Dear all..
My apologies for the delay which was unavoidable due to the demise of my modem which has now been replaced. Anyhow, I present to you (albeit delayed) the weekly newsletter of St Nektarios
Gospel reading
Sunday’s gospel reading of the healing on the Sabbath (Luke 13: 10 – 17) demonstrates the chasm that exists between the Law of God and Love of God for the believing Christian. One could be forgiven for assuming that they are concomitant. The reality however is the law of God receives authority from the old Testament whereas Christ gave us a new commandment – to love one another.
Even today there are those who insist that the way to God can only be found through following rules. The reality however is that for those people the rules themselves become the end in themselves and not the means to attaining a relationship with God. The followers of rules lose sight of the forest for the trees. To them God becomes a judge whose sole function is to dispense preference or punishment. Not only is God limited but he is formed in their mind as having the role of the stern judge. What a sad picture of God!
In the old Testament God on various occasions made new covenants with the Jewish people. These covenants were made as the people grew in spiritual maturity. Each covenant superseded the old. So the covenant between God and Adam and Eve, or God or Noah, or of Abraham, Moses and David manifested and reflected the then understanding between God and his people. However with the coming of Christ there is a new covenant instituted by the blood of Christ at the last supper and includes all people who believe in him that they may have life eternal.
That is why Christ institutes the healing of this woman on the Sabbath. He does this so to demonstrate that not only is he the fulfilment of the law but that the law has now changed to one of love for the other. As Christ himself said: I desire mercy not sacrifice! So, perhaps the time has come for those who cling to the rules to revisit their understanding of just what the true relationship with Christ is based on. Then they may understand that it is based upon unconditional love which is reflective of the love that God has for each one of us. Then will the light drive out the darkness. Then we will no longer deserve the description of hypocrite.
Programme for this week
Tuesday 12th December
7:30am to 9:30am – Matins and Divine Liturgy (St Spyridon)
Wednesday 13th December
6:00pm to 7:00pm – Catechism and Renewal Class
7:00pm to 8:00pm – Adult Bible Study
Friday 14th December
7:30am to 9:30am – Matins and Divine Liturgy (St Eleftherios)
Saturday 15th December
9:00 AM to 10:15 AM – Divine Liturgy (English)
Sunday 16th December
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Matins and Divine Liturgy
Final classes of adult bible class/Sunday school for 2017
Note that this Wednesday’s evening classes of catechism and renewal as well as the adult bible class will be the LAST for the year. We will resume on a date to be to be advised after the school holidays.
Note also that the 17th will be the last Sunday school held for 2017. Sunday will school will resume in the New Year.
Raffle
Note that on 17 December at 11 AM (that is after the conclusion of the church service) we will be drawing the prize-winners for our raffle at the church itself.
The church’s programme for Christmas/New Year/epiphany/and Sunday school/Carols picnic
I attach hereto the programme for the Christmas/New Year activities as well as our Christmas party to be held on the 17th December.
Thought for the week
Why do the good suffer and the evil prosper? Why do the good, the marginalised and the weak appear to be punished and the wicked rewarded? That is a question that has bedevilled man throughout the ages. Perhaps evil is the result of conscious and accountable choices made in this world by others against us. Our task is to demonstrate our inner belief by how we respond to those who do us harm. In Christ we have the perfect role model. In Christ we have understanding that what matters is not this life but the next – so although we attend to the needs of this, we’ll we never lose sight of the next.
(Editor’s note: A collection of Father John’s past thoughts are now available on the website. Please find it here.)
Till next week.
In Christ.
Father John Athanasiou – 0411 061 554
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