Glory be to Jesus Christ!
Just a few things:
1. Great Vespers this Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy this Sunday. Confessions and the reading of the Hours is at 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
2. As you can see by the calendar on the bulletin, Holy Cross is now back to its regular schedule of weekly services. I am excited about it. I hope you are too.
3. Those wishing to have their homes blessed by Fr. Evan please be advised that I will be starting to bless homes starting January 24th.
4. Devoted to You Street Ministries. Last year Holy Cross made a donation of bottled water and granola bars to the Devoted to You Street Ministries. On Feb. 11, at the Bethel Community Church they will be having a fundraising supper. Tickets are $20.00 a person. We have set aside 8 tickets for the event. Please see Sylvia Kitzul if you are interested in going. It would be awe some if we could get more than 8 of our parish out for this. It is a wonderful cause and worth supporting. It will be a pasta supper. They are having entertainment as well.
5. Holy Cross 10th Anniversary. Holy Cross is going to be 10 years old! Sigh… where does the time go? Seems like only yesterday that Fr. Andrew started having his inquirers class in that Catholic church in the Osborn Village and now it is ten years later. Time flies. Through countless moves. Four different priests. Through ups and downs Holy Cross keeps on going. We will be celebrating this awesome occasion on Sept. 30th, 2012. On February 21, 2012 at the Kitzul residence at 7:00 p.m. we will be having our first organizational meeting regarding the 10th anniversary. Not going to lie folks, we need your help. This can’t just be done by the executive. We will need input and assistance from everyone.
5. In December 1994 syndicated columnist Bob greene told the inspiring story of Rob Mouw.
Rob played on the soccer team in his senior year at Wheaton Christian High School. In the final seconds of a big game against favored Waubonsie Valley, with his team behind by one goal, Rob was bribbling the ball in front of him, running at full speed toward the opponent’s goal. Just before he shot the ball, though, he caught sight of the scoreboard. The clock read 00:00. But like any good athlete, Rob shot the all anyway, and it went in for a goal. The referee signaled that the goal counted, and the game finished in a tie.
The Wheaton fans cheered. The Waubonsie Valley fans cried that time had run out.
Rob had a choice to make. He could say nothing and avoid a loss. After all, it was the referee’s job to decide the calls, not his. Or Rob could do what was right.
Rob asked the referee whether the official time was kept on the scoreboard or the referee’s stopwatch. The referee said the scoreboard time was official and then ran off the field. Rob went to his coaches and explained that just before his kick, he had seen zeros on the scoreboard clock. Since he hadn’t heard a whistle, he kept playing. But his goal was late, and he didn’t think it should count.
His coaches agreed, and so they went over to the opposing coaches, explained what had happened and conceded victory to Waubonsie Valley.
Bob Greene ended his article with this quote from Rob Mouw: “Every time in your life you have an opportunity to do right, you should be thankful. For a person to know what right is, and then not do it – would be a sin. To have won the game – I mean, really, who cares? Doing the right thing is more important. It lets you have peace.”
So why the story about Rob Mouw and his soccer game? The epistle reading this Sunday is from I Timothy 4:9-15. One verse in particular stands out for me. 12. Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity.
I am not arrogant enough to tell people how to raise their kids. No, let me correct that. I am horribly arrogant but I do know my limitations. So I am going to let the saints make a few suggestions.
“The primary lesson for life must be implanted in the soul from the earliest age. The primary lesson for children is to know the eternal God, the One Who gives everlasting life.” St. Clement
“It is good to teach, if he who teaches also acts with good example.” St. Ignatius.
If we want children to grow up to be examples of good speech, behaviour, love, faithfulness and purity two things must happen.
1. We have to be good examples ourselves. It is easy to talk the talk, but kids need to see the adults walk the walk. I have learnt very quickly that kids are sponges and absorb things.
2. If we want to instill good qualities in our children one of the primary places that can happen is in our churches. But that can only happen if the children are there.
I know there is no guarantee that a child who is brought to church will grow up to be moral and upright. But I do believe that a parish that makes a child coming to know God’s never ending love one of its main priorities is fulfilling Christ’s commandment to let the children come to Him. Evangelization doesn’t necessarily mean going out and preaching in the world. Doesn’t mean mission work to non-Orthodox. It means evangelizing our own faithful. It means making the knowledge of the eternal God, the One Who gives everlasting life, a primary mission within that child’s home, that child’s church.
Like I said, I am not arrogant enough to tell a person how to raise their kids. But I think the saints lay out pretty clearly the responsibilities the parents and the Church have. The question I have for you is, “Are we living up to our responsibilities? Are we giving them the opportunity to learn what is right? What is true?”
This week’s question:
Who saw Peter and John laying hands on people and asked if he could buy this ability to give the Spirit?
Answer to last week’s question:
What kind of prayer, according to James’ letter, will make a sick person better? The prayer offered in faith.
See you in church,
Fr. Evan
