"The love of God does not distinguish between the newly-conceived infant still in the mother's womb, the baby, the youth, the grown adult or the elderly because in each of them He sees the sign of His own image and likeness." (Pope Benedict XVI)

• Texts for a Divine Liturgy for Life (in pdf).

Forty Days for Life - Join with your parish and community and witness the value of life. Websites: Christ Our Hope - Respect Life Month | Forty Days for Life

Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit

June 5, 2022

John 20:21-23 - Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld." (ESV - Gospel at Matins)

The Breath of Life - Theodore of Mopsuestia (A.D. 350-428) teaches that after Jesus breathed on them he mentioned the Spirit. Why? So that his disciples would believe that the body was made imperishable through the resurrection because of the power of the Spirit. He said to them, you must truly believe in what has been said to you and must have no doubts about the resurrection. You must not reject the honor of the apostolate because you are scared of being sent as messengers of a new doctrine into the world. You will indeed receive the effect of the Spirit, which, at the right time, will confer on you resurrection and immortality.

Through the Spirit you will receive - in this life - an amazing, supernatural strength to perform unheard-of-miracles by a mere word. You will be able to face any afflictions that may befall you because of those who oppose your preaching. And even though there were many other things to be accomplished in them through the Spirit, without mentioning them he mentioned the most important argument of all. Here, he says, is what will clearly demonstrate to you the strength of the Spirit. Indeed, as soon as you receive it you will be able to absolve the sins of whomever you want, as well as to pronounce a sentence of condemnation against anyone. If you, a man, after receiving the gift of the Spirit, will be able to do all these things that are of God – indeed, only he has the power to judge – I leave you to consider what the effectiveness of the Spirit is. Once you have received it you must no longer doubt. (Adapted from Theodore' of Mopsuesita's commentary on John)

Scripture

- Vespers: Numbers 11:16,17,24-29, Joel 2:23-32, Ezekiel 36:24-28
- Matins: John 20:19-23
- Liturgy: Acts 2:1-11, John 7:37-52; 8:12

Feast of the Holy Spirit
June 13,  2011

Matthew 18:18-20 - Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (RSV)

I am with you! - St. Cyril of Alexandria teaches that Christ gives to those who are allotted the duty of teaching the power to loose and to bind. So when those who have once fallen do not convert to the pursuit of virtue, they must fear the voices of the saints, even if they are not many who make the petition to bind or loose. For Christ has assured us of this, saying that there will be strength in the prayers of many, but that even if only two in number harmoniously and deliberately define their requests, they will come to their goal. “For I will be with you,” he says, “and will support you if only two are gathered, because of me.” For it is not the number of those gathered but the strength of their piety and their love for God that is effective. (Fragment 215)

Scripture Readings at the Divine Liturgy: Ephesians 5:9-19; Matthew 18:10-20

This week is fast-free, including Friday. The Apostles' Fast begins after Vespers next Sunday, which is All Saints Sunday.

Trinity Week

June 10-15, 2019

Matthew 5:3-12a - “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (RSV - Tuesday of the First Week after Pentecost)

Seek the Kingdom  - St. John Chrysostom asks us to take a close look at the reward: “for your reward is great in heaven.” Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear the kingdom of heaven granted with every single Beatitude. For even if Jesus names the rewards differently He still puts all of them in the kingdom of heaven. For in fact He says, “Those who mourn will be comforted, and those who show mercy will receive mercy, and those pure in heart will see God, and the peacemakers will be called sons of God.” In all these things our Lord does nothing but hint at the kingdom of heaven. Certainly those who enjoy these things will reach the kingdom of heaven. So do not suppose that the reward of the kingdom of heaven belongs only to the poor in spirit. It also belongs to those who hunger for justice, and to the meek and to all these blessed others without exception. For Christ set his blessing upon all these things to keep you from expecting something belonging to this material world. For if one wore a prize or garland for things that are to be dissolved together with the present life, things that flit away faster than a shadow, would that one be blessed? (Commentary on Matthew, Homily 15)

This week is fast-free, including Friday. The Apostles' Fast begins after Vespers on Sunday, which is All Saints Sunday.

June 12, 2022
First Sunday after Pentecost

Matthew 10:32-33 - “So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (RSV)

Confession with the lips leads to salvation - The Son does not here speak soothing words but instead speaks of the consequences of denial. Note carefully: It is not by some power within yourself that you make your confession but by the help of grace from above. But if you deny me, the Son, he is saying, then I will deny you in the presence of the Father. Someone may then object: “How then am I to be blamed if God, forsaking me, denies me?” The answer is, your being forsaken is the fault of you yourself, the forsaken person, not of God.

“But why,” you object, “should I need to confess faith with my mouth if I confess faith in my mind?” No. We must confess with our mouths in order that we may be steadily trained to speak boldly. It is only through this more abundant love and determination that we will be raised on high.

In this way Jesus addresses himself to each one of us personally. He is not here addressing only his original disciples but also every one of us who follows after his disciples in accord with their witness to him. One who learns this lesson will teach it in boldness to others, prepared to suffer all things easily and with a ready mind. That is why so many have come to have faith in the witness of the apostles and the saints to this Word. (St. John Chrysostom, Adapted from the Homily on Matthew.)

Scripture Readings
Vespers: Isaiah 43:9-14, Wisdom 3:1-9, Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Matins: Matthew 28:16-20 (Gospel 1)
Liturgy: Hebrews 11:323-12:2a; Matthew 10:32;33,37,38;19:27-30

The Apostles Fast begins after Vespers on Sunday evening and continues until June 29, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

The icon is of "All Saints".

June 19, 2021
Matthew 4:18-20 - As [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (RSV)

Some may wonder: Peter and Andrew scarcely had any possessions. Just how much did they leave behind when the Lord called them to follow him? On this point we should look at their actions rather then at the level of their wealth. A man who has little and gives up everything to follow the Lord leaves behind a lot. Peter and Andrew left behind a lot. Yes, they left behind their meager material possessions (and for them that was a lot). But they also left behind something more – the very desire to own (which can lead to extreme greed, which is called covetousness).

What will you leave behind to follow Christ? Are you attached to Christ or your stuff? Choose one.

(Adapted from St. Gregory the Great: Forty Gospel Homilies)

The Apostles Fast began after Vespers last Sunday (All Saints) and continues until June 29, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

The icon is of the Nativity of St. John the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist (June 24th).

June 17-23, 2019

Matthew 8:23-27 - When [Jesus] got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" (RSV - Gospel for Thursday)

“Lord, save me!” - St. Cyril of Alexandria teaches us that the exclamation “save us” is commendable since it shows faith. But to say “we are perishing” brings a charge of littleness of faith against those who were in deep distress. They indeed put their hope in Christ who was sailing with them. They were not totally faithless but were at that point “of little faith,” since in their danger they did not take courage from the fact of Christ’s being with them. (Fragment 99)

Christ is always with us. When we become swamped with the events of life we can forget that he is always with us. When this happens cry out “Lord, save me!” That is enough. He will not let you perish.

The Apostles Fast began after Vespers on Sunday evening (after the conclusion of All Saints Sunday) and continues until June 29, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

The icon of from the Feast of All Saints, which was observed this past Sunday.

June 4-10, 2018

Matthew 10:7-8 - “[Jesus said to the Twelve] preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.” (RSV - Gospel for Monday of the Third Week after Pentecost)

St. John Chrysostom asks: Do you perceive the unparalleled magnificence of their ministry? Do you comprehend the dignity of the apostles? They are not authorized to speak of things perceivable by the senses. They do not repeat what Moses said or the prophets before them. Rather, they spoke of new and strange things. Moses and the prophets spoke of temporal promises of an earthly land. The apostles proclaimed the kingdom of heaven and all that this implies.

Not only does the loftiness of their message characterize them as greater, but so does the lowly nature of their obedience. They were not reluctant. Nor were they irresolute, like those who came before. Instead, warned as they were of perils, wars and intolerable evils, they receive His commands with simple obedience. They immediately became heralds of the coming kingdom. (Homily on Matthew)

The Apostles Fast began after Vespers on All Saints Sunday (the First Sunday after Pentecost) and continues until June 29, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

The icon is of the Translation of the relics of the Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates (June 8th).

June 30, 2019

Matthew 6:26-30 - "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?" (RSV)

Trust in the Lord - Jesus teaches us to trust in God our Father at all times and in all circumstances. St John Chrysostom, in his commentary on Matthew, speaks to us about the meaning of the images used in this passage. Just when the lilies of the field are all decked out Jesus no longer calls them lilies but “grass of the field.” He then points further to their vulnerable condition by saying “which are here today.” Then He does not merely say “and not tomorrow” but rather more callously “cast into the oven”. These creatures are not merely “clothed” but “so clothed” in this way as to be later brought to nothing. Do you see how Jesus everywhere abounds in amplifications and intensifications? He does so in order to press home his point. Then He adds, “Will he not much more clothe you?” The force of the emphasis is on “you” to indicate covertly how great is the value set upon your personal existence and the concern God shows for you in particular. It is as though He were saying, “You, to whom He gave a soul, for whom He fashioned a body, for whose sake He made everything in creation, for whose sake He sent prophets, and gave the law, and wrought those innumerable good works, and for whose sake he gave up his only begotten Son.” This is a powerful message.

The icon is of the Holy Martyrs, Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian (July 1st).

June 18-24, 2007

He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. (John 14:21-24 RSV, Gospel for the Feast of the Apostle Jude)

St. Cyril of Alexandria teaches that Jesus added the qualification “he who loves me” to show clearly that none other than those who have chosen to live the most righteously will be allowed to choose such an incomparable grace. While it is true that Christ raises the bodies of all men – for there will be a resurrection of the evil and the good alike – a new life of glory and happiness will not be given to all without distinction. It is clear that some only rise again to punishment and will have a life worse than any death, while others… will live a desirable and holy life in Christ. (Commentary on the Gospel of John)

The icon of is of the Apostle Jude, whose day is June 19th.