Glory be to Jesus Christ!
Just a few things:
1. Divine Liturgy: Hearing of confessions and the reading of the hours at 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
2. Dormition Fast begins on August 14 and goes until August 28.
3. The Holy Sacraments of Baptism and Christmation of Sanchira Elena Maximiuk will be celebrated on August 14th. Please keep her in your prayers.
4. I found an article written by Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky. I would like to share part of it with you for the simple reason that in a few short weeks, the new ecclesiastical year will begin for the Holy Orthodox Church. The Liturgical Cycle begins anew. Within our various parishes the church schools will begin again, church organizations will be back from their summer hiatus, the pews in the churches will be a bit fuller because the holidays are over. Fr. Berzonsky’s article is title, “Attributes of a Perfect Church”. Let’s take a look at them.
“St. Paul set forth the attributes of the perfect Church.
They are people who are devoted to one another: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” [Romans 21:10] When we read this, how does it resonate on the conscience of each member of the community we call Church?
These are people who can say of their fellow parishioners that they: “Honor one another above [them]selves.” [Romans 12:10] It means that each member in good standing holds all others in the congregation above themselves. They feel it an honor to be part of such a community of believers. Does this really happen?
It’s mandatory to dwell in harmony with one another: “Live in harmony with one another.” [Romans 12:16] It means that nothing is as important as to preserve peace among the family of Christ. Of course there are differences of opinion in the parish — everybody understands that — but they also realize that without the peace of God that passes all understanding, their Eucharist is hollow because their relations are shallow and worldly, not godly.
Love one another: “Let no debt remain outstanding except the debt to love one another.” [Romans 13:8] Until we can realize the order from the Divine Liturgy: “Let us love one another that with one accord we may confess…Father, Son and Holy Spirit…” as Jesus said, we are talking nonsense when we say we love God. Here the expectation is that by the time we approach heaven, we have made love a way of life.
Accept one another: “Accept then one another, just as Jesus accepted you.” [Romans 15:7] To accept is to realize there are differences, and yet they do not prevent us from forgiving. The French say: To understand is to forgive. Acceptance is not approval — not even tolerance. It is compassion.
Serve one another: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in sinful nature. Rather serve one another in love.” [Galatians 5:13] Is this not the meaning of foot washing? What more powerful an example can there be than the Son of God washing the feet of fishermen? Are we above the Master?
Forgive one another: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” [Colossians 3:13] You will be stopped and forbidden entry into heave if you come with a grudge defiling your soul.
Encourage one another: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” [I Thessalonians 5:11] We are ordered to build up the confidence and to reinforce the positive images of all your sisters and brothers in Christ. There’s no place for a downer or defeatist in Paradise.”
So, the attributes are devotion, honour, dwelling in harmony, love, acceptance, service. These are the defining qualities of a church, of a congregation. It is not how beautiful the choir is, not how amazing the icons are, not how many perogies you sell at the Friday night all you can eat perogy supper. It is not the size of the membership list or the number of committees.
It is a group of people, inspired by the example of and the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, coming together and making the attributes St. Paul describes a reality. That is how we are to explain/define what our Holy Orthodox Church is all about. It is a place of devotion, honour, dwelling in harmony, love, acceptance, service and it is the continual pursuit of these attributes that must be at the heart of every action a church takes.
Answer to last week’s question:
In Matthew’s Gospel, which two women were the first people to see Jesus alive again? Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. (Congratulations to Alexis who answered correctly.)
This week’s question:
When Jesus said, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which psalm was He quoting from?
See you in church.
In Christ,
Fr. Evan
