Are You Prepared to Share Your Light?

Last week, after months of preparations and weeks of negotiations with city and county officials, our parish once again celebrated the Feast of Lights, the Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of a pandemic when such celebrations were cancelled throughout the country, we came together, albeit much fewer of us, and prayed for God’s Light to shine upon the world. The eyes of the world were watching to see, not only if we followed the pandemic rules, but to watch our strong faith in God. I am extremely grateful to each of you that our community was able to maintain our 115 year old tradition of blessing the water, but we did it with peace, dignity, and faith. The world is watching us.

While we were celebrating the Light of Christ around Spring Bayou, violence was erupting in our nation’s Capitol. While we were singing God’s praises, thousands of our fellow citizens were rioting in Washington, D.C. I will not comment on political positions but I do find it not a little ironic that throughout the Orthodox Christian world (for those on the new calendar) the Light of Christ was being celebrated, while the darkness of the world, being cheered by the devil, was craving for attention.

The devil knows his time is limited, and I’m afraid we will continue to see increased darkness in our world, not just politically speaking, but morally and spiritually as well. Non Christian religions are gaining strength again, and after centuries of hiding and lurking in the darkness, they are peeking their heads out inviting us to leave the light and embrace the darkness.

As we heard in this morning’s Gospel, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned.” (Matthew 4.16 - a quote from Isaiah 9.2) As we celebrated the Light of Christ being revealed to the world, it is time for us to shine the Light for those in darkness. The world, and more importantly our neighbors, are watching us. Our world is sinking into darkness and needing for us to step out of the water of Epiphany and share our Light with the world.

The final words of today’s Gospel lesson must become daily words from our lips. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4.17) Are you ready to share your light with the world? It is depending upon US to do OUR part!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In today's Gospel Reading the Devil attacks Christ directly as he know that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Messiah. Plus, had the Devil gone with the intent to tempt Christ secretly, Christ being God incarnate, who had created all things including the devil before his fall from Heaven, would have looked right at the devil and the devil would have had no to place to hide. But with us, the devil and or his demons, comes in secret and uses deceit to trick us into sin. He doesn't come to us and address us by name and say, why don't you try this or that? Instead he, or one of his demons the fallen angels, comes and whispers in our ear in our own voice, impersonating us as if it were one of our own logismoi or thoughts. The devil tricks us, never presenting sin as it really is, but disguises it to look like something fun. Or he points out the mistakes of other people, and in our own voices criticizes them and tricks us into anger. We think it is us thinking these things but but it isn't. The devil also doesn't just attack us by whispering to us bad thoughts, but also with good thoughts. We go to pray, and he will remind us of good things we need to do. He does this so we do not prayer. And if that fails, he will make us sleepy. The devil does all of this because he is jealous, what we received at our Baptisms is what he lost when he fell from Heaven.

But we should take courage, with us we always have the Divine Grace of God, we receive at our Baptisms and extremely powerful heroic Guardian Angel, who was also assigned to us at our Baptisms, to protect us.

We are at war with the devil and his demons, as St. John Chrysostom tells us in his sermon on today's Epistle reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians. But like St. Paul, St. John Chrysostom urges in response we ought to put on the Armor of God.

What is this Armor of God? This is what St. John Chrysostom calls our invincible ally, the Grace of the Holy Spirit-- which is God's own Uncreated Light. In the Garden of Eden, before the fall of humanity, Adam and Eve the first humans, did not know they were naked because they glowed with the Uncreated Light. We see this in the Icons of the Saints, they have halos the glowing circles of Divine Light around their heads. If we frequently participate in the Sacramental Life of the Church, this is what happens to us and we become protected by Divine Grace. We then in speaking Truth, have it as an armored belt. If we become close to Christ who is the only true Righteous One, then we have Righteousness as a chest plate of armor. Our steps in this life are also protected by the Gospel of Peace. If we become close to God the Holy Trinity, we will love Him and trust Him, and we will have Faith as a Shield. And above all we will have Words of God as our Sword. This is only made possible by living a Sacramental Life in communion with Christ God in the Church.

In Christ,

Fr. Simeon

Memorials

 Sunday - January 10

Constantinos Tsavaris - 6 years

Nikolaos Mandelos - 12 years 

  ST NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL REOPENS FOR PRAYER TUESDAY THRU FRIDAY FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM

 All ministries wishing to sign up and host the Coffee Hour, please contact Chris Palaidis at 727-808-3895, once the hall reopens.

St. Nicholas Kitchen will continue preparing the Monday meals from 7:30 – 11:00 am. The meals will be delivered to the new Hope Center at the Sheppard center where the meals will be given to those in need by their and our volunteers. We will still need volunteers, food and monetary donations. Meals will be served from 11:00 – 12:00 pm. For further information, please call Chris Palaidis at (727) 808-3895.  

MAKE AN OFFERING OF OIL - Following the ancient tradition of the Temple as commanded by God, Orthodox Christians bring an offering of olive oil to be continually burned in the Church lamps, serving as a reminder of the presence of the Light of God. We invite anyone to make an offering of oil to the Church along with the names of loved ones & friends who are alive in the Lord, or alive with us on Earth, so that we may pray for you, your family and friends.

  *THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY 5PM FOR ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION*

 Memorial & Artoklasia Service Planning