh/ tov a[kron tou` daktuvlou aujtou` u{dato~, kaiv katayuvxh/ thvn glw`ssavn mou: o{ti ojdunw`mai ejn th`/ flogiv tauvth/. Ei\pe dev jAbraavm: Tevknon, mnhvsqhti o{ti ajpevlabe~ suv tav ajgaqav sou ejn th`/ zwh`/ sou, kaiv Lavzaro~ oJmoivw~ tav kakav: nu`n dev w|de parakalei`tai, suv dev ojduna`sai. Kaiv ejpiv pa`si touvtoi~, metaxuv hJmw`n kaiv uJmw`n cavsma mevga ejsthvriktai, o{pw~ oiJ qevlonte~ diabh`nai ejnteu`qen prov~ uJma`~ mhv duvnwntai, mhdev oiJ ejkei`qen prov~ hJma`~ diaperw`sin. Ei\pe dev. JErwtw` ou\n se, Pavter, I{na pevmpyh/~ aujtovn eij~ tovn oi\kon tou` patrov~ mou: e[cw gavr pevnte ajdelfouv~, o{pw~ diamartuvrhtai aujtoi`~, I{na mhv kaiv aujtoiv e[lqwsin eij~ tovn tovpon tou`ton th`~ basavnou. Levgei aujtw`/ jAbraavm: [Ecousi Mwseva kaiv touv~ Profhvta~: ajkousavtwsan aujtw`n. JO dev ei\pen. Oujciv, Pavter jAbraavm: ajll j ejavn ti~ ajpov nekrw`n poreuqh`/ prov~ aujtouv~, metanohvsousin. Ei\pe dev aujtw`/: Eij Mwsevw~ kaiv tw`n Profhtw`n oujk ajkouvousin, oujdev ejavn ti~ ejk nekrw`n ajnasth`/, peisqhvsontai.

GOSPEL
From the gospel according to St. Luke
(Chapter 16: 19-31)

The Lord said: "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also came into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ "

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