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THE SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS
THE SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS Genealogies are common in Hebrew bible and were a matter of pride. Mathew’s portrait of the genealogy of Jesus Christ is an amazing testimony to God’s power to overcome the sin of humankind. This stylized ancestral tree consisting of roughly three groups of fourteen: from Abraham to David, from David to the deportation to Babylon; and from the deportation to Jesus. The numerical value of David’s name in Hebrew is fourteen, which may account for this arrangement. From an Orthodox perspective, these three phases represent the three states of human life. The first phase represents the uniqueness and dignity of humanhood, and the continued fellowship with…
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REVELATION TO ST. JOSEPH
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BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Most of the orthodox prayers are filled with praises and thanksgiving to the Trinitarian God. In addition to the traditional prayers, personal prayers and meditations are inevitable in living a meaningful Orthodox life. Although we pray a lot, most of our prayers tend to be “wish lists”. In today’s Gospel reading, Zechariah’s prayer is full of thanksgiving and acknowledgement of what God has done in the past and will do in the future. He worships God using the special name “Most High” and proclaims God’s tender mercy. Today, when we gather together for family prayers read and meditate ‘Zechariah’s Prophecy’. During our personal meditation, try finishing these sentences: “God, I…
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MARY VISITS ELIZABETH: A TRUE SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIP
Aelred of Rievaulx, the 12th century monk wrote in Spiritual Friendship; “what happiness, what security, what joy to have someone to whom you dare to speak on terms of equality as to another self”. This is truly an apt description of Mary and Elizabeth’s spiritual kinship. Both women faced unusual, yet joyous, and miraculous circumstances! While reading this gospel passage, can we recall some of our special friendships, current or past, we have experienced during our lifetime. Certainly you may need to call a friend or share a meal together, and reminisce about your friendship. Wholeheartedly tell you friend the ways in which you consider her or him as a blessing.
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ANNUNCIATION TO ST. MARY (SUBORO)
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ANNUNCIATION TO ZECHARIAH
A period of spiritual ‘stillness’ like silence, doubt, waiting or listening can be a prelude to some new birth in your life!
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Hudos E’tho- Feast of the Dedication of the Church)
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KOODOSH EETHO (Sanctification of the Church)
Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Happy New Year! Am I nuts! Greeting Happy New Year on the first Sunday of November, then really I must be crazy. But some of you may know why we wished happy New Year today. Because today is the first Sunday of the Church Calendar year; we call this Sunday Koodosh Eetho, which means sanctification of the church. We are also commemorating the perunnal of St. Gregorios of Parumala. Unfortunately we do not realize the purpose and meaning of many of the arrangements, many of the important days, rituals, feasts that are important for us. And that’s the unfortunate part; we do…
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6th Sunday after Sleebo: The Rich Vs Small Children
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THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER SLEEBO
The most basic need of a civilized human being is an urge to impress people. We want to be seen as successful, better achievers and so on. The newest car, biggest mansion, branded clothes, better achieved children, family identity, and so on shows our tendency to become the lead dog. This desire to be the first, the best and to be admired by others has a name: PRIDE. What do we read about them? God tells us that “first will be last and last will be the first.” “All those who humble themselves will be exalted, and all who exalt themselves will be humbled.”