Church Bulletin - September 2, 2001 - 13th Sunday of Matthew

13th Sunday of Matthew - September 2, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 1 Cor 16:13-24; Mt 21:33-42]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

LORD HAVE MERCY NEEDLESS REPETITION OR A NEEDFUL REQUEST?

Anyone who has ever attended a service in the Orthodox Church knows our most repeated prayer: LORD HAVE MERCY! It is a singular response to some petitions. At other times, it may be sung or chanted three, twelve, forty or even one hundred times. We hear these three words so much that the question is often raised: Is it really necessary to repeat this plea over and over?
To give proper answer to this question, we must carefully examine what we are actually asking for with this humble prayer. True, we are petitioning God to overlook our faults and sinfulness and be merciful to us. Seeking forgiveness (or mercy) from our Heavenly Father must always be in our hearts and on our lips. Yet constantly praying LORD HAVE MERCY means much more than that. Some translations of Sacred Scripture do not exclusively use the word MERCY for the Hebrew term HESED. It is also translated as: compassion, gracious, generous and, yes, LOVING. In essence, then, when we pray LORD HAVE MERCY, we are asking Him to shower us with His love and His goodness. We are requesting His care and His guidance. We are praying that He will bestow upon us all of the things that are necessary for our salvation.

A constant prayer of LORD HAVE MERCY must encompass our entire being. It is not a WASTE OF BREATH. On the contrary, it is a beautiful way of reminding ourselves of how dependent we are on our Creator, and that EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

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

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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."

APOLUTIKION TOU MARTUROS

JO Mavrtu~ sou Kuvrie, ejn th`/ ajqlhvsei aujtou`, tov stevfo~ ejkomivsato th`~ ajfqarsiva~, ejk sou` tou` Qeou` hJmw`n: e[cwn gavr thvn ijscuvn sou, touv~ turavnnou~ kaqei`len: e[qrause kaiv daimovnwn, tav ajnivscura qravsh. Aujtou` tai`~ iJkesivai~ Cristev oj Qeov~, sw`son tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION OF THE MARTYR

For his struggle, O Lord, Your Martyr received the crown of immortality from You our God. Armed with Your might he defeated the tyrants. He also crushed the arrogance of demons. By his intercessions, O Christ our God, save our souls.

QEOTOKION

Tov ajp j aijw`no~ ajpovkrufon, kaiv jAggevloi~ a[gnwston musthvrion, diav sou` Qeotovke, toi`~ ejpiv gh`~ pefanevrwtai: Qeov~ ejn ajsugcuvtw/ eJnwvsei sarkouvmeno~ kaiv Staurovn eJkousivw~ uJpevr hJmw`n katadexavmeno~: di j ou| ajnasthvsa~ tovn prwtovplaston, e[swsen ejk qanavtou tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

THEOTOKION

O Theotokos, the mystery hidden from all ages, unknown even to the angels, has been revealed in you to all who live upon the earth. God in perfect union becomes incarnate. For our sake, He willingly endured the Cross through which He raised up the first man He had fashioned, and saved our souls from death.

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

jIwakeivm kaiv [Anna ojneidismou` ajtekniva~, kaiv jAdavm kaiv Eu[a, ejk th`~ fqora`~ tou` qanavtou, hjleuqerwvqhsan [Acrante, ejn th`/ aJgiva/ gennhvsei sou: Aujthvn eJortazei kaiv oJ laov~ sou, ejnoch`~ tw`n ptaismavtwn, lutrwqeiv~ ejn tw`/ kravzein soi: JH stei`ra tivktei thvn Qeotovkon, kaiv trofovn th`~ zwh`~ hJmw`n.

KONTAKION

In Your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."

APOSTOLOS
(A j Kor. i~ j 13<24)

jAdelfoiv, grhgorei`te, sthvkete ejn th`/ pivstei, ajndrivzesqe, krataiou`sqe. Pavnta uJmw`n ejn ajgavph/ ginevsqw. Parakalw` dev uJma`~, ajdelfoiv: oi[date thvn oijkivan Stafana`, o{ti ejstivn ajparchv th`~ jAcai?a~ kaiv eij~ diakonivan toi`~ aJgivoi~ e[taxan ejautouv~: I{na kaiv uJmei``~ uJpotavsshsqe toi`~ toiouvtoi~ kaiv pantiv tw`/ sunergou`nti kaiv kopiw`nti. Caivrw dev ejpiv th`/ parousiva/ Stefana` kaiv Fourtounavtou kaiv jAcai>kou`, o{ti tov uJmw`n uJstevrhma ou|toi ajneplhvrwsan: ajnevpausan gavr tov ejmovn pneu`ma kaiv tov uJmw`n. jEpiginwvskete ou\n touv~ toiouvtou~. JAspavzontai uJma`~ aiJ ejkklhsivai th`~ jAsiva~. JAspavzontai uJma`~ ejn Kurivw/ pollav jAkuvla~ kaiv Privskilla suvn th`/ kat j oi\kon aujtw`n ejkklhsiva/. JAspavzontai uJma`~ oiJ ajdelfoiv pavnte~: jAspavsasqe ajllhvlou~ ejn filhvmati aJgivw/. JO ajspasmov th`/ ejmh`/ ceiriv Pauvlou, Ei[ ti~ ouj filei` tovn Kuvrion jIhsou`n Cristovn, h[tw ajnavqema. Maravn ajqa`. JH cavri~ tou` Kurivou jIhsou` Cristou` meq j uJmw`n. JH ajgavph mou metav pavntwn uJmw`n ejn Cristw`/ jIhsou`: jAmhvn.

EPISTLE
(1 Cor. 16: 13-24)

Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fornatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings, Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on.
(Kef. ka j (21), 33<42)

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~ thvn parabolhvn tauvthn: [Anqrwpov~ ti~ h\n oijkodespovth~, o{~ ti~ ejfuvteusen ajmpelw`na, kaiv fragmovn aujtw`/ perievqhke, kaiv w[ruxen ejn aujtw`/ lhnov, kaiv wj/kodovmhse puvrgon: kaiv ejxevdoto aujtovn gewrgoi`~, kaiv ajpedhvmhsen. {Ote dev h[ggise oJ kairov~ tw`n karpw`n, ajpevsteile touv~ douvlou~ aujtou` prov~ touv~ gewrgouv~, labei`n touv~ karpouv~ aujtou`. Kaiv labovnte~ oiJ gewrgoiv touv~ douvlou~ aujtou`, o{n mevn e[deiran, o{n dev ajpevkteinan, o{n dev ejliqobovlhsan. Pavlin ajpevsteilen a[llou~ douvlou~ pleivona~ tw`n prwvtwn: kaiv ejpoivhsan aujtoi`~ wJsauvtw~. {Usteron dev ajpevsteile prov~ aujtouv~ tovn uiJovn aujtou`, levgwn: jEntraphvsontai tovn uiJovn mou. OiJ dev gewrgoiv, ijdovnte~ tovn uiJovn, ei\pon ejn eJautoi`~: Ou|to~ ejstin oJ klhronovmo~: deu`te, ajpokteivnwmen aujtovn, kaiv katavscwmen thvn klhronomivan aujtou`. Kaiv labovnte~ aujtovn, ejxevbalon e[xw tou` ajmpelw`no~, kaiv ajpevkteinan. {Otan ou\n e[lqh/ oJ kuvrio~ tou` ajmpelw`no~, tiv poihvsei toi`~ gewrgoi`~ ejkeivnoi~; Levgousin aujtw`/: Kakouv~ kakw`~ ajpolevsei aujtouv~: kaiv tovn ajmpelw`na ejkdwvsetai a[lloi~ gewrgoi`~, oi{tine~ ajpodwvsousin aujtw`/ touv~ karpouv~ ejn toi`~ kairoi`~ aujtw`n. Levgei aujtoi`~ oJ jIhsou`~: Oujdevpote ajnevgnwte ejn tai`~ Grafai`~: Livqon o{n ajpedokivmasan oiJ oijkodomou`nte~, ou|to~ ejgenhvqh eij~ kefalhvn gwniva~: parav Kurivou ejgevneto au{th, kaiv e[sti qaumasthv ejn ojfqalmoi`~ hJmw`n;

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(Chapter 21: 33-42)

The Lord said this parable: "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their season."

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builder rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?"

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