Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church

130 North Saint Francis Cabrini Avenue Scranton, PA 18504

Rev. Protodeacon Michael Jolly
Administrator pro tempore
570-213-9344

Reader Michael Simon Parish Office 570-343-6092

E-Mail: scrantonmelkite@yahoo.com Web: http://sites.google.com/site/scrantonmelkite Webmasters: Elizabeth Dessoye, Sal Zaydon

September 25, 2011 Tone 6 and Orthros Gospel 4 Liturgy Schedule: Saturday Vespers 5pm Compline Weds 8:30PM

1st Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sunday Orthros 9 am Sunday Divine Liturgy 10 am

Liturgy Intentions:
September 25, 2011

Parish Notes:
Welcome back Father Jerome Wolfort who serves liturgy today . TodayAnnual Young Folks Bowling outing 5-8PMMeet in the Parish Hall Nominations for parish council are due today. Prayerfully consider who you would like to serve and place your nominations in the box in the back of the church. You may nominate yourself. Parish Council Elections are next week.

James Murray By Jim and Karen Kane

Todays Cover Icon:

Saint Arsenius the Great, a pupil and spiritual son of Gregory of Khandzta,

The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom

Antiphons:
First Antiphon Through the prayers of the Mother of God Second Antiphon O Son of God, Who are risen from the dead Hymn of incarnation Third Antiphon Tone 2 Tone 2 Tone 4 Tone 6

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Hymns:
Resurrectional Troparion Tone 6 Troparion of Euphrosyne of Alexandria Tone 8 In you, O mother Euphroyne, was restored the likeness of God, for you carried your cross and followed Christ; you taught by your deeds how to spurn your body, for it passes away and how to value the soul for it is immortal. Wherefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels. Troparion of St. Joseph Tone 2 Kontakion O Never Failing

onmelkite

Zaydon

Prokiemenon

Tone 7 Psalm 63:11, 2 How The just shall rejoice in the Lord and place his hope in Him. All those with an upright heart shall be praised. Stichon: O God, hear my voice when I pray to You; save my life from the dreadful enemy.

Reading from Second the Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians 4:6-15
Brethren, God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give enlightenment concerning the knowledge of God's glory, shining in Christ Jesus' face. But we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, to show that its superabundant power is God's, and not ours. In all things we suffer tribulation but we are not distressed, we are sorely pressed but we are not destitute, we endure persecution but we are not forsaken, we are cast down but we do not perish: always carrying around in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodily frame. For we, the living, are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh. Thus death is at work in us, but life in you. But since we have the same spirit of faith, as shown in that which is written, I believed, and so I spoke, (Ps. 115:1) we also believed, wherefore we also speak. For we know that the One Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also together with Jesus, and will place us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace that abounds through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound for God's glory.

Alleluia Tone 4 Ps 91:13, 14

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree and shall grow like the cedar of Lebanon. Stichon: Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God..

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 5:1-11

At that time Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two boats moored by the lake, but the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. And getting into one of the boats, the one that was Simons, He asked him to put out a little from the land. And sitting down, He began to teach the crowds from the boat. But when He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, Put out into the deep, and lower your nets for a catch. And Simon answered and said to Him, Master, the whole night through we have toiled and have taken nothing; but at Your word I will lower the net. And when they had done so, they caught a great number of fish, but their net was breaking. And they called to their comrades in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord, For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had made; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid; from now on you shall catch men. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all and followed Him.

The Miraculous Catch of Fish

In today's Gospel reading, Christ comes upon several men, Sts. Peter, James, and John who, the Gospel says, had been fishing all through the night and had caught nothing. After spending some time teaching His message, Christ turned his attention to the fishermen. At the Lord's bidding, they returned to their boats and, putting their faith in Christ's words, once again let down their nets. And they caught an abundance of fish, enough to break the net, enough indeed to fill two boats and to cause both nearly to sink. Peter seeing this miraculous catch of fish, confesses to the Lord that he, Peter, is a sinful man. Christ responds that while they now catch fish, soon they shall be He also rewards them by making them His Apostles, which brings us catching people. to the next lesson in this passage from St. Luke. "From Henceforth thou shall catch men," Christ says. Peter, James, and John become We note first that after Christ had commanded them to let down their Apostles and spend the remainder of their lives winning multitudes to nets once again, Peter, who was certainly an expert in fishing, the Church. From an earthly standpoint, this is a questionable disputed the possibility that any fish would be caught. They had blessing. These men are wrenched from a way of life they have fished all night, he insisted, and caught nothing. His mastery of his known, and with which they are reasonably comfortable, and charged occupation told him that to lower the nets again would be a waste of with the task of bringing whole nations to Christ's banner. These are time. Nevertheless, Christ commanded that he do it, and he did. Christ simple men, unrefined men, ignorant of worldly knowledge. Yet, was teaching his followers that they must put their trust in Him, even Christ makes them leaders of His Church. Today's Gospel says that, when it seemed a waste of time, even when it seemed foolish, even if "having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed they thought they knew better. The obedience of these men to Christ Him," they followed Christ. None received material rewards in this command was rewarded by a huge catch of fish. Christ commands us, life for their trouble. Hardship, toil, hatred, violence, and finally death equally strongly, to put our trust in Him and to obey His commands. by martyrdom was the worldly price paid by these men for obedience Sometimes that seems illogical to us, and yet that we must do. When, to Christ. Yet, they obeyed, and they were rewarded with eternal life, for example, illness overtakes us and puts us through pain and adorned with martyr's crowns in the Kingdom of Heaven, and suffering and doubt about our future, we must still look to Him, place venerated by all the Faithful of the Church as Saintsuntil the end of our trust unconditionally in Him, and believe that in our obedience, time, Christian men and women remember their names, and honor we shall eventually find our reward. them for, and seek to imitate them in, their absolute fidelity to Christ. The second message is that though we try in our lives to accomplish certain things, and fail, we must never cease trying, we must never give up. Peter, after working all night, was ready to give up, to surrender to failure. But he did not, thanks to Christ's insistence. Those disposed to give up, especially in their spiritual endeavors, are truly lost should they give in to their impulses. For those who struggle on, despite all, can only triumph at the end. The Evil One never stops trying to tempt us by discouragement. But we must not listen. Indeed, these men came to catch men, to catch them in Christ's net so that they might be saved. They still catch men. St. Gregory the Theologian writes that, "The fishermen are Teachers of the Church, who catch us in the net of faith, and, as it were, bring us to the shore, to the land of the living." We too, as simple Melkite Christians, are called to catch men for Christ. Consider, for a moment, the state of the world around us. Consider this city we are in, and the cities and towns nearby. Consider the frightful nature of the world, of the overflowing cup of evil all around us. Consider the huge numbers of confused and frightened people, darting this way and that, like frightened fishes in a great dark sea. Some, though perhaps not all, would doubtless find peace and joy if they could but find Christ, in the fullness in which we find Him in Orthodox Christianity. We need only lower our nets, as Christ bids us, and we can catch them for Him. How do we do this?

filled. The history of the Christian peoples also records many miracles. Lives thought lost are saved. Suffering and distress are transformed into peace and abundance. Nations threatened by certain catastrophe are saved by God's intervention. Generally, such miracles are a reward for prayer and faith, but a reward that must correspond to God's plan for mankind as a whole, and for each of us as individual souls. We are not promised rewards, necessarily, in this life but must sometimes wait until the next. Nonetheless, the rewards are given. In today's Gospel, Christ rewards the faith of the fishermen with an abundant catch.

Next note that Peter confesses his sinfulness, but Christ, at that moment, seems rather unconcerned, telling him to "fear not." Christ sees into Peter's heart and He knows each and every sin dwelling there. But Christ also knows, by Peter's own humble confession, that he has already repented and has already resolved to follow a different path. St. Bede, a great seventh-century Saint of the West said that, "The Lord soothes the fears of the unspiritual man so that no man need be fearful in his conscience because of his own past guilt; or, confounded at the sight of the innocence of others, be discouraged in setting out himself on the road to sanctity." Christ loves us all and We can do it by witnessing for Christ through the lives that we lead. regardless of our past sins and offenses, wants us all to turn humbly to If we are kind, patient, and generous towards our neighbors, that in itself is the beginning of our witness. If we are models of Christian Him. About sins confessed and repented of, Christ is unconcerned. piety in our lives, praying, keeping the fasts, attending Liturgy, and remaining close to the Church, that too is a witness and will attract We are taught also by this Gospel passage the power of God. God a larger catch. Finally, we must not be ashamed of Christ's Church possesses absolute dominion over all of His creation, and can and by hiding it from those around us. If neighbors or friends or does work miracles. The Old and New Testaments are filled with acquaintances have no religious life, or if they are dissatisfied in stories of the miracles of God. The lives of the Saints are likewise their current religion, we can invite them to attend Liturgy and

introduce them to Melkite Christianity. Some people believe that the Melkite Church is only for Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, and so forth. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Melkite Christianity is not a collection of tribal Churches, it is the universal Church, the Church of all mankind. So, let us not be apprehensive in sharing the beauty of of our church with others. Let each of us strive to follow in the footsteps of Sts. Peter, James, and John, by becoming catchers of souls for Christ. Let each of us also put aside all those things that distract us from our real purpose in this life, let us leave those things, as the Gospel says, and, like the Apostles, follow Christ.

country, where the Lords Presence is our real home. If someone were to repay us a debt, it would be better for us to receive it at home, not away from home. Yet even in this life we will receive a hundred-fold. The Apostles gave up everything, and the result was that the world opened their homes to them. If anyone were to owe you gold, while you were staying in a foreign country, and you had neither servants, nor any means to convey it across to the place of your abode, if he were to promise to pay you the loan, you would ask him to have it paid down not in the foreign land, but at home. In the same fashion, do you think it would be right to receive those spiritual and unutterable things in this world? This would be madness! For if you received them here, you would have them corruptible certainly; but if you wait for that time, He will repay you them incorruptible. If you receive here, you get lead; but if you get them there, it would be refined gold. Still He does not deprive you of the goods of this life. For along with that promise He has placed another also, to the following effect. Everyone that loves the things of the world to come, shall receive a hundred-fold in this life present, and shall inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29). If then we do not receive the hundred-fold, it is ourselves that are to blame for not lending to Him, Who can give so much; for all who have given have received much, even though they gave but little. For what great thing did Peter give? A broken net (Luke 5:6, 11), and a rod and a hook only! Yet still God opened to him the houses of the world, and spread before him land and sea, and all men invited him to their home. Or rather they sold what was their own, and brought it to the Apostles feet, not so much as putting it into their hands, so great was the honor they paid him. The significance of the Twelve Apostles is brought out by the question the Twelve asked Jesus: What shall they have after having left all to follow him? (Matthew 19:27) Jesus replied that they will sit on twelve thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). When Jesus first called the four Apostles (John 1:42), He prophesied that Peter would be called Cephas, meaning a rock or stone. Cephas is a name that comes from the Chaldean word kafe meaning rock; petra is the Greek counterpart meaning a large rock. A little over a year after the four were called, following the death of John the Baptist, Jesus made His famous statement about the Church and how the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). This was in response to Peters confession (Matthew 16:17), which is the rock that Jesus had spoken of earlier. Jesus went on to say that He would give the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to the Twelve. Whatever they bind on earth shall be, having been bound in heaven. And whatever they loose on earth shall be, having been loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). The Twelve, who have established the foundation of the Church (Revelation 21:14) with Christ as the Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), have already begun to judge the Twelve Tribes of Israel and have been doing so now for almost two millennia. The Church today is responsible before God to maintain the connection with the Twelve and the Cornerstone in order that this just judgment may continue for our benefit8. In doing this, the Church helps us to focus on loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength, and our neighbor as our self. And by doing that, we will obtain a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ as we

The Humility of the Apostles

The beginning of the work of the Twelve Apostles was characterized by a deep humility and awe at what the Master could do. This kind of humility was also characteristic throughout the Early Church where people did good works without seeking credit for it. John Chrysostom described Peters humble words, Depart from me (Luke 5:8), as the foundation of a blessed walk with God. As we apply this attitude to all aspects of our life and work, we will find ourselves praised by God and man. Let us beware of saying anything about ourselves, for this renders us both odious with men and abominable to God. For this reason, the greater the good works we do, the less let us say of ourselves; this being the way to reap the greatest praise both with men and with God. Demand not a reward that you may receive a reward. Confess yourself to be saved by grace, that He may profess Himself a debtor to you; and not for your good works only, but also for such rightness of mind. For when we do good works, we have Him debtor not for our good works only; but when we do not think we have done any good work ( ), then this disposition itself is equivalent to good works. For should this be absent, good works will not appear great! In the same way, when we have servants (Luke 17:10), we should most approve them when, after having performed all their service with good will, they do not think they have done anything great. It was in this way that the centurion said, I am not fit that you should enter under my roof; because of this, he became worthy, and was marveled at above all Jews (Matthew 8:8-10). In the same manner, Paul said, I am the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9); because of this he came to be regarded first of all. So likewise John the Baptist: I am not fit to loose the latchet of His shoe (Mark 1:7). Because of this he was the friend of the Bridegroom (John 3:29), and the hand which he affirmed to be unworthy to touch His shoes, this did Christ draw onto His own head6. So Peter said, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man (Luke 5:8); because of this he became a foundation of the Chu For nothing is so acceptable to God as to number ones self with the last. This is a first principle of all practical wisdom. For he that is humbled, and bruised in heart, will not be vainglorious, wrathful, envious of his neighbor, and will not harbor any other passion. For if a man, by mourning for things pertaining to this life, drives out all the diseases of his soul, much more will he, who mourns for sins, enjoy the blessing of self-restraint. John Chrysostom also stated that our life is like living in a foreign

Among Todays Saints

Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born at the beginning of the fifth century in the city of Alexandria. She was the only child in her family of illustrious and rich parents. Since her mother died early, she was raised by her father, Paphnutius, a deeply believing and pious Christian. He frequented a monastery, the igumen of which was his spiritual guide. When Euphrosyne turned eighteen, her father wanted her to marry. He went to the monastery to his spiritual guide to receive his blessing for the planned wedding of his daughter. The igumen conversed with the daughter and gave her his blessing, but St Euphrosyne yearned for the monastic life. She secretly accepted tonsure from a wandering monk, left her father's house and decided to enter a monastery in order to lead her life in solitude and prayer. She feared, however, that in a women's monastery her father would find her. Calling herself the eunuch Smaragdos, she went to the very same men's monastery which she had visited with her father since childhood. The monks did not recognize Euphrosyne dressed in men's garb, and so they accepted her into the monastery. Here in a solitary cell, St Euphrosyne spent 38 years in works, fasting and prayer, and attained a high level of spiritual accomplishment. Her father grieved over the loss of his beloved daughter and more than once, on the advice of the igumen, he conversed with the monk Smaragdos, revealing his grief and receiving spiritual comfort. Before her death, the nun Euphrosyne revealed her secret to her grieving father and asked that no one but he should prepare her body for burial. Having buried his daughter, Paphnutius distributed all his wealth to both the poor and to the monastery, and then he accepted monasticism. For ten years right up to his own death, he labored in the cell of his daughter.

John Chrysostom Five Paths to Repentance

Shall I list the paths of repentance? There are certainly many of them, many and various, and all of them lead to heaven. The first path is the path of condemnation of sins. As Isaiah says, Tell your sins, and you will be acquitted. And the Psalmist adds: I said I will bear witness against myself before the Lord, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. So you, too must condemn the sins you have committed. Condemn them, and that condemnation will excuse you in front of the Lord, since whoever condemns the sins he has committed will be slower to commit them next time. Stir up your own conscience to be your accuser so that when you come before the judgement-seat of the Lord no-one will rise up to accuse you. This is the first path of repentance but the second is in no way inferior to it in excellence. It is to forget the harm done to us by our enemies, to master our anger, to forgive the sins of those who are slaves together with us. As much as we do this, so much will our own sins against the Lord be forgiven. So this is the second path to the expiation of our sins. As the Lord says, Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours. Would you like to know the third path of repentance? It is prayer: fervent prayer, sincere and focused prayer, prayer coming from the depths of the heart. If you want to know the fourth path, I will tell you it is the giving of alms. It has great power. And finally, if someone acts with modesty and humility, that path is no less effective as a way to deprive sin of its substance. Look at the publican, who had no good deeds to speak of. In place of good deeds he offered humility, and the huge burden of his sins fell away. So now I have shown you the five paths of repentance. First, condemnation of sins. Second, forgiving the sins of those near us. Third, prayer. Fourth, almsgiving. Fifth, humility. So do not be idle, but every day advance along all these paths at once. They are not hard paths to follow. Poverty is no excuse for not setting out on the journey. Even if you are destitute you can do all these things: put aside anger, carry humility in front of you, pray hard, condemn your sins. Poverty is no obstacle not even to that path of penitence that demands money: that is, almsgiving. Remember the story of the widows mite. Now we have learnt the right way to heal our wounds, let us apply these remedies. Let us regain true health and confidently receive the blessings of Holy Communion. Thus we may come, filled with glory, to the glory of Christs kingdom, and receive its eternal joys through the grace, mercy and kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Devotions and Readings for this week

Mon 9/26 Tues 9/27 Weds 9/28 Thurs 9/29 Fri 9/30 Sat 10/1 Translation of the Apostle, Evangelist and Theologian John 1 Jn. 4:12-19 Gal 4:28-5:10 Gal 5:11-21 Jn. 19 25-27 21:24-25 Lk 3:28-44 Mk 7:5-16 Lk 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Lk 8:16-21 Mk 8:1-10 MT 10:37-42; 11:1

Martyrs Callistratos and his companions

Chariton the Confessor

Phil 2:5-11 Gal 4:22-27

Cyriacos the Amchorite Gregory of Armenia Protection of the Theotokos, Romanos the Melodist, and Ananias of the 70

Eph 1:7-17 1 Cor 2:6-9

Note that our parish e-mail address has changed to scrantonmelkite@yahoo.com

Cost: $300 includes all materials and Saturday midday meal. Housing and other meals available for $50/night. Holy Dormition Friary - Emmaus Hall
712 State Highway 93, PO Box 270, Sybertsville, Pennsylvania, 18251

Contact: Fr Jerome at holydormition@gmail.com or 570-788-1212 ext 402

Youth Bowling Expedition this evening 5-8PM Meet in the Parish hall

Harvest Thanksgiving Dinner

Sponsored by St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sunday, October 30, 2011 - 1:00pm St. Vladimir Parish Center - 428 North Seventh Avenue, Scranton PA
Traditional Turkey Dinner - roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, hot vegetables, cranberry sauce, salad, pumpkin and apple pie, seasonal desserts, coffee, tea and soda Door prizes Adults $15.00; Students 6 to 12 years $8.00; no charge for children age 5 and under Advance reservations close Tuesday, October 25 - no tickets sold at the door Take-outs available - must pick up between 11:30am and 12:30pm

Prayer Requests

Rev. Father Philip Azoon Rev. Deacon John Karam Rev. Seraphim Michalenko Rev. Basil Samra Rev. Peter Boutros Rev. Deacon Bryan McNiel

Parish Calendar September

25 Young Adults Bowling 5-8PM

October
2 9 Parish Council Elections Parish Council Meeting

Marie Abda Marie Abda Marie Barron Joseph Barron Mary Sue Betress Chris Carey Dr. Frances Colie John Colie Ann Coury

Margaret Dillenburg Mark Dillman Karen Kane Niko Mayashairo Mary McNeilly Marie Patchoski Joanna Simon William Simon Dr. Thomas Zaydon

Sacrificial Giving Candles Weekly Holyday Monthly 9/18/2011 $ 11.00 $ 895.45 $ 35.00 $ 65.00

All those Serving in our Armed Forces The Christian Community in the Middle East

The Weekly Quiz

King Ahasuerus took Mordecai's cousin as his wife. What was her name? Esther Vashti Abigail Naomi
Last Weeks Answer Q. Paul reminded the Corinthians that they

should continue to believe the gospel that he had preached to them, otherwise what was the result? A. They had believed in vain.