Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

Transcription

1 Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee Icon of the Publican and Pharisee

2 Great Vespers Vigil Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Saturday, January 20, 2018 Service begins on page 104 of the Green Book Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O My Soul Version A Pg 104 Version with melody Lamp-Lighting Psalms & Great Incensation Tone 8 Pg 159 Hymns of Vespers Tone 8 Pg 159 O Joyful Light Pg 117 Holy God (Trisagion) Version A Pg 27 Prokeimenon (Resurrection Tone) Tone 8 Pg 162 Alleluia (Resurrection Tone) Tone 8 Pg 163 Let us Who Mystically Version A Pg 42 Nicene Creed Version A Pg 51 Holy, Holy, Holy Version A Pg 56 We Praise You (Anamnesis) Version A Pg 58 Magnification Pg 62 Our Father Tone 8 Pg 73 Communion Hymn (Sunday) Version A Pg 78 We Have Seen the True Light Version A Pg 82 May Our Mouth Be Filled Version A Pg 84 Blessed Be the Name Version A Pg 88 Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Sunday, January 21, 2018 Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee Service begins on page 11 of the Green Book Hymn of the Incarnation Version A Pg 18 3rd Antiphon Pg 22 Entrance Hymn Version A Pg 25 Troparion (Resurrection Tone) Tone 8 Pg 161 Kontakion of Publican & Pharisee Tone 3 Pg 215 Holy God Version B Pg 28 Prokeimenon (Resurrection Tone) Tone 8 Pg 162 Alleluia (Resurrection Tone) Tone 8 Pg 163 Let us Who Mystically Version B Pg 43 Nicene Creed Version A Pg 51 Holy, Holy, Holy Version C Pg 57 We Praise You (Anamnesis) Version A Pg 58 Magnification Pg 62 Our Father Tone 8 Pg 73 Communion Hymn (Sunday) Version B Pg 78 We Have Seen the True Light Version A Pg 82 May Our Mouth Be Filled Version A Pg 84 Blessed Be the Name Version C Pg 88

3 SPECIAL SPONSORS This space is available for advertisements to help subside the cost of the bulletin. If you know of a business and/or an organization that would like to advertise in our bulletin please contact Fr. Diodoro for promotional rates. Thank you. Vital Biz Group, PLLC Strategies for Today s Business Scottsdale AZ Nicholas Stefaniak III, CPA info@vitalbizgroup.com Office Cell LOUIE S ULTRA CLEANERS Eco-friendly Dry Cleaning/ Alterations & Repairs/ Wedding Gown Preservation Leather & Suede/ Household Items 4410 W. Union Hills Dr. Glendale, AZ (623) N. Tatum Blvd. Phoenix AZ Parish Advisory Council Served by: Parish Finance Council Served by: Mary Beth Foster Sean Grimes Peyton Becktold John Surmay Dolores Sugent Jessica Kotyun Joanie Mahar Basil Rabayda Joan Wolfe Nicholas Stefaniak III Simon Marmol Ann Zlamal Jennifer Landis Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe

4 Modesty Should Govern the Way We Dress The Old Testament is filled with the image of God s people being a holy people, set apart. The ancient Israelites were not like their neighbors. Their values and their faith impacted everything about them. They dressed differently than many of their neighboring pagan tribes. Their worship was centered on the God that had revealed himself to them and made them his chosen people. Their spiritual and moral views reflected this relationship with the One God that had entered into communion with them and who had revealed Divine Truth through the prophets. The Church is the continuation of the Church of the Old Testament and as such, we are the chosen people of God. Our lives should reflect this truth in everything we do and in the moral standards that guide our daily living. These standards of faith should even govern the way we dress. It is not only monks, nuns, and priests who should hold themselves to dress codes that reflect modesty and purity. We are all called to be a people set apart from this world. Christ s Kingdom is not of this world and we need to dress in a way that does not bring temptation to others. For the Christian, tight and revealing clothing are not appropriate. We should not reserve modest clothing for church services or when making pilgrimages to our monasteries. Prayer for Participating in the Divine Liturgy O Lord, grant that with your peace I may greet all that this day is to bring. Grant me grace to surrender myself completely to Your holy will. In every hour of this day instruct me and guide me in all things. Teach me to accept tranquilly whatever tidings I may receive during this day, in the firm belief that Your holy will governs all. Govern my thoughts and feelings in all that I do and say. When unforeseen things occur, let me not forget that all is sent by You. Teach me to behave sincerely and reasonably toward everyone, so that I may bring confusion and sorrow to no one. Bestow on me, O Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day and to bear my part in its events. Guide my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to suffer, to forgive and to love. Amen. When, standing in church, let all of you be as though in heaven with God; for in church everything is heavenly. Here common prayer is of nothing other, worldly, but for the soul's salvation, for the forgiveness of sins, for success in acts of goodness and the granting of immortality to our souls-- prayer for all. Every worldly care must be laid aside upon entering. In the Liturgy, we encounter God in a way that is beyond human comprehension, for we are invited to commune with our Creator in the most intimate way. To approach the Holy Mysteries (Communion) without thought, as though we were simply going to a movie, is beyond foolish-

5 ness. To receive the hot coals that is meant to transform us, and make us whole, without proper preparation, is a very dangerous thing to do. This Week s Liturgical Schedule Sun. 1/21 Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee Tone 8 Epistle: 2 Timothy 3:10-15 Gospel: Luke 18:10-14 Sat. 4:00 PM +Donald Pent by Joe Rudo (Fr. David) Sun. 9:00 AM Parishioners of St. Stephen Cathedral (Fr. Joe) (There is no fasting or abstinence during the week of the Publican and the Pharisee) Mon. 1/22 The Holy Apostle Timothy p :00 AM Paul Temcio by George Tomley (Fr. Joe) Tue. 1/23 The Holy Martyr Clement, Bishop of Ancyra p :00 AM +Elaine Kepler by George Tomley (Fr. Diodoro) Wed. 1/24 Our Venerable Mother Xenia of Rome p :00 AM Coco Family (Fr. James) Thu. 1/25 Our Holy Father Gregory the Theologian No Morning Divine Liturgy Fri. 1/26 Our Venerable Father Macarius of Egypt p :00 AM Michael & Gilda Dougherty by a Friend (Fr. James) Sat. 1/27 Translation of the Relics of John Chrysostom No Morning Divine Liturgy Sun. 1/28 Sunday of the Prodigal Son Tone 1 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Gospel: Luke 15:11-32 Sat. 4:00 PM Parishioners of St. Stephen Cathedral (Fr. Joe) Sun. 9:00 AM +Fr. Francis Vivona (Fr. Diodoro) Special Intentions: Erwin Armada, Barbara Dugan, Joanie Mahar, Helen Furka, Vincent Rice, McCarthy Family, Gemma Hillman, Marti Lopez, Kathleen Linkowsky, Betty Geletey, Richard Gable, Robert King, Ann Ryan, Chris Faix, Robyn Foy and Elaine Browne, Mark Chapa, Mike Chapa and Iliana Villegas.

6 May the Lord rest His healing hand on His servants and hear their requests: Mary Rabayda, Jane Walsh, Steve Durkit, Dorothy Dumnich, Richard Reese, Chris Balsz, Sr. Christopher OSBM, Dorothy Bezeredi, Carlene Eneroth, Fred Way, Sharon White, Nancy Sandrock, Marlene Rolling, Bob Dugan, Cathy Milko, Michael Dougherty, Widad Butty, Clementina Mendoza,Nicholas Stefaniak Sr., Mary Popovich, Anne Peterson, Dan Palaschak, Michael Sherwood, Christina Toth, Liz Kol, Evelyn Sopiak, Deacon Craig Anderson, Nicholas Toth, Michelle Montalvo, Nicholas Oprendek, Dennis Milko, Karen Kol, Gabriel Papke, Dan Savas and Elena Nava. ANNOUNCEMENTS PARISH 50TH JUBILEE COMMITTEE MEETING ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 AFTER THE 9:00 AM DIVINE LITURGY IN PARISH CONFERENCE ROOM- Topics will include the anniversary book with greetings from Byzantine Catholic parishes around the country, advertising and memorials from parishioners. Also upcoming events such as a parish mission in March and events for other months. We will also discuss plans for the dinner here at the parish. The date for the 50th Jubilee Divine Liturgy & Dinner Celebration will be Sunday, September 30, 2018 ARIZONA FAITH NETWORK WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY On Wednesday, January 24 at 7:00 PM there will be an Ecumenical Service held here at St. Stephen Cathedral. Light refreshments will be served in the parish hall after the Service. Please come and join in prayer and unity with our fellow Christians of the Phoenix area. ALL SOULS SATURDAYS- Please fill out your name list for All Souls Saturdays for your departed relatives and friends on All Souls envelopes and put them in the Sunday collection. The First All Souls Saturday is February 3, 2018 with the Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service (Panachida) starting at 9:00 AM. PIROHI & FISH FRY DINNERS TO RESUME? We are planning to have pirohi and fish fry dinners during Great Lent on February 16, 23 & March 2, 9, 16 & 23. We are going to need a lot of volunteers to work the dinners. We are going to put out work schedule sheets and we need the help of you the parishioners to make the sacrifice of time and effort to help out. There is no doubt about it, having the pirohi and fish fry requires a lot of preparation and physical work. As parishioners we must look out for each other and try and help and make the work burden easier for each other. If we do not fill up the work list by Sunday, February 11 we will be forced to cancel the fish fry during Great Lent. This is why there is a question mark with this notice!

7 PIROHI WORK DAYS: FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 & SATURDAY, JANUARY 28- In anticipation of having fish fry & pirohi dinners on Fridays during Great Lent, we need to make pirohi this week. It was decided at the pirohi committee meeting on Sunday, January 14 to go ahead and give the dinners one more shot. All at the meeting agreed to this plan with the stipulation that we cannot proceed with the dinners if enough parishioners do not sign up to fill the work positions for ALL SIX FRIDAYS. Fr. Diodoro and Fr. Joe are all in to help keep this important fund raiser going, now we ask you the parishioners to show us that you are in too! On Friday, January 26 at 8:00 AM we will begin the preparation work for the pirohi with the peeling, cutting, boiling of the potatoes and then the process of making the potato cheese filling and shaping them into balls which we will refrigerate and use on Saturday to fill the pirohi. On Saturday, January 27 at 8:00 AM we will make the pirohi. If we do not get enough support to have the fish fry during Great Lent, we will sell the frozen pirohi during Great Lent and at the Easter Bake Sale.

8 The parable teaches us the way in which we must not pray, that is with boastfulness and pride. When we pray only to show off, then we lose our reward and our prayers become not worship to God, but blasphemy in His eyes. Elsewhere in the Gospel our Lord teaches us that, When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street comers, that they may be seen by men. Truly, Ι say to you, they have received their reward. But, when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matt. 6:5-6). Βy means of today s Parable, our Lord wanted to teach us how important it is for us, when we pray, to put aside all thoughts, problems and worldly cares and to concentrate our attention on Him alone. When man turns against his fellow men, without mercy, without understanding, without love, he then calls down upon himself the divine condemnation. God turns His Face away from those who refuse mercy to their fellow men. The actions of the Pharisee were just according to the Law of Moses. But they were not able to justify him in the eyes of God, because they were the work and fruit of pride, self-satisfaction and self-righteousness. The Pharisee was not interested in the justice of God. He went to the Temple not to pray from love of God, but to make a display of his piousness before the other people believing that God was obliged to reward him. Man can make no bigger mistake than to believe in his own justice and lack of sin. Such pride and vanity blinds man, not allowing him to realize that he is a sinner and that without the Grace of Christ he cannot be saved. Some Christians, refusing to face the reality of their own sinfulness, think only of the sins of their fellow men and condemn them accordingly. They rest secure in the belief that they are justified before God, because they keep some of His laws. But, what of His Supreme Law? If we truly love Christ, then in our daily lives we will try to be true disciples. He said if you love Me, you will keep ΜΥ commandments (John l4:l5). An Orthodox Christian continually strives to imitate the life οf Christ. As a human being he falls, but shows repentance. Nobody is perfect but God, Who in His great love gave to mankind the means of salvation, the weapons to overcome the enemy. Two of the greatest of these weapons are Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confession. Our realization of our sins leads us to repentance, and repentance leads us to confession. Our confession to the priest brings down upon us the Grace of Christ, namely the forgiveness of sins. However, many how great they might be, through true repentance and confession they are all forgiven. Such forgiveness was granted to the Publican as opposed to the Pharisee. The Publican real-

9 ized his sinfulness and humbled himself before God so much so that he didn t lift up his eyes to Heaven, but bear his breast, saying God be merciful to me, a sinner (Luke l8:l3). He didn t judge any of his fellow men, but only himself. He asked for the mercy of God and received it. Today s Gospel has many things to teach us. We Orthodox Christians must learn from today s parable, that, when we wish to pray, we must approach God with a humble and contrite heart and having love towards all our fellow men, and most of all to forgive one another. God hears the prayers of humble men. The humble Christian imitates Christ, Who humbled Himself, even unto death on the Cross (Phil. 2:8). PRE-SANCTIFIED DIVINE LITURGY- Great Lent or the Great Fast begins on Monday, February 12 and ends on Friday, March 23. The Pre-Sanctified Liturgy which is our primary Service during Great Lent will be celebrated on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM and on Fridays at 7:30 PM. LENTEN SOUP DINNERS ON WEDNESDAYS DURING GREAT LENT- On Wednesdays during Great Lent we will have Lenten Soup Dinners after the 7:00 PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy. On Wednesday, February 21 we will have a presentation given to us by a theologian, Michael Crow of St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church in Seattle, Washington. The presentation will be: How the Scientific Account of Creation Proves the Existence of God. HOUSE BLESSINGS- If you wish to have your house blessed please contact Fr. Diodoro. House blessings will be on Saturdays at 12 Noon or by appointment Resurrection: Sr. Christopher by Diane Papke This Week s Candle Intention Our Weekly Gifts to the Lord May the Lord bless your kindness and generosity! Saturday: 4 PM: 27/ 9 AM: 107 Tithes: $ Candles: $58.00 Holydays: $ Gift Shop: $4.00 Coffee Social: $46.00 All Souls: $45.00 Bake Sale: $24.00 Christmas: $ Totals: $ (26 families contributed $ We have 126 registered families) Coming Events Mark Your Calendars Sunday, January 21-50th Jubilee Meeting after 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy in Parish Conference Room

10 Monday, January 22- Byzantine Catholic Bible Study at 6:00 PM in Parish Hall Foyer Tuesday, January 23 & 30- Life in Christ (Adult ECF) at 6:30 PM in Parish Conference Room Wednesday, January 24- Arizona Faith Network Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service of Prayer- 7:00 PM at St. Stephen Cathedral Friday, January 26- Peeling & Cooking Potatoes & Making Potato Balls for Pirohi Begins at 8:00 AM (Come when you can) Saturday, January 27- Pirohi Making Day begins at 8:00 AM Sunday, January 28- Parishioners January Birthdays & Anniversaries Pot Luck Saturday, February 3- First All Souls Saturday: Divine Liturgy and Panachida at 9:00 AM Sunday, February 11- Cheese-fare Sunday Meatless Luncheon Pot Luck & February Parishioners Birthdays & Anniversaries Cake Social after the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy Monday, February 12- Great Lent Begins Saturday, February 17- Marriage Preparation Class at 1:00 PM in Parish Conference Room Wednesday, February 21- Lenten Soup Dinner with Theological Presentation by Theologian Michael Crowe from St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church, Seattle WA after the Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy. SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE EPISTLE: 1 TIMOTHY 3:10-15 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. GOSPEL: LUKE 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, God, be ]merciful to me, the sinner! I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

11 Now, amongst the Jews of the time, there were different religious parties. The most important of these were the Pharisees, who were strict observer of the Law of Moses; the Sadducees who believed that there is no resurrection and the Essenes, who were ascetics. The Pharisees boasted that they followed the Law of Moses literally. They wore special clothes and could always be easily recognized in a crowd of people. Το use the words of our Lord, they do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the marketplace, and being called rabbi by men (Matt. 23:5-7). They separated themselves from the rest of the people, believing themselves to be the just in the Eyes of God. The Publican on the other hand, belonged to a group who were hated and despised by rich and poor alike. As we saw in last Sunday s sermon, the Publican s job was to collect taxes. However they did not stop at collecting the tax that was legally due to the Roman Empire, but imposed heavy surcharges which went into their own pockets, and which were a crushing burden for the people to bear. But they were especially hated and despised not only for their corruption, but for the fact that they collaborated with the Romans. Now let us see what these two men did, when they entered the Temple. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself (Luke l8:11), that is to say he did not turned to God, but to his pride, which meant that in the eyes of God his apparent pious acts were vain and futile. The actions of the Pharisee were according to the Law of Moses, but were not according to the Law of God. The law of man is different from the Law of God. The law of man is seldom the fruit of love, whereas the Law of God is LOVE. God is love and whosoever dwells in love, dwells in God and God in him. The Pharisee feared to face the reality of his inner condition and did everything to avoid exposing himself to the justice of God. Appointing himself as his own judge, he always assured himself of a favorable verdict and every time escaped condemnation. Ιn this way his self-satisfaction at feeling just at all times was never disturbed. As a result he set himself above other men and boasted of his good deeds. The Pharisee in desisting his own justice, condemns generally his fellow men, calling them extortionist, unjust, adulterers (Luke l8:11) and then specifically the tax collector standing near him. This personal condemnation of the Publican by the Pharisee was the cause of his own condemnation in the eyes of God.

12 Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee It was very characteristic of our Lord Jesus Christ that in order to teach the Divine Truth, He used examples taken from the daily life of His times. In this way He was able to help those who believed in Him to apply the Divine Truth in their own lives. In the Parable of today s Gospel, our Lord showed us two different types of men, who both went up to the Temple to pray. He also mentioned a very significant point, their different religious and social class. The first was a Pharisee and the second a Publican.

13 Humility (Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee)

14 The Following is an excerpt from Great Lent, by Alexander Schmemann From Chapter 2: Preparation for Lent The next Sunday [after Zaccheus Sunday] is called the "Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. "On the eve of this day, on Saturday at Vespers, the liturgical book of the Lenten season-- the Triodion-- makes its first appearance and texts from it are added to the usual hymns and prayers of the weekly resurrection service. They develop the next major aspect of repentance: humility. The Gospel lesson (Lk. 18:10-4) pictures a man who is always pleased with himself and who thinks that he complies with all the requirements of religion. He is self-assured and proud of himself. In reality, however, he has falsified the meaning of religion. He has reduced it to external observations and he measures his piety by the amount of money he contributes to the temple. As for the Publican, he humbles himself and his humility justifies him before God. If there is a moral quality almost completely disregarded and even denied today, it is indeed humility. The culture in which we live constantly instills in us the sense of pride, of self-glorification, and of self-righteousness. It is built on the assumption that man can achieve anything by himself and it even pictures God as the one who all the time "gives credit" for man's achievements and good deeds. Humility-- be it individual or corporate, ethnic or national-- is viewed as a sign of weakness, as something unbecoming a real man. Even our churches-- are they not imbued with that same spirit as the Pharisee? Do we not want our every contribution, every "good deed," all that we do "for the Church" to be acknowledged, praised, publicized? The Lenten season begins then by a quest, a prayer for humility which is the beginning of true repentance. For repentance, above everything else, is a return to the genuine order of things, the restoration of the right vision. It is, therefore, rooted in humility, and humility-- the divine and beautiful humility-- is its fruit and end. "Let us avoid the high-flown speech of the Pharisee," says the Kontakion of this day, "and learn the majesty of the Publican's humble words..." We are at the gates of repentance and at the most solemn moment of the Sunday vigil; After the Resurrection and the appearance of Christ have been announced-- "having beheld the Resurrection..."-- we sing for the first time the troparia which will accompany us throughout the entire Lent: Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life, For my spirit rises early to pray towards thy holy temple. Bearing the temple of my body all defiled; But in Thy compassion, purify me by the loving kindness of Thy mercy. Lead me on the paths of salvation, O Mother of God, For I have profaned my soul with shameful sins, and have wasted my life in laziness. But by your intercessions, deliver me from all impurity. When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretch that I am, I tremble at the fearful day of judgement. But trusting in Thy living kindness, like David I cry to Thee: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.

15 Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee January 21, 2018 Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever! Welcome to Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral. We are delighted you have come to pray with us. Our Church follows the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel and passed on to us through the teachings of the Holy Apostles and Holy Tradition. Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral 8141 North 16th Street, Front Sunday Divine Liturgy Phoenix, Arizona Saturday 4:00 PM Office: Fax Sunday 9:00 AM Website Weekday Services See Bulletin Served by: Most Rev. John S. Pazak, CSsR., Bishop Most Reverend Gerald N. Dino, Bishop Emeritus Very Rev. Diodoro Mendoza, Rector Rev. Joseph Hutsko, Vice-Rector Very Rev. Archpriest David M. Petras, Retired Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe, In Residence Deacon John Montalvo - Deacon James Danovich - Deacon Adam Lowe Sister Christopher Malcovsky, OSBM Pride vs. Humility Visit for more publications. Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box Fairfax, VA Ph: Fax: