Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com
Light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one essence with the Father
Beloved,
Whenever we read the Holy Scriptures it is the proper understanding that we are after. If we always remain at the level of the words on the page, our understanding of the Scriptures will suffer greatly. Why? Because the words are the entry point into the Scripture but they are not the whole Scripture. We can think of the words of Scripture like the surface of the ocean—the surface of the ocean is certainly part of the ocean but only a fool thinks that that the surface of the ocean is the whole ocean.
This week in our look at the creed we come to another section of the creed that reiterates the divinity of Jesus in powerful language. In particular the words of one essence (homoousios in Greek) communicate a very strong point—Jesus is God. This greek word is not found in the Scriptures but we do see the understanding that it communicates. We see in the Holy Scriptures that Jesus refers to God as His Father (Mt 10.32, Mt 11.26, Mk 14.36, Lk 2.49, Lk 10.22 etc. etc. etc.) but there is one quote in particular that I will point out for today—John 5.18 explains that the Jews wanted to stone Jesus because He called God His Father which, the Jews explained—made Him equal with God. Why is this important? Well, when Jesus called God His Father the Jews (and we should understand this way too) understood this to mean that He was calling Himself divine—just like the cub of a lion is a lion and the the kid of a goat is a goat. In other words, when Jesus calls God His Father it means that He is of the same stuff, substance, makeup or essence as the Father. So when the creed says that Jesus is light of light, true God of true God and of one essence with the Father, this is the meaning—that Jesus is divine and of the same substance or essence as the Father.
Even though this is the understanding when reading the Scriptures this understanding was controversial at the time. There were those who wanted to say that Jesus was “like” the Father, or a created divinity, or a “face” of God but they were not willing to say that Jesus was of the same essence as the Father. Now, to be fair there was a heresy at that time called Modalism (or Sabellianism) that declared that God had different “faces” at different times—in the Old Testament He was Father, in the New Testament He was Son and after His ascension He was Holy Spirit. This heresy is wrong and some argued that declaring that Jesus was of one essence with the Father leaned toward this heretical understanding.
When it comes to our faith, we don’t want to veer off too far to one side or the other—in this case, Arianism on the one side or Modalism on the other—because our salvation is at stake. It is important that we understand our God in the proper way so as to guard the saving faith because if we join, or commit ourselves, to a lie we will not be saved. Think about taking the advice (joining or committing yourself to a lie) of a doctor who tells you that you can clear your blocked arteries by drinking a gallon of bacon grease every morning. That lie will not save you—in fact it will be your death! This approach to truth and falsehood is why correct theology—a correct relationship to God—matters. Our (the Church’s teaching) teaching about Jesus must be correct if we are to find salvation in Him. If the Church presents a false Christ to the world both the Church and the world will be led off the path to salvation. Thank God for the Fathers of the Church who fought to preserve this correct teaching.
With love in the risen Lord,
Fr John
Services and Events
Friday, August 2nd—6pm—Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Saturday, August 3rd—5pm—Great Vespers
Sunday, August 4th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Monday, August 5th—6pm—Great Vespers w/Litia and Artoklasia for the GREAT FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
Tuesday, August 6th—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the GREAT FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
Wednesday, August 7th—6pm—Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Friday, August 9th—6pm—Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Saturday, August 10th—5pm—Great Vespers
Sunday, August 11th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy w/40 DAY memorial for CAMILE REZEK to follow. Memorial meal and bread of oblation offered by the Rezek Family.
Education
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.18
READ METROPOLITAN SABA'S WEEKLY TEACHING. THIS WEEK HE TALKS ABOUT THE CHURCHING OF A BABY HERE
Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers. WE ARE ON A HIATUS UNTIL SEPTEMBER when we plan to begin studying Hymns on Paradise by St Ephraim the Syrian.
Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers. WE ARE ON A HIATUS UNTIL SEPTEMBER when we plan to continue studying the Gospel of Matthew.
Click HERE for some resources for learning about our Faith
Click HERE for a great article on advice for mothers.
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*Our church is need of some smaller items:
1. Paper towels
2. Olive Oil
3. Screen door to office (approx $200)
...and we would eventually like to take care of some larger items:
1. Windows in the Church (approx $15,000)
2. Kitchen Renovation (approx $10,000—15,000)
3. Chanters stand with stasidia chairs (approx $4000)
4. Royal doors. These are the doors to the Sanctuary and Altar. (approx $4000)
5. Prothesis table in altar. This is the place where the priest prepares the bread and wine that will be consecrated during the Divine Liturgy (approx $2,000).
If you are interested in helping contribute, please let me know. Also, please know that we are not in dire need of any of these larger items. The Church can and will still function without them, so short-term, hold over or bargain solutions are not what is needed here. These larger items will help to beautify the Church, enable us to save some money (windows) or make money (functioning kitchen).
Parish Prayer List
"Remember Me O Lord When You Come Into Your Kingdom." Lk 23.42
Please include in your daily prayers the following. Contact me to have someone added to the list. These are the names that will be remembered during the Divine Liturgy.
Living:
Bishop Alexander, Fr Gregory Potter, Fr Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Joseph, Fr Chrysostom, Fr Matthew, Fr Emmanuel, Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, The Rezek Family, Callie, Leila, Helen, Marsha, Mary, Presbytera Marina, Hassib, Alex, Raymond.
All those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine Gaza and the middle east
Departed:
Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Archpriest Basil (6.17), Archpriest James (6.17), Camile (7.2) Anastasia (7.25) those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflict in Ukraine and the middle east.
Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, August 04, 2024
Tone 5 / Eothinon 6; Sixth Sunday after Pentecost & Sixth Sunday of Matthew
The Holy Seven Sleeping Youths of Ephesus; Recovery of the relics of Martyr Eudokia of Persia
During the Little Entrance, chant the Resurrectional Apolytikion. The Eisodikon (Entrance Hymn) is “O come, let us worship… save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead…” After the Little Entrance, chant these hymns in the following order:
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.
KONTAKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION IN TONE SEVEN
Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and Thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld Thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see Thee crucified, they would remember that all Thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that Thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.
THE EPISTLE
Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve us and keep us from this generation. Save me, O Lord, for the Godly man hath disappeared.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (12:6-14)
Brethren, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, and serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
THE GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (9:1-8)
At that time, Jesus got into a boat, crossed over and came to His own city. And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith He said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He then said to the paralytic—“Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they marveled, and they glorified God, Who had given such authority to men.
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom continues as usual.
THE DISMISSAL
Priest: May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the Precious and Life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we have now celebrated; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of the Holy Seven Sleeping Youths of Ephesus, whose memory we celebrate today, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.
Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2023/24
Help us Meet our Goal of $120,000 for the Year
Sunday Giving for week of July 28th—$—519
Online Giving for week of July 28th—$810
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$75454.3
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—86
Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—3
Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—20
Check out our parish financial report by clicking HERE.
*You can set up a recurring monthly donation to the Church by clicking HERE
A Note to our Visitors
WELCOME!
We are blessed by your presence! Join us for fellowship after. Please note, in the Orthodox Church only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared can partake of the Holy Eucharist. All others may come forward for a blessing with the chalice held over their head and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.
From a Father of the Church
St John Chrysostom Gospel Commentary for the 6th Sunday of Matthew
Why should I care about the church fathers?
