Church Bulletin - November 24, 2002 - Thirteenth Sunday of Luke

Thirteenth Sunday of Luke - November 24, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 6:11-18; Lk 18:18-27]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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"HE WHO COMES TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER"

Ever since the night of the Mystical Supper, when our Lord commanded His Apostles to "...take and eat, this is My Body" and "...drink of this, for this is My Blood," Orthodox Christians have been called upon to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion as frequently as possible. At every Divine Liturgy, the invitation is extended to all of us: "IN THE FEAR OF GOD AND WITH FAITH AND LOVE, COME FORWARD." Yes, every Sunday we are urged to partake of the Body and Blood of our Savior. Christ's own words warn of the consequences that await those who decline to do so: "Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU." (John 6:53)

The reception of Holy Communion, however, is not something which we should take lightly. Every time we approach the chalice, we must be spiritually prepared for the Sacred Mysteries we are to receive. There are three essential elements necessary for our preparation to be complete. First, we must receive the Holy Eucharist with a great sense of sorrow for our sins, This means we must regularly avail ourselves of the opportunity given us to seek forgiveness through the Sacrament of Confession. We must fast properly each time we receive Holy Communion. Finally, we must pray the prayers prescribed by the Church BEFORE and AFTER partaking of this life-giving Sacrament.

When we receive Holy Communion without being properly prepared, we are like the man who comes to the marriage feast without a wedding garment in Christ's famous parable. In fact, the following prayer of preparation for Holy Communion vividly points this out to us: "How do I dare partake of Thy Holiness in my unworthiness? Even if I dare to approach Thee with those who are worthy, my garment betrays me, for it is not a proper wedding garment."

KURIAKH IG J LOUKA
Klhvmento~ jEpiskoovpou Rwvmh~,
kaiv pevtrou jAlexandreiva~
tw`n JIeromartuvrwn

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

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

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Clement Bishop of Rome
and Peter, Bishop of Alexandria,
the Priest-martyrs

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

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.

jApolutivkion tw`n Eijsovdwn th`~ Qeotovkou

jShvmeron th`~ eujdokiva~ Qeou` tov prooivmion, kaiv th`~ tw`n ajnqrwvpwn swthriva~ hJ prokhvruxi~. JEn naw`/ tou` Qeou` tranw`~ hJ Parqevno~ deivknutai, kaiv tovn Cristovn toi`~ pa`si prokataggevletai. Aujth`/ kaiv hJmei`~ megalofwvnw~ bohvswmen: Cai`re th`~ oijkonomiva~ tou` Ktivstou hJ ejkplhvrwsi~.

Dismissal Hymn of the Theotokos

Today is the prelude of God’s pleasure and the proclamation of man’s salvation. The Virgin is clearly made manifest in the temple of God and foretells Christ to all. Let us also cry out to her with mighty voice, "Hail , fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation."

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

JO 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~ pl. a j. (Yalmov~ ia j).
Suv Kuvrie, fulavxai~ hJma`~ kaiv
diathrhvsai~ hJma`~.
Stivc. Sw`sovn me, Kuvrie, o{ti
ejklevloipen o{sio~.
Prov~ Galavta~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. ~ j 11<18

jjjAdelfoiv, 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
Prokeimenon. Fifth Tone. Psalm 11.7, 1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse. Save me, O Lord, for
the godly man has failed.
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter
to the Galatians.
Chapter 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 un-circumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
(Kef. ih j (18), 18<27)

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, a[nqrwpov~ ti~ prosh`lqe tw`/ jIhsou`, peiravzwn aujtovn, kaiv levgwn: Didavskale ajgaqev, tiv poihvsa~ zwhvn aijwvnion klhronomhvsw; Ei\pe dev aujtw`/ oJ jIhsou`~: Tiv mev levgei~ ajgaqovn; oujdeiv~ ajgaqov~, eijmhv ei|~, oJ Qeov~. Tav~ ejntolav~ oi\da~: Mhv moiceuvsh/~: mhv foneuvsh/~: mhv klevyh/~: mhv yeudomarturhvsh/~: tivma tovn patevra sou kaiv thvn mhtevra sou. JO dev ei\pe: Tau`ta pavnta ejfulaxavmhn ejk neovthtov~ mou. JAkouvsa~ dev tau`ta oJ jIhsou`~, ei\pen aujtw`/: [Eti e{n soi leivpei: pavnta o{sa e[cei~ pwvlhson, kaiv diavdo~ ptwcoi`~, kaiv e[xei~ qhsaurovn ejn oujranw/`, kaiv deu`ro, ajkolouvqei moi. JO dev ajkouvsa~ tau`ta, perivlupo~ ejgevneto: h\n gavr plouvsio~ sfovdra. JIdwvn dev aujtovn oJ jIhsou`~ perivlupon genovmenon, ei\pe: pw`~ duskovlw~ oiJ tav crhvmata e[conte~, eijseleuvsontai eij~ thvn basileivan tou` Qeou`! Eujkopwvteron gavr ejsti kavmhlon diav trumalia`~ raJfivdo~ eijselqei`n h[ plouvsion eij~ thvn basileivan tou` Qeou` eijselqei`n. Ei\pon dev oiJ ajkouvsante~: Kaiv tiv~ duvnatai swqh`na; JO dev ei\pe. Tav ajduvnata parav ajnqrwvpoi~, dunatav parav tw`/ Qew`/ ejstin.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 18: 18-27

At that time, a man came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

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