May 19, 2002Today: Sunday, May 18, 2002 Sunday of the Myrrbearers/ Κυριακή των Μυροφόρον
THE EPISTLE READING: Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7
THE GOSPEL READING: St. Mark 15: 43-47; 16:1-8
Saint of the Day. The Holy Martyr Patrick, Bishop of Prussa and His Companions
Church Calendar:
Readings:
Today’s Epistle
Verse: The Lord is my strength and my song.
The Lord has chastened me sorely.
The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 6: 1-7.
In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
Today’s Gospel: St. Mark 15: 43-47; 16: 1-8
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James saw where he was laid.
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there he will meet you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
No Time or No Love?
Many persons complain that they have no time to read the word of God. But it is not really a question of time as it is of love. We always find time to do the things we like to do. For example, there was once a girl who just did not care to read a certain book. Later, however, she fell in love with the author of the book. All of a sudden her whole attitude changed. She read the book over and over again, very eagerly.
When we fall in love with the author (Jesus) it will not be a chore to read His personal letter to us. It will be pure delight. It has been said that the two people who read the Bible most carefully are the atheist and the saint. The atheist because he hates; the saint because he loves.
Father Florovsky has written,
“No one profits from the Gospels unless he is first in love with Christ. For Christ is not a text but a living Person, and He abides in His body, the Church.”
The highest form of Bible reading comes to those who love Jesus so much that to read His word is sheer enjoyment. They savour the sweetness of being with Him through His word.
We must not expect God always to be giving insights when we read his word. Reading God’s word is also a way of being with God, basking in His presence, practicing His presence. A father goes fishing with his child not just to catch fish but also just to be with his child.
Anthony Coniaris. Daily Vitamins for Spiritual Growth. Vol. 2 p.101
For Pondering
1. The ultimate healing is the healing of the resurrection
2. Prayer is our personal communication system with our home base.
3. Prayer is to be with God—Origen
4. The greatest offering we can present to the Lord is our self. We cannot do this without giving up our own will. We learn to do this through obedience, and obedience we learn through practice. The best form of practice is that provided by the Church in her prescribed fast days and seasons– Tito Colliander
5. We muter and sputter, we fume and we spurt;
We mumble and grumble, our feelings get hurt;
We can’t understand things, our vision grows dim;
When all that we need is communion with Him.
Past Bulletins:
- November 16, 2003
- November 9, 2003
- January 19, 2003
- January 12, 2003
- January 5, 2003
- June 23, 2002
- June 16, 2002
- June 9, 2002
- June 2, 2002
- May 19, 2002
- May 26, 2002
- May 12, 2002
- April 14, 2002
- April 21, 2002
- April 28, 2002
- April 7, 2002
Church office:
225-8117
Father Alex's personal line: 225-5060
Life threatening emergency answering service: 239-4736
