From Your Parish Priest

Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross

09/18/2016

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

“Whoever desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Mark 8:34

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ makes it absolutely clear that salvation is not forced upon anyone. He respects our free will and does not in any way coerce us to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

In this verse, we hear first that Christ prefaces His remarks by saying, “Whoever desires;” for not all will want to follow Him. We might also well ask: Where is He going that we should follow Him? The answer, of course, is into the Kingdom of heaven. His words are therefore to those who wish to go there with Him.

God uses no force, nor does He compel; rather He calls to those who are willing to follow Him. We should not in any way imagine that we can follow Christ if we are forced to do so. For those who are willing to follow Him, however, the next two phrases are most important and yet so very difficult: “let him deny himself (and) take up his cross.”

Let each of us stop and consider: What do we have in our lives that is of any value – spouse, children, family, house, car, job, education, reputation – that we acquired without any struggle? The truth is, that we have to struggle in this world to attain and achieve those things that are important and valuable to us.

Why, then, do so many Christians think that the most important and most valuable thing we could possibly have – salvation and eternal life in heaven – will come to them without struggle? It is simply not rational; it makes no sense to think this way.

Although it is in His power as the Son of God to take away our hardships – and in His mercy He sometimes does so if it will be for our good – He often does not remove our trials and tribulations.

This is because He knows that for our own good we must truly want heaven, and that it will be attained only through struggle. Thus our trials “toughen us up” for the real difficult work which lies within us.

This internal work or struggle is to deny one’s self, which means to disregard our own body, so that when men scourge or banish, or burn, or whatever, we may not be affected by it.

The extent of this internal work or struggle is self denial is unto death, even a reproachful death, for Jesus says, “let him take up his cross.” Moreover, this death is not once or twice, but throughout all of our life in the many “crosses” we must bear, and in our daily struggle to conform to His will and to obey His commandments.

Let us thank God for His invitation to follow Him, and let us also be grateful for the burdens we bear which are part of our struggle to attain and enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Amen.

From Another Homilist

Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of the incomparable value of the soul in the Gospel of St. Mark when he said: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Care of the soul deserves primary attention. Believers need to take care about the content of the heart and mind to avoid putting the soul in peril. Believers need to take care about daily thoughts and actions to avoid doing harm to the soul.

Believers need to be fervent in prayer and in constant repentance. Sin needs to be put behind and the Kingdom of God deserves continued focus. God is the desired goal, foundation and nourishment for daily life.

The mother in the current Gospel of Saint Matthew is an inspiring example for believers to follow. The mother’s strong faith was recognized by the Lord Jesus Christ. The demon-possessed daughter was healed due to her mother’s faith.

The mother was persistent in appealing to Jesus to heal her daughter. The woman’s persistence brought the wonderful result. Believers do well to be persistent like the mother, not yielding to frustration or becoming tired in effort.

The Apostle Paul said: “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). Prayer is always beneficial. Continuous prayer keeps us united with Christ.

Evagrios the Solitary said: “Persevere with patience in your prayer, and repulse the cares and doubts that arise within you.” Unity with the Lord Jesus Christ is possible through consistent and concentrated prayer.

Believers seeking to care for their soul will heed the words of the Lord in the Gospel of Saint Mark. Followers of Christ are expected to deny themselves and immerse themselves in the life in Christ.

Followers of Christ are expected to take up their personal crosses and follow Christ. Problems in life are to be confronted through the life in Christ and according to the teachings of Christ.

Facing crosses in personal life can be the means to achieve joy in Christ. Individuals experiencing hardships turning to Christ in fervency of prayer and by following the teachings of Christ will come to know the joys in Christ.

When hardships arise in life it is time to turn to Christ for the solution. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:12).

Christ is the best nourishment for the soul. The Lord said: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (Matthew 6:35).

The journey to the Kingdom of God requires discipline to reject and avoid sin. The journey requires unity with Christ. Repentance and renewal in Christ bring joy to the believer.

Believers do well to remember the Cross of Christ and the Resurrection. Believers do well to face personal crosses responsibly. Christ is to be honored and sought in all efforts. Christ is to be the guide and the goal.

Many individuals have taken both of the present Gospels to heart and have begun new lives in Christ. Renewal in Christ is always possible and is necessary for the continued care of the soul.

Renewal in Christ brings to mind the words of the Holy Apostle Paul: “We all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Reverend Rodney Torbic
Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church Carmichaels, Pennsylvania

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

When the tidings of the resurrection from the glorious angel was proclaimed unto the women disciples and our ancestral sentence also had been abolished to the Apostles with the boasting did they proclaim that death is vanquished ever more and Christ Our God has risen from the dead and granted to the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Your people, • and bless Your inheritance; • grant victory to the rulers • against the adversaries of the faith, • and protect Your commonwealth • through Your holy Cross • (Your holy Cross).

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your own will • to the new commonwealth called by Your name • grant Your compassions, O Christ God; • gladden by Your power • our faithful rulers, • granting them victory against adversaries • having Your alliance as their weapon of peace, • an invincible standard.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. 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 you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Patristic Gospel Commentary

Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross

Mark 8:34-36: The Lord said, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Peter, chief of the Apostles, heard the Lord saying that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Peter was always more impetuous than the other disciples, and so he showed himself on this occasion. He said to Christ, Be it far from Thee, Lord; this shall not be unto Thee.

But Christ said to him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. On this account, Christ addresses Peter, and, in the hearing of all, speaks particularly to him more than all others and at greater length: Thou dost oppose and deter Me and find fault with My words, Ο Peter, in that I am going to be crucified and to suffer a shameful death, but I tell thee that neither thou nor any other man will be saved unless he die for goodness, truth and righteousness.

Dying for what is right makes us partakers (thereof) and shows us to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven, Christ did not say, I bid you do this and suffer, whether ye would or not, nor (did He say) I compel you to follow Me; rather, (He said) Whosoever wishes and comes of his own free will, let him follow Me.

I do not compel, He says, I do not coerce; I leave every man the master of his will. I call men to come to that which is good, to the heavenly kingdom without end, to perpetual rest.

Whoever wishes, whether man or woman, poor or rich, lordly or lowly, let him go by this good path and follow Me.

Whoever is unwilling is unworthy of following Me.

The Lord does not try to coerce with His words those who do not wish to follow Him, inasmuch as he who coerces often repels those whom he would compel, whereas he who leaves listeners with a choice more readily attracts them; therefore He said, Whosoever is willing.

Great are the benefits which the Master offers us, so great and so numerous as to constrain us by our own choice, and to make us follow freely, without turning back. The willingness comes first, then the hearkening. If we are unwilling, we cannot hearken; thus, all virtues and vices depend on our will.

To follow means to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ Who calls us, and to come after Me refers to keeping and carrying out His commandments. A true following of Christ, then, is not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake and to strive for other virtues.

Our Saviour has given His life as the model and prescription of a good life for those who wish to listen to Him. Therefore, He also said, If any man serve Me, let him follow Me.

This following means his austere life in the flesh, to become like Him as much as possible. Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Here He says three things: to deny oneself is to hand oneself over mercilessly to afflictions and not to feel any sympathy for oneself, as if it were someone else suffering.

If one rejects another person, then even if he sees that person being beaten, tortured and led away to his death, he does not help him, intercede for him or grieve for him; so also if we are being injured, or are being burnt or are dying, God does not wish us to turn aside (from suffering) or to take pity on ourselves: rather, we should (behave) as if the soul had nothing in common with the body; (we should) surrender ourselves to afflictions and adversities and other sufferings for confessing Christ, for righteousness and truth.

Further, to deny oneself is to forget all that had gone by, to give up one's own will, to mortify our members which are upon the earth, and to be ready, willing and eager to accept any tribulations and even death for Christ's sake. If one has lived wickedly in his past life, he denies himself when he turns from evil with fitting penitence and conversion and mends his ways.

In other words, the lecher denies himself by ceasing from his lechery and being chaste; he who was formerly unjust denies himself when he turns from evil with fitting penitence and conversion and mends his ways. In other words, the lecher denies himself by ceasing from his lechery and being chaste; he who was formerly unjust denies himself (by renouncing) injustice and practicing justice.

In sum, to stop sinning is self- denial which leads to following Christ.

And that we might not think that Christ charges us to deny ourselves (only) to the point of (enduring) wounds, insults and humiliation, He also added (the words), And take up his cross, showing to what extent we should deny ourselves: even unto death, and such a shameful death. For to take up one's cross means not to be passionately attached to this life, and to take the same attitude when considering death: not to trust in oneself, but to be dead to sin and alive to Christ.

This (attitude) can only exist, however, when one is detached from extraneous matters, such as possessions, wealth, vain prestige, and from every useless attachment, as taught and practiced by the holy Apostles, who showed us the path to salvation: they left all and followed Christ.

Furthermore, Christ did not simply say to take up the cross; He says to take up one's own cross, meaning the death which each person must necessarily undergo every day, according to the word of the divine Apostle: I die daily.

Now it happens that one suffers but does not follow Christ, such as when someone suffers not for His sake.

Evildoers, also, often suffer many evils, along with grave-robbers, sorcerers, murderers, thieves and brigands.

Lest anyone think that any suffering at all is sufficient for salvation, the Lord added, And follow Me, to show that for His sake alone does it behoove us to endure cruel sufferings; and not only (should we) display patience and courage in afflictions, but also chastity and meekness and fulfillment of all the commandments.

For to follow Him means to strive to practice all the virtues. One who follows Christ, I think, is he who does all this for the right reasons, and not for his own glory or out of any other human consideration.

Mark 8:35: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

This life is sweet not for all men, but for those who are attached to it; and attachment consists in being accustomed to the things of the present.

But the Lord leads us to liberation; in speaking these words, He foretold the persecution which believers in Him would undergo in all cities and countries. At such a time, He says, he who spares his life, and thus seems to save it, will lose it in the age to come; that is, he will send (his soul) into everlasting torment.

To lose one's soul does not mean that it perishes and no longer exists, but rather (that it undergoes) perpetual and unceasing torment...Similarly, a certain wise man said, If thou beat thy son with a rod, he shall not die, and thou shalt deliver his soul from death. And, He that maketh too much of his son—that is, indulges him—shall bind up his wounds. Death will also come upon us with great suddenness.

The Lord teaches us to be prepared; for he who from the love and desire of this ephemeral life averts his soul from suffering and dying for Christ's sake, he who would save (his soul) out of love for this life, he who loves his earthly life can easily lose (his soul) with a loss that brings the inextinguishable fire, the insatiable worm and the outer darkness...But he who surrenders his soul to suffering and death for the sake of Christ, for the sake of truth and justices, and thereby loses it with a loss which is truly good, truly saves (his soul), in that he leads it to a better life.

Thus, by losing one's life, (the Lord) means the separation of the soul from the body for Christ's sake (and) in fulfilling His commandments.

Mark 8:36-37: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

To save one's life is the wrong way is worse than to lose it. When a man looks to the pleasures of the present age, and refuses to suffer for the sake of Christ, for truth and for justice, and loves the way of grandeur and glory in this life what use is it to him, even if he possesses riches, fame, hoards of gold and other such things, if he loses his soul for their sake? For the splendor of this age is transitory; all its sweetness passes away like a shadow, and its riches fly away from those who have them.

Treasures shall not profit the lawless: but righteousness shall deliver from death. The carnal mind is enmity against God, and the worldly-minded man becomes an enemy of God...For the present, man has repentance and confession, tears and sighs, almsgiving and other means of salvation; however, the evil enemy of our souls, the devil is always tempting us with worldly pleasures.

He steals in by way of little things and says: Give me (something) today; give to God tomorrow; give me the things of the present; give God what belongs to the future. And so, as we delay our repentance and amendment, death will come suddenly and seize us, unreformed as we are, when there is none to redeem us, nor to save.

For man has nothing to give in exchange for his soul; God, however, gave the precious Blood of His Only- begotten Son in exchange for our salvation.

Mark 8:38: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

We must not only believe with our minds, but also confess with our mouths; for so are we tried.

Since man is twofold, his sanctification is also twofold. The soul is sanctified by faith; the body is sanctified by confession.

As the Apostle also says, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Mark 9:1: And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Speaking of Peter, James and John, He says, They will not die until I show them, at My Transfiguration, the glory wherewith I shall come in My Second Advent. For the Transfiguration of Christ was the advance announcement of His Second Coming.

Since we are aware of these things, brethren, let us also practice self-renunciation for the sake of the Lord.

Let us esteem nothing higher than Him—neither riches, nor luxury, nor fame, nor physical pleasure nor even our life itself; let us, rather, despise it and follow Christ our Maser, taking His Cross upon our shoulders; let us mortify our carnal desires and thoughts, according to the likeness of His death, that we too, might be able to repeat the words of the divine Paul: We live; yet not we, but Christ liveth in us.

Saint Theophylaktos, Bishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria (AD 1055–1107)
From The Explanation of the Gospel of Saint Matthew

Wisdom of the Fathers

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

September 18

Eumenius the Wonder Worker, Bishop of Gortynia

Saint Eumenios from the time of his youth was noted for his virtuous life. He strove to serve the One God and therefore he shunned worldly temptations. Concerned for the salvation of his soul, he distributed all his substance to the poor.

By the blessing of God Saint Eumenios was chosen as Bishop of Gortyna on the island of Crete. The saint, like a compassionate father, comforted his flock in their sorrows, and cared for the orphaned and indigent. He prayers were so strong before God that once, during a drought, he called forth abundant rain upon the earth.

Saint Eumenios wisely and zealously defended the Orthodox Faith against the Monophysite heresy. For his opposition to the heresy the saint was banished to the Thebaïd, where he died in the seventh century. His body was then transferred and buried in Gortyna.

September 18

Ariadne the Martyr

The Holy Martyr Ariadne was a servant of Tertillos, a city official of Promyssia (Phrygia) during the reign of the emperor Hadrian (AD 117-161). Once, when on the occasion of the birth of a son, the master made a sacrificial offering to the pagan gods, the Christian Ariadne refused to participate in the impious ceremony.

They subjected her to beatings and lacerated her body with sharp iron hooks. Then they threw the martyr into prison and for a long while they exhausted her with hunger, demanding that she worship their gods.

When they released the saint from prison, she left the city, but Tertillos sent pursuers after her. Seeing that they were chasing her, she ran, calling out to God to defend her from her enemies. Suddenly, through her prayers, a fissure opened in the mountain, and Saint Ariadne hid in it. This miracles brought the pursuers into confusion and fear. In their depravity of mind they began to strike one another with spears.

Worship Schedule

Services This Week

Daily Matins:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:00 am

Daily Vespers:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 6:00 pm

Weekly Paraklesis:
Wednesday at 6:00 pm

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