Church Bulletin - November 17, 2002

Ninth Sunday of Luke - November 17, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 2:16-20; Lk 12:16-21]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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"GOLDEN WORDS" FROM THE WRITINGS OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

St. John Chrysostom was arguably the greates preacher and most prolific writer that the Church has ever seen. Born in the mid 4th century, he received an excellent secular education, after which he turned his attention to studying scripture and theology. He was ordained a priest in 386 A.D. and after just 12 years, John was consecrated Archbishop of Constantinople. Here are but a few profound thoughts from his writings:

LOVE - Love is the root, the fount and the mother of all good. As a root, it sends forth countless branches of virtues. As a fount, it gives birth to many streams. As a mother, it embraces everyone.

REPENTANCE - Repentance consists in no longer doing the same things. We must refrain both in deed and thought from our former sins, applying to our spiritual "wounds" remedies which are totally opposite of our sins.

FASTING - Do you fast? Prove it to me by your works.

GIVING ALMS - Our alms are judged not by the measure of our gifts, but rather by the largeness of our heart.

PRAYER - Prayer does not merely come from the mouth, but from the bottom of the heart. Just as trees with the deepest roots can withstand any storm, so also our prayers, when rooted in our heart, ascend to heaven with confidence.

ANGER - If a man could see himself at the time of his anger, he would need no other admonition. There is nothing less pleasing than an angry countenance.

USEFULNESS - You may fast and submit to all sorts of spiritual disciplines. But if you are not useful to others, you are doing nothing worthwhile.

KURIAKH Q J LOUKA
Grhgorivou jEpiskovpou Neokaisareiva~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

Tov faidrovn th`~ ajnastavsew~ khvrugma, ejk tou` ajggevlou maqou`sai, aiJ tou` Kurivou maqhvtriai, kaiv thvn progonikhvn ajpovfasin ajporrivyasqai, toi`~ ajpostovloi~ kaucwvmenai e[legon: jEskuvleutai oJ qavnato~, hjgevrqh Cristov~ oJ Qeov~, dwrouvmeno~ tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

NINTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Gregory, Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

From the angel, the women disciples of the Lord heard the joyful news of the Resurrection and the repeal of the sentence imposed upon our forefathers. With pride, they said to the Apostles, "Death is vanquished. Christ our God is risen, bestowing upon the world His great mercy."

jApolutivkion tou` JAgivou

jEn proseucai`~ grhgorw`n, tai`~ tw`n qaumavtwn ejrgasivai~ ejgkarterw`n, ejpwnumivan ejkthvsw tav katorqwvmata: ajllav prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, Pavter Grhgovrie, fwtivsai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n, mhvpote uJpnwvswmen, ejn aJmartivai~ eij~ qavnaton.

Dismissal Hymn of the Saint

You attained your worthy name by deeds, being vigilant in prayer and persevering in the working of miracles. Intercede, O Father Gregory, to Christ our God, that He enlighten our souls lest we fall asleep in sin unto death.

Qeotokivon

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.

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

JJO kaqarwvtato~ Naov~, tou` Swth`ro~, hJ polutivmhto~ pastav~ kaiv Parqevno~, tov iJerovn qhsauvrisma th`~ dovxh~ tou` Qeou`, shvmeron eijsavgetai, ejn tw`/ Oi[kw/ Kurivou, thvn cavrin suneisavgousa, thvn ejn Pneuvmati qeivw/: h{n ajnumnou`sin [Aggeloi Qeou`: Au{th uJpavrcei, skhnhv ejpouravnio~.

Kontakion

Today the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and virgin, the sacred treasure of the glory of God enters this house of the Lord bringing with her the grace of the Divine Spirit. The angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ d j. (Yalmov~ rg j).
JW~ ejmegaluvnqh tav e[rga sou,
Kuvrie: pavnta ejn sofiva/ ejpoivhsa~.
Stivc. Eujlovgei, hJ yuchv mou, tovn Kuvrion.
Prov~ Galavta~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. B j. 16<20

jjAdelfoiv, eijdovte~ o{ti ouj dikaiou`tai a[nqrwpo~ ejx e[rgwn novmou ejavn mhv diav pivstew~ jIhsou` Cristou`, kaiv hJmei`~ eij~ Cristovn jIhsou`n ejpisteuvsamen, i{na dikaiwqw`men ejk pivstew~ Cristou` kaiv oujk ejx e[rgwn novmou, diovti ouj dikaiwqhvsetai ejx e[rgwn novmou pa`sa savrx. Eij dev zhtou`nte~ dikaiwqh`nai ejn Cristw`/ euJrevqhmen kaiv aujtoiv aJmartwloiv, a[ra Cristov~ aJmartiva~ diavkono~_ Mhv gevnoito. Eij gavr a{ katevlusa tau`ta pavlin oijkodomw`, parabavthn ejmautovn sunivsthmi. JEgwv gavr diav novmou novmw/ ajpevqanon, i{na Qew`/ zhvsw. Cristw`/ sunestauvrwmai: zw` dev oujkevti ejgwv, zh`/ dev ejn ejmoiv Cristov~: o{ dev nu`n zw` ejn sarkiv, ejn pivstei zw` th`/ tou` uiJou` tou` Qeou` tou` ajgaphvsantov~ me kaiv paradovnto~ eJautovn uJpevr ejmou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how magnificent are your works.
You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter
to the Galatians.
Chapter 2. 16-20.

BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I built up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` Katav Louka`n.
Kef. ib j (12), 16<21.

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~ thvn parabolhvn tauvthn: jAnqrwvpou tinov~ plousivou eujfovrhsen hJ cwvra: kaiv dielogivzeto ejn eJautw`/, levgwn: Tiv poihvsw, o{ti oujk e[cw pou` sunavxw touv~ karpouv~ mou_ Kaiv ei\pe: Tou`to poihvsw: kaqelw` mou tav~ ajpoqhvka~, kaiv meivzona~ oijkodomhvsw, kaiv sunavxw ejkei` pavnta tav genhvmatav mou kaiv tav ajgaqav mou, kaiv ejrw` th`/ yuch`/ mou: Yuchv, e[cei~ pollav ajgaqav keivmena eij~ e[th pollav: ajnapauvou, favge, pive, eujfraivnou. Ei\pe dev aujtw`/ oJ Qeov~: [Afron, tauvth/ th`/ nuktiv thvn yuchvn sou ajpaitou`sin ajpov sou`: a{ dev hJtoivmasa~, tivni e[stai_ Ou{tw~ oJ qusaurivzwn eJautw`/, kaiv mhv eij~ Qeovn ploutw`n. Tau`ta levgwn, ejfwvnei: JO e[cwn w\ta ajkouvein, ajkouevtw.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 12: 16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store the crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

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