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. Upcoming schedule of services:
January 15 – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
January 18 – Theophany, Great Blessing of Water – 6:30 p.m.
January 29 – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Those wishing to have their homes blessed by Fr. Evan please be advised that I will be starting to bless homes starting January 24th.
3. Metropolitan’s Levee. January 15th. Holy Trinity Cathedral. 4:00 p.m. moleben. 5:00 reception. All are invited.
4. Our deepest condolences to Subdeacon Dennis and his family on the falling asleep in the Lord of his father. May his memory be eternal.
5. In the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, the U.S. women’s softball team lost only one game, and it was a game they should have won. Here’s why.
In the fifth inning, with the score tied 0-0, U.S. player Dani Tyler clubbed a home run over the fence. She took her home run trot around the bases, and when she reached home, amid the excitement and congratulations and high-fives from her teammates, she failed to tag home plate. When she reached the dugout, the opposing team of Australians tagged home, and the umpire at first base agreed that she had stepped right over the plate.
Tyler returned to third base, where she was stranded. The score remained 0-0 until the end of regulation play.
The U.S. scored a run in the top half of the tenth inning. Then in the bottom of the inning, one strike away from defeat, an Australian player hit a two-run homer to with the game for the Australians. The loss was an emotional blow to the American team and especially to Dani Tyler. “I just can’t believe I missed it, ” she said after the game. “I didn’t know anything about it until I was in the dugout.”
This Sunday’s epistle lesson is from St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy. 4:5-8. Verse 7 is probably the one many of us have heard at one point or another. 7. I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith.
It is easy for us to feel that if we have started well, the job is done. Many of my home rennovation projects are a testament to that. I actually have a tool belt. It has two things in it. Band-aids and the business card of my local contractor.
We tend to believe that if we knock the ball over the fence the rest will take care of itself. It is the same in our spiritual lives. We always start out with good intentions. “I am going to attend bible study.” “I am going to attend Great Vespers.” “I am going to make sure my kids are there every Sunday for church school.” “I am going to make confession a regular part of my spiritual life.” “I am going to fast more, pray more, tithe more, etc.” “I am going to take a position on the executive.” We start out strong, but as time goes on we realize that it is not a spiritual sprint. It is a marathon.
There is a reason St. Paul uses the phrase “I have fought the good fight”. It is because it is just that: a fight. It is a constant struggle. Satan will through every distraction, every obstacle possible in our way and the biggest one will be our ego. Our delusional belief that if we start out with the best of intentions, then the job is complete. God does not want just good intentions. Good intentions are worthless without the good works, without the actual commitment. God bless you all in your race.
This week’s question:
What kind of prayer, according to James’ letter, will make a sick person better?
Answer to last week’s question:
What were the three gifts the Wise Men gave to Jesus? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
See you in church,
Fr. Evan
