Monthly Archives: January 2017

January 29, 2017 · 1:57 pm

Consistently pray in all things

∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼

Consistently pray in all things, so that you might not do anything without the help of God … Whoever does or busies himself with anything without prayer does not succeed in the end. Concerning this, the Lord said: “Without Me you can’t do anything”. (John 15:5)
– St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 2.94,166

……………

Give your intentions in prayer to God, Who knows everyone, even before our birth. And do not ask that everything will be according to your will, because a man does not know what is profitable for him. But say to God: Let Thy will be done! For He does everything for our benefit.
– St. Gennadius of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, 47

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January 29, 2017 · 1:53 pm

THE CHILDREN’S WORD…Having faith

Have you ever wanted something so much that you asked your parents for it again and again? Maybe it was a toy for Christmas or for your birthday. Maybe it was just a special meal or a treat. When we really want something, it’s hard to give up when somebody tells us “no.”

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the woman who was asking Jesus to heal her sick daughter. This woman was from Canaan, so she probably was a pagan (she believed in false gods). Also the Canaanite people had been enemies of the Jews for a long, long time. So when she came to Jesus asking Him for help, His disciples told her to go away. Jesus even told her “no” at first.

But this woman really wanted something. She wanted her daughter to be well! So it was hard for her to give up. Even though she didn’t worship the God of the Jewish people, she knew Jesus could heal her daughter. Jesus told her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you want.” Our Lord healed the daughter right away. He knew she believed. He knew she had strong faith. And He knew she was an example for us all!

Presvytera Alexandra Houck, myocn.net

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January 29, 2017 · 1:50 pm

Sermon for the Sunday of the Canaanite Woman

At the heart of prayer is persistence. Today’s Gospel passage (Matthew 15:21-28) illustrates the extent to which a person will go to secure what he/she needs from a beneficent, all-loving God. Jesus has withdrawn to a distant land (the only instance in the Gospels where he is outside Jewish territory) just prior to the epic of His passion and death. He is approached by a Canaanite woman whose ethnic background is repulsive to a faithful Jew. Furthermore, she makes a request of the stranger that He deliver her daughter from demonic possession. The daughter is broken. The mother seems desperate. The Apostles are annoyed at the woman’s insistence. At first blush, Jesus appears indifferent and seemingly ignores her. But the rest of the story needs telling. Continue reading →

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January 28, 2017 · 8:31 pm

WEEKLY PROGRAM | 22 – 28 JANUARY 2017

SUNDAY 22 JANUARY
† 15th Sunday of Luke | Luke 19: 1-10
† Apostle St Timothy, † Martyr Anastasios, Persian
• 7.30 – 11.00am Orthros and Divine Liturgy

This week’s readings:

WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARY
† St Gregory the Theologian
• 7.00 – 9.30am Orthros and Divine Liturgy

FRIDAY 27 JANUARY
† Transfer of the Relics of St John Chrysostom
• 7.00 – 9.30am Orthros and Divine Liturgy

SATURDAY 28 JANUARY
† Ephraim the Syrian
• 7.00 – 9.30am Orthros and Divine Liturgy

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