Dear all.
Gospel reading
- Yesterday’s gospel reading (Luke 10:16 – 21) provides a clear picture as to the scope and impact of authority within the church. “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects Him who sent me.” Authority within the church is both mediated and hierarchical. We cannot do whatever we wish to do. The job of laity is to listen to the priesthood and the job of the priesthood is to listen their bishops and the job of their bishops is to carry out the word of God. We are all linked and joined in unity of purpose to carry out the will of God and it is God who tells us, his servants, His will.
- Now someone may say that this priest or that priest is, in their view, flawed and hence not worthy of respect in its fullness. This So they pick and choose which of the clergy to follow and which of the clergy to disregard. Wretched fool, who are you to judge the servant of another? Through the laying of hands the Holy Spirit has declared each person worthy and, by virtue of their office, worthy not only to follow Christ but worthy to celebrate the divine Eucharist thereby handling the body and blood of Christ. Remember judgement belongs to the Lord and we will all be judged according to our virtues and our passions. So let us remember our failings and weaknesses and not those of our brother.
- Any thoughts that we may have that someone is less worthy than us is the work of the devil. Our ultimate purpose in this life is to inherit the kingdom of heaven and anything that disrupts that purpose acts as impediment to salvation. After all does not Christ tell us that with the same judgement you pronounced you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your eye? How can you say to your brother, “let me take the speck out of your right,” while there is a beam in your own eye?
- So, here it is: our priest represent Christ and accordingly if we reject our priests because we disagree with them or consider them to be unworthy of priesthood, then we are, in effect, rejecting Christ. No wonder Christ rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared: “I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and reveal them to babes, yes father for such was your gracious will.” Unless we approach our faith as a young child full of awe at the wonder and mystery of all the good things that we receive from God we will be ruled by our rational intellect. Then, it is truly a case of the blind leading the blind.
Around our church
- • The services this week are as follows: tomorrow (Tuesday) St Garasimos of Cephalonia from 7:30 AM; on Friday at 6 PM the divine liturgy of St James with all the clergy present (the service will be bilingual); Saturday divine liturgy in English 9 AM to 10:15 AM. Kindly note on Saturday we will be holding the 12 month memorial service for our dear friend Evangelia McVeigh who lies in repose and awaiting the general resurrection at the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.
- Due to my personal commitments there is NO Zoom class this evening or on Thursday evening. By the grace of God, we will be resuming next week.
- Tune in to 6 EBA FM for the “Hour of Orthodoxy” from 5 PM to 6 PM each Tuesday for an exposition of the forthcoming Sunday’s Epistle and gospel. On Thursday from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM the divine liturgy in English recorded the previous Saturday and from 4:30 PM to 6 PM the divine liturgy in Greek recorded the previous Sunday are aired also on the same radio station.
- Our food store needs your ongoing support for basic food items especially tinned fish and bottles of olive oil. Please help.
- On Sunday, 8 November 2020 we will be holding our Vespers for the feast day of St Nektarios – further details to follow.
- On Monday 9 November we will be celebrating the centennial anniversary of the feast day of St Nektarios the wonderworker. We will be holding a cake/savoury stall. Further details to follow.
- On Sunday, 15 November we will be holding our luncheon to celebrate the feast day of our Patronal Saint. – Further details to follow
Appeal
With the blessing and support of his Grace Bishop Elpidios of Kyaneon we are commencing a restoration program for our church in order to address its many needs. Our appeal to you for help has been divided into stages.
Stage I $55,000
Will be directed to replacing the floorcoverings of the church throughout. We have already received commitment to donate the replacement of the tiles in the narthex and the carpet in the upper gallery. We now need to replace the nave and the sanctuary with carpet as befits our church and for the greater glory of God. If you wish any further details please contact myself or his Grace directly (office: (08) 6146 2584 or mobile 0407 260 071)
Donations can be made to the church of St Nektarios by direct debit. Please pay this to Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia parish of St Nektarios: BSB082057 account 608494969
Thought of the week
Why are the young blessed? Because they see everything around them as extra ordinary and magical. Life is uncomplicated and an experience in happiness without reason. Life, for them sees the possible in all things and all things as being possible. Innocence, simplicity, lack of guile and friendship towards one another other are hallmarks of their relationships with each other. So, at what point, whilst growing up, do we lose the magic?
Till next time.
In Christ.
Father John Athanasiou 0411 061 554
