Our Paschal Lamb (4-16-2017)

   Kalo Pascha! This is a common greeting during Holy Week amongst Greek Orthodox Christians. But what does “Kalo Pascha” mean? The root verb in Greek is ‘pascho’ which means ‘I suffer.’ So, in some since it refers to the Lord’s Passion and suffering through His betrayal, arrest, trial, torture and crucifixion which we have traced these past several days. However, wishing someone a good suffering/passion just doesn’t quite sound right. The more correct translation for Pascha comes from the Hebrew ‘Pesach’ which means Passover. And as most of us know, Pascha is Jesus’ Passover from life to death to life.

   Where and when did the Jewish Pesach, the Hebrew Passover tradition begin? It began in ancient Egypt, when the Israelites had been enslaved under the Pharaohs for 400 years. God’s chosen people lived under bitter tyranny and they cried out to Him. He heard there cry and sent Moses to free them from captivity. Moses was empowered by God to bring whatever means necessary to secure their release. Each time Pharaoh did not heed the word of the Lord through Moses, a plague was released upon the land of Egypt. The final plague is the visitation of what some refer to as the angel of death. Actually, it is not an angel, but the Lord Himself who brings the plague of death.

   Surprisingly, the Old Testament account of the Pesach/Passover is not read during any of the Holy Week services. So, I would like us to take a brief journey through this historic passage so we can see how closely our current tradition of celebrating the Passover mirrors the prototype.

PASSOVER IN EGYPT (Exodus 12:1-36)

     ¹Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ²"This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. ³Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. ⁴And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. ⁵Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. ⁶Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. ⁷And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. ⁸Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. ⁹Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire--its head with its legs and its entrails. ¹⁰You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire.

   The tradition of Passover lamb is instituted by God Himself. It is not a man-made tradition. And just like God speaks through Moses the prophet and Aaron the priest, He speaks prophetically today through His ordained priesthood of bishops, presbyters and deacons. We preach, we teach, we proclaim to the whole congregation of the New Israel the Church. We take not a lamb, but The Lamb, and we sacrifice Him. Remember John the Baptist’s words? ²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).

   The whole assembly of Israel in Egypt kills a lamb without blemish, and they take the blood and spread it on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. Surely this prefigures the murder of innocent blameless sinless Jesus and the spilling of His blood on the doorpost and lintel of the Cross. The eating of the lambs flesh along with the unleavened bread do doubt prefigure the reception of our Lord’s Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.

     ¹¹And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD'S Passover. ¹²For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. ¹³Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. ¹⁴So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

   Here, the purpose of the sacrificial lamb is revealed. It is to protect the people of Israel from the tenth and final plague, the plague of death. Slavery of the Jews in Egypt is an image of all of mankind’s enslavement to sin rooted in disobedience to God’s life-giving ordinances and resulting in death. Death is primarily spiritual as separation from God and secondarily, physical or of the body. Those who partake of the lamb will be delivered from death but more importantly set free from slavery to sin. The belt, sandals and staff are practically necessary for the Exodus journey out of slavery in Egypt but they are also symbolic of the equipping of the Apostles to preach the Good News that Christ has conquered death by His death bestowing eternal life to those in the tombs of sin and death.

     ¹⁵Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. ¹⁶On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat--that only may be prepared by you. ¹⁷So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.

   For 2,000 years Christians have kept the everlasting ordinance of the Lord’s Passover by observe Pascha each and every year with a seven day long preparation of Holy Week leading up to the Anastasi/Resurrection. Just as important we keep the Passover each and every week on the first and/or the seventh day, Sunday/Kyriaki, the Lord’s Day of Resurrection. We are not to work on this day because it is a Holy Day. When we work on the Lord’s Day we make it an ordinary day and we violate the Lord’s commandment.

     ²⁴And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. ²⁵It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. ²⁶And it shall be, when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' ²⁷that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.' " So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. ²⁸Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

   Do our children have enough direct experience of the Lord’s Passover to inquire, “What do you mean by this service/latriea/worship?” If we keep and practice the Lord’s Passover, and our children ask us why, can we explain the tradition correctly and accurately? Do we demonstrate it by the example of the life that we live? We are not talking about just going through the liturgical motions here. We are talking about a real, substantive change in the essence of our life so that we always bow and worship the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, with all our strength, both inside the walls of this holy temple and everywhere we go in life.

   As we close and prepare for the Anastasi/Resurrection, we must remember we have a problem. We have a problem if we narrow our Passover from death in sin to life in Christ Jesus down to lighting a candle, singing Christos Anesti a few times and then leaving the Church to go eat an earthly lamb without receiving the heavenly Lamb of Christ. And how often on Sundays do we choose earthly things over the heavenly Gift God has given us, His own self? When Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he brought three disciples Peter, John and James. ⁴⁰Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41). My brothers and sisters it’s going to be a little longer than hour this evening, but let us watch and pray with lit candles but more importantly with our hearts on fire with love for our Paschal Lamb, the risen Lord Jesus Christ! Kali Anastasi!

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

REV. FR. RICHARD DEMETRIUS ANDREWS, PRESBYTER

www.stgeorgegoc.org

April 23, 2017                                                                                   SUNDAY OF THOMAS

TODAY’S EVENTS: Parish Feast Day luncheon 12pm; Dance Practice 12pm; Serve-a-Meal at FOCUS  4pm.

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                        Prosfora: anonymous

Fellowship: Contolatis Family                               

Tuesday       04-25     Philoptochos Meeting                                                                                               1:30PM

Thursday     04-27     Glad Tidings Mailing – volunteers needed                                                              10:30AM

                                      OCF at St. Thomas University                                                                               12:00PM

Saturday      04-29     Metropolis Oratorical Festival at St. Mary’s GOC                                                    9:00AM

                                      DIVINE LITURGY in Eau Claire, WI                                                                        9:30AM

Sunday         04-30     ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY-SUNDAY OF MYRRH-BEARERS               9:30AM

                                      Parish Assembly                                                                                                   12:00PM

                                      Greek School                                                                                                         12:00PM

                                      Serve-a-Meal at FOCUS MN                                                                                   4:00PM

                                      Greek Dance Practice                                                                                             4:30PM

Monday       05-01     Metropolis Clergy Retreat (through May 4)

Wednesday 05-03     Festival of Nations (through May 7) set-up                                                             2:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:           

Parish Feast Day! luncheon today hosted by Dino Contolatis. Thank you to the Founders of our community, especially for their vision, courage and generosity! Xronia Polla! Many Years to our parish, our members and everyone who celebrates their name day! May St. George the Great Martyr continue to protect and inspire us!

Sealed with the Holy Spirit: On April 15^th through the Mystery of Chrismation John & Lerah McCullough with their children: Joleh, Brennan, Lucius & Maud, were received into the Orthodox Church! Congrats to them and their sponsors: Steve & Minda Arsenault, George, Rita & Stephen Kanavati, & Rafif Simon.

40 Day Churching- Samantha Crowther with baby Leonardo on April 13^th. Congrats and God bless both!

Summer Camp Early Bird Registration: now open. Registration fees: Early Bird Discount:  $425 from April 18- May 5, 2017; Standard Fee:  $475 from May 6-25, 2017 at 4:30pm. Register at: www.stmaryscamp.com. Summer Camp dates are July 1-7, 2017. Summer Church Camp is one of the best communal religious experiences Orthodox youth will have in their lifetime. Thanks to the James Nickitas Camp Scholarship, $100 will be given to every child who registers for camp. Plus there are need-based scholarships for families who cannot afford full-price of camp registration. Please contact Fr. Rick for more details.

Think About It: It does not matter how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get up.     Vince Lombardi

Youth: Christ is Risen! Since the Festival of Nations will be held on our regular meeting time, JOY group will have their youth night at St. George GOC on May 13 following Vespers. GOYA will meet on May 20 at Minnehaha Falls from 12-3pm. Please add vacation church school to your calendars for June 12-15.

Pascha Flower Memorials: the following names were omitted from last Sunday’s bulletin insert: Christ & Antonia Kontenakos, Theodor & Katerina Papakonstantinou, George, George & Mersina Kaniamos.

Philoptochos: will hold a combined April/May meeting next Tuesday, April 25 at 1:30pm. 2017 memberships are now due. Payments can be placed in the Philoptochos mailbox outside the conference room, or mailed to Tina Sageotis, 1000 Forest Glen Court, Burnsville, MN 55337. A reminder that a total of $25 from each membership contribution goes to the national and diocesan Philoptochos.

Chicago Metropolis Oratorical Festival: hosted by St. Mary’s GOC thisSaturday, April 29^th at 10am. Please come and support the young people of our Metropolis representing our Faith so beautifully! Paid reservations ($20 for adults and $15 for children under 12) are required for the Luncheon/Award Ceremony at 12:30 pm. RSVP to Cristina Nicklow at cnicklow@outlook.com by Tuesday, April 25^th.

The Church Fathers Speak: The person who possesses spiritual knowledge and understands the truth confesses to God, not by recalling what he or she has done, but by accepting patiently what comes.              St. Mark the Ascetic (5^th cent.)

IOCC Internship this Summer: Dan Christopulos is still looking for an IOCC intern for this year. App deadline is April 30^th. Here is all the info: https://www.iocc.org/take-action/internship-program

Festival of Nations: May 4-7 at the River Center in St. Paul. To participate in a dance troupe, contact Angela Mortari; to volunteer in the Bazaar, contact Stella Hofrenning; Looking for a few good men! Our cultural exhibit will highlight the ceremony of the changing of the Evzones. Come be an Evzone for an hour! 6'-1" height not required, costume provided. For Evzones and cultural exhibit, contact Anastasia Mastrogiorgis. To volunteer in the Greek Café, contact Tom Lampros or visit the sign up board at church or online at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5AD2BABFF2-festival1.

Wisdom from the Church Fathers: If an earthly king wrote you a personal letter, would you not read it with careful attention and great joy? The King of Heaven has sent a letter directly to you. But do you despise this priceless treasure? Whenever you read the Gospel, Christ Himself is speaking to you. And while you read, you are praying and talking with Him.                                    St. Tikhon of Zadonsk (+1783)

Looking for a nanny? Or babysitter for this summer? Aida Abebe, a St. George GOC parishioner, is available to babysit from the end of June until the end of August. Please contact her at 651-434-7826 (cell) or aabebe74@gmail.com. References provided upon request.

Stewardship 2017: Our theme is You are the Voice of Christ in a Changing World: As the Father Has Sent Me, So I Send You (John 20:21). We have received 95 pledge cards for 2017 with a total of $151,836 and an average of $1,598. When pledging be sure to increase your pledge, even if only a few dollars. This reflects spiritual growth and overcomes stagnation. We encourage everyone to give a minimum of 2% pledge of gross yearly income to become a self-sustaining community. This is far less than the biblical ideal of tithing, giving 10%.

Patristic Wisdom: It is not necessary to roam heaven and earth in search of God. Only purify your soul, hang the veil of chastity and humility before your impulses. Then you will be able to find Him who is within you.                       St. Isaac the Syrian (+700)

Game on! Orthodox Game League invites adults 18+ on Saturday, April 29^th at 7pm, at St. George Antiochian Church. See posting in social hall for details. You don't want to miss this one ~ due to a summer hiatus, Game League won't meet again until fall.

Balkanicus 2017: the Thirteenth Annual Concert of Balkan Contemporary Music, will feature a free program of music from Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia on Saturday, April 29^th at 7:30pm on the U of M west bank. See poster in social hall for details. The world premiere of “Last Journey” for baritone, cello and two pianos by the Greek composer Aris Carastathis will be performed; the composer will be at the concert.

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad aconsequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org