Dear all.
Gospel Reading
Yesterday, on the great and holy day of Pentecost, the reading from John’s Gospel (7:37 – 52; 8:12) was apposite. Christ declares himself as being the source of living water. This living water was available to all – provided that they believe in Christ. Notice, that the Holy Spirit had yet to make an overt appearance to humankind because Christ had yet to be glorified.
Christ is now glorified. He lives and reigns with the Father. Now it is the reign of the Holy Spirit that works amongst the believing people. This spirit was given to the world on the great and holy day of Pentecost, 10 days after the ascension of Christ. The Holy Spirit, on that day, filled all who were present so that they were all utterly transformed.
Christ tells us that he is the light of the world. That light is now communicated through the medium of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that moves through the church. It is the Spirit that makes tradition the continuously present. It is through the Spirit that the church takes what was given and faithfully transforms it into today’s language without losing the integrity of the message of Christ. It is the Spirit that makes the light of Christ shine bright.
We need to engage with the Spirit. The Spirit is now the living water. It opens each and everyone’s heart to the message of Christ. It waters and nurtures the seed of faith within until it blossoms forth. May the Spirit, like on the day of Pentecost, almost 2000 years ago, touch each and every one so that spiritual wisdom comes to each and every one of us.
We forget that the Spirit is God, of one essence with the Father and the Son, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified by the prophets. The Spirit is not the breath of God – it is God. Let us not forget that and let us remember the gift of the Spirit of God that now enlightens this world.
Confessor
Today, 20thof May 2018 and being the feast day of the Holy Spirit, I was given a blessing by his Grace Bishop Nikandros at the church of St Nektarios, to become a confessor. I pray that the light of the Holy Spirit guide and guard me a right. Amen.
Programme
Programme for this week is as follows: tomorrow Tuesday 7 PM to 8 PM adult education class. Topic: confession – how we do it, why we do it and what do we do. Light refreshments will be provided at the conclusion. Saturday, 2 of June: Divine liturgy in English 9 AM to 10:15 AM – from 3 to 5 PM children’s class. The topic will be Creation. Mums please bring a plate to share. Please note there are no loukoumdes next Sunday. Instead, we are having loukoumades on Sunday, 10 June.
Cake stall
Yesterday we held our cake stall. Despite adversity, we did well. A special thank you to all the ladies (and gentlemen) who baked. And especially a big thank you to those who purchased the delicious goodies.
Thought for the week
In honour of God the Holy Spirit: this week’s thought it from John 14:25 – 26 “these things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has sent in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
Till next time.
In Christ.
Father John Athanasiou 0411 061 554
Write a comment: