Dear all.
Gospel reading
“Oh faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” Yesterday’s gospel reading (Mark 9:17 – 31) makes for sombre reflection. It occurs to me that those present on that day would have witnessed our Lord’s miracles. They would have had direct experience of the supratural. Indeed, as John in his first epistle puts it: “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands” (1:1). That direct experience does not save those presents from being referred to as a faithless and burdensome generation.
That sentiment is reflected in the anguish of the Father for, after when Christ declares to him: “if you can! All things are possible to him who believes,” he laments: “I believe, help me in my unbelief!”. Here is a mere man before the Master, saying to him, that his belief, despite what he has witnessed, has a long, long way to go.
I am reminded of another person in the Gospels who expressed a similar sentiment. This person however was a disciple. After being told about the coming passion and Resurrection of Christ, Thomas declares to his fellow disciples that he does not believe them. “Unless I see in his hand the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25)
Thomas, our eyewitness, sceptical and looking for formal proofs represents each and every one of us. Lucky Thomas – he got to see, look and touch with his hands – and he believed. Christ knows the difficulty of the rational mind. He says to Thomas: “have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29).
Do you see how difficult it is to believe. Here we are, in the 21stcentury and confronted by a secular world whose God is science and reason and we are asked to believe in something that the mind and human experience cannot conceive. But here is the beauty – there is a gulf of difference between the ” I know” of science and the “I believe” of faith. May the Lord continue to give us strength to continue through the Lenten period. May we all gaze on the glory of the Resurrection.
Iconography course
I attach for the iconography course. If you’re interested see the flyer for details.
Programme for this week
The programme for this week is as follows great Compline today, tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM; Hours and liturgy of the pre-sanctified gifts Wednesday and Friday 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM; the Service of the Salutations to the Theotokos (including the recitation of the full Ahathist hymn) Friday 7 PM to 8:45 PM; Divine liturgy in English Saturday 9 AM to 10:15 AM (please note that there will be no English liturgy on the following Saturday being Lazarus Saturday (matins and divine liturgy in Greek) and the Saturday following that (seventh of April) we celebrate Holy Saturday.
On Saturday, 24 March at 6 PM there will be held great Vespers at the church of the Annunciation (Evangelismos). All clergy have been invited to be present. Note that as, and because, the feast day of the church of the Annunciation falls on a Sunday all churches will be open and operating.
Choir practice
Choir practice (as if our choir needs practice!!) Will be held immediately at the conclusion of the divine liturgy on Sunday, 25 March and on holy Wednesday, 4 April at the conclusion of the service. All are welcome.
Thought for the week
Yesterday, we commemorated St John Climacus, the author of: “The Divine Ascent”. On step eight (“On Placidity and Meekness”) he declares: “the first step towards freedom from anger is to keep the lips silent when the heart is stirred; the next, to keep thought silent when the soul is upset; the last, to be totally calm when unclean winds are blowing.” Given the insistence of each person to consider themselves front and centre in their thinking one can gain an understanding as to why there is just so much anger in this world. “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3). Let us reflect that during Lent our fast should be focused on what comes out of our mouth rather than what goes in.
Til next time.
In Christ.
Father John Athanasiou – 0411 061 554
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