What would you do?

Each year, the Church calendar repeats itself. Each year, the Church reads (if you’re in Church every day) the entire New Testament, excluding the Book of Revelation, from cover-to-cover. Each year, the Church urges us on to a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each year, we are expected to make a decision to welcome Him into our hearts. But what about welcoming Him into our homes? What would you do if Jesus came to your house this year?

Each year, near the end of January, (thirteen week before Pascha to be exact) the Church glances forward to the Feast of Feasts, Holy and Great Pascha. On this Sunday, known as the 15th Sunday of Luke, the Church reads the Gospel story of Zacchaeus, the short tax collector who wanted to see Jesus. Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, but he got much more than he bargained for. Jesus said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19.5) What did he do? “So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” (Luke 19.6)

What would you do if Jesus said to you, “Hi there, I’m coming to your house tonight?” Surely, you would run ahead and prepare your house. You would clean it. You would remove clutter so there would be no distractions. You would probably even cancel any appointments you made, just to make sure you had time to prepare for His visit. Then, once everything had been prepared, you would open the door and receive Him joyfully. Right?????

Well, Jesus IS coming to your house, but not just your house…..your soul. Is it prepared? When Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming, he PLANNED ahead so he was ready for him. He may have been short, but he was not short-sighted. In the same way, we must PLAN ahead. We must not be short-sighted when it comes to preparing our soul to receive Christ. It could happen at any time, on any day, at any hour. During every Divine Liturgy Christ calls to us in the Eucharist. Are we prepared to receive Holy Communion? Have we been to Holy Confession recently? Do we set aside time every day to pray and listen to God? When the time for Holy Communion arrives, do we approach “with the fear of God, with faith and love,” or do we sit back in the pews and watch other people receive Holy Communion? Zacchaeus knew what to do, and He received God. What would you do?

The Saints are the Light on Hill of the Christian Life

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In Saturday's Gospel we hear our Lord, in the Holy Gospel-reading, telling his disciples that "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.”  The Holy Apostles became such prominent lights, glorious cities on a hill, giving their light to all who look upon their glory. After the passing of the Holy Apostles from this world, our Lord gave us more such glorious lights, such cities on a hill; brilliant lights which illumine the whole world. Such lights as the three holy Hierarchs which we celebrate on Saturday. Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom. These three Saints are known in the Orthodox Christian world as ecumenical teachers. They received spiritual illumination from the Lord and they shared their God given wisdom with the whole world. They have been praised and they will continue to be praised forever but our Lord’s admonition to be a light before men it does not only befall to the great teachers of our Holy Church. This admonition is given to all of us. We, with as much or as little wisdom we have received from our Lord we are told to share it with our families, our friends, our acquaintances. But to share with others our knowledge of the faith with words is not complete. There are some things which cannot be taught with words. There is knowledge which is imparted through words and there is knowledge which has to be demonstrated by example.

Dancing, as an example, cannot be explained with words, it has to be demonstrated. Walking, cannot be explained with words, it has to be demonstrated. Learning Violin or Piano or any musical instrument must be taught through the example of a teacher. Anything that we can think of, must be taught thought example.

Our Holy Orthodox faith also has knowledge which can be shared through words and also has other aspects which are shared through living a life of example. It is written in the life of Saint Anthony that three Monks used to go and visit him every year but only the two of them discussed their thoughts and spiritual struggles with him; the third one remained always silent - never ask Saint Anthony anything. After a long time, Saint Anthony said to him, ‘You often come here to see me, but you never ask me anything,’ then the other replied, ‘It is enough for me to see you, Father.’ Just seeing the good Christian example of St. Anthony the Great was sufficient for the third monk.

May the Holy Apostles, the Three Holy Hierarchs and St. Anthony the Great, who are great examples of Christian Saints to imitate, pray that we all become such luminous small cities on a hill; illumined with the glory of our Lord!

In Christ,

Fr. Simeon

Memorials

 Sunday - January 31

  Angelo Boudalis - 40 days

Ioannis Miakos - 40 days

Glyceria Vasilopoulos - 40 days

Anthea Mailis McKinney - 3 months

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