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

October 23, 2011 Tone 2 and Orthros Gospel 8 Liturgy Schedule: Saturday Vespers 5pm Compline Weds 8:30PM

Sixth Sunday after the Holy Cross The Apostle James, Brother of Our Lord Sunday Orthros 8:55 am Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Liturgy Intentions:
October 23, 2011
Elizabeth Walsh By Jim and Betsy Zaydon

Parish Notes:
Welcome back Father Jerome who serves liturgy today . The Annual Ladies Society Spaghetti Dinner will held on This Wednesday October 26th. Sign up sheets are in the back of the church if you would like to make a donation. Work has begun on our steeple repair, please pardon our dust! Parish Coffee/Hourafter Divine Liturgy October 30th. All are welcome.

October 30, 2011 James&Francis Murray Elizabeth Kelleher by Karen Murray

THE BISHOPS APPEAL: Our Melkite Church in America needs you! Without your
generous support of the Bishops Appeal many vital works of our Church, such asseeking and training new priests and deacons to serve our people, publishing SOPHIA magazine, fostering spiritual renewal throughout our Eparchy, caring for our aging and ailing clergy, and preparing our young people for church leadershipwill not be able to be accomplished. That is why Bishop Nicholas asks for 100% participation by every Melkite family in our Eparchy and that every Melkite household in the U.S. give at least $100-$200 each year to support our Eparchy in America. Christ relies upon your generosity to accomplish His great work! Please respond to our Bishops call and take personal responsibility for your Melkite Eparchy.

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 2 Tone 2 Tone 8

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Hymns:
Resurrectional Troparion Troparion of the Apostle James Brother of Our Lord
Holy James, as a disciple of the Lord, you received the Gospel; as a martyr, you displayed an unyielding will; as a brother of the Lord, you have special power with Him; as pontiff, you have the right to intercession. Intercede therefore with Christ God that He may save our souls.

Troparion of St. Joseph Kontakion O Never Failing

Tone 2

Prokiemenon

(Tone 1) Ps.32: 22, 1

My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my Savior. Stichon: The Lord has chastised me through His teaching, yet He has not delivered me to death.

Reading from Second the Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians 11:31-12:9
BRETHREN, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, Who is blessed forever, knows that I do not lie. In Damascus, the Governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me, but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands. (12: 1) It is not fitting for me to boast: but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows) was caught up into paradise and heard secret sayings that man may not repeat. Of such a man I will boast; but of myself I will glory in nothing except my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I give up, lest any man have an idea of me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me. And lest the greatness of the revelation puff me up, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me. Concerning this, I begged the Lord three times that it might leave me, but He said to me, My grace is enough for you, for strength is made perfect in weakness. Gladly, then, will I glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may dwell in me.

Alleluia (Tone 1) Ps.17: 48, 50

The Lord shall hear you on the day of distress; the name of the God of Jacob shall defend you. Stichon: O Lord, save Your king and listen to us on whatever day we call upon You.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

7:11-16

At that time when Jesus came to the country of the Gerasenes there met Him a certain man who for a long time was possessed by a devil, and wore no clothes, and lived in the tombs, not in a house. And when he saw Jesus, he fell down before Him, and crying out with a loud voice said, What have I to do

with Thee, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I pray Thee, do not torment me. For he was charging the unclean spirit to go forth from the man. For many times it . they entreated Him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was there, feeding on the mountainside. And they kept entreating Him to give them leave to enter into them. And He gave them leave. And the devils came out from the man and entered into the swine; and the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and were drowned. And when the swineherds saw what had happened, they fled and reported it in the town and in the country; and people came out to see what had happened. And they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the devils had gone out sitting at His feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those also who had seen it reported to them how he had been saved from Legion. And all the people of the Gerasene district besought Him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear. And He got into a boat and went back. But the man from whom the devils had gone out prayed Him that he might remain with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thy house, and tell all that God has done for thee. And he departed, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.

The Demons Ask Permission to Enter Swine

The demons then begged Jesus that He might allow them to enter a herd of swine, about 2,000 (Mark 5:13), that were feeding a good way off from them (Matthew 8:30). Jesus permitted them to do so and suddenly the whole herd ran violently down the steep embankment into the lake and drowned. Why did the demons request of Jesus to enter the swine, and then immediately destroy the swine? John Chrysostom wrote: John Chrysostom gives several reasons why Jesus Everywhere demons labor to drive men to allowed the demons to enter the swine: dismay, and everywhere they rejoice in destruction. This, for instance, the devil did with respect to Job, and in that case too God allowed it, but neither in that case as complying with the devil, but willing to show His own servant more glorious, cutting off from the evil spirit all 1. 2. To teach those who are delivered from the wicked demons how great is the malice of the demons. That all might learn how the demons are not even allowed to enter swine unless He should

pretext for his shamelessness, and turning on his own head what was done against the righteous man. Here also the contrary of what the demons wished came to pass. For the power of Christ was gloriously proclaimed, and the wickedness of the demons, from which He delivered those possessed by them, was more plainly indicated. He demonstrated how they lack power to touch even swine, without permission from the God of all.

3.

give them permission. That the demons would have treated the two men worse than the swine, unless the two men, even in their calamity, had enjoyed much of Gods providential care. That the demons hate us more than beasts should be obvious to every man. Since the demons didnt spare the swine, but in one moment of time threw them all down the precipice, much more would they have done to the two men whom they possessed. They would have led them towards the desert, carrying them away, unless the guardian care of God had been present, to curb and check the excess of their violence.

Cyril of Alexandria taught that this encounter with the Gergesene demoniacs illustrates Christs care for us in the face of forces that would easily John Chrysostom concurred saying that this overpower us. illustrates Gods care for all men, even when The herd of impure spirits asked for a herd of theyre not expecting it, and even when they are in swine -- worthy of and like itself! And Christ dire straits like the two demoniacs. purposely allowed them, though He well knew what they would do. And I can imagine We learn from this that His providence is not someone saying, Why did He grant their only over all in common, but also over each in request? To which we answer, He gave them particular. He also declared to His disciples, the power, in order that this, like all His other But even the hairs of your head are conduct, might be a means of benefit to us, and numbered (Matthew 10:30). From these inspire us with the hope of safety. They asked demoniacs, one may clearly perceive this; they for power over swine, plainly as something, would have been choked to death by the demons which they do not possess. They would not have long before, if they had not enjoyed the benefit asked for it, if it had been in their power to take of much tender care from above. it without hindrance? But those who have no For these reasons He allowed the demons to power over trifling and valueless things, how enter the herd of swine, that the Gadarenes, who can they injure anyone of those whom Christ dwelt in those places should learn His power. has sealed, and who place their hope on Him? For where His name was great, He did not Comfort your heart; for perhaps you were greatly display Himself. But where no one knew terrified at hearing that a crowd of wicked Him, but they were still in an insensible spirits dwelt in one man, and made him wander condition, He made His miracles to shine out, so among the graves of the dead in shame and as to bring them over to the knowledge of His nakedness, devoid of mind and understanding. Godhead. For it is evident from the event that Inasmuch as you too are a man exposed to the inhabitants of that city were a sort of temptations, you feared a similar misery, should senseless people; for when they ought to have Satan attack you. Have confidence in your heart; adored and marveled at His power, they asked do not suppose that any such thing can happen Him to leave. while Christ surrounds us with protection and love. It is certain that they possess no power

even over swine. So great is the providence which the Almighty Governor of our affairs bestows on us. For He even said to the Apostles, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Not one of them falls to the ground without your Fathers will. And even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31). For if He grants His protection on trifling and valueless things, how will He not consider us worthy of all regard, for whose sake He even became man, and endured the contempt of the Jews? Do not fear; for God helps and encircles with the armor of His good pleasure those whose wish it is to live for Him, and who seek to perform those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Among Todays Saints

Holy Apostle James, the Brother of God (Adelphotheos) was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 26). From his early years James was a Nazarene, a man especially dedicated to God. The Nazarenes vowed to preserve their virginity, to abstain from wine, to refrain from eating meat, and not to cut their hair. The vow of the Nazarenes symbolized a life of holiness and purity, commanded formerly by the Lord for all Israel. When the Savior began to teach the nation about the Kingdom of God, St James believed in Christ and became His apostle. He was chosen as the first Bishop of Jerusalem. St James presided over the Council of Jerusalem and his word was decisive (Acts 15). In his thirty years as bishop, St James converted many of the Jews to Christianity. Annoyed by this, the Pharisees and the Scribes plotted together to kill St James. They led the saint up on the pinnacle of the Jerusalem Temple and asked what he thought of Jesus. The holy Apostle began to bear witness that Christ is the Messiah, which was not the response the Pharisees were expecting. Greatly angered, the Jewish teachers threw him off the roof. The saint did not die immediately, but gathering his final strength, he prayed to the Lord for his enemies while they were stoning him. St James' martyrdom occurred about 63 A.D. The holy Apostle James composed a Divine Liturgy, which formed the basis of the Liturgies of Sts Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. The Church has preserved an Epistle of St James, one of the books of the New Testament. The Church distinguishes between the holy Apostle James the Brother of God, and St James the son of Zebedee (April 30) and St James the son of Alphaeus (October 9). On Christian Marriage:

The Melkite Question Box

Q. What is the Liturgy of Saint James A. The Liturgy of Saint James is the oldest complete form of the Eastern varieties of the Divine Liturgy still in use among certain Christian churches. It is based on the traditions of the ancient rite of the Early Christian Church of Jerusalem, as the Mystagogic Catecheses of St Cyril of Jerusalem imply. Forming the historical basis of the Liturgy of Antioch, it is still the principal liturgy of the Syriac Orthodox Church. It is also occasionally used in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Melkite Catholic Church. The Liturgy is associated with the name of James the Just, brother of Jesus and patriarch among the Jewish Christians at Jerusalem. Saint James was martyred at the hands of a mob incensed at his preaching about Jesus and his "transgression of the Law" - an accusation made by the Jewish High Priest of the time, Hanan ben Hanan. The historic Christian liturgies are divided between Eastern and Western usages. Among the Eastern liturgies, the Liturgy of Saint James is one of the Antiochene group of liturgies, those ascribed to Saint James, to Saint Basil, and to Saint John Chrysostom. Other Eastern liturgies include the Assyrian or Chaldean rites, as well as the Armenian and Maronite rites. The Byzantine liturgies attributed to Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Basil are the ones most widely used today by all Eastern Orthodox Christians and by the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome. The Liturgy of Saint James as it presently exists has been brought into conformity with developed Trinitarian Christianity..

Christian marriage is a single life lived by two in unification. With the years, marital life only strengthens, becomes deeper, more spiritual. Of course, passionate love, connected with each person's natural sexual inclination and purely physical attraction, also enters into Christian marital love. In a truly Christian marriage, however, such passionate love enters into the attachment only incidentally, and never has such a significance and strength as in non-Christian marital unions. In the lives of saints, we see a multitude of examples in which Christian spouses, through mutual agreement, renounced sexual life, either from the very beginning of the marriage or even after forty years. It is noteworthy that in such a marriage, when the asceticspouses live "as brother and sister," their mutual love is distinguished by a special strength of devotion, all-embracing fidelity and mutual respect. Thus does Christianity consecrate, elevate and transform a marriage union. In a Christian family, not only the relationship of husband and wife is considered, but also that of children and parents. Christianity again places its imprint on this inner relationship. In each good family there must, without fail, be a single family life. "Our" must always take precedence to the personal "my" in such a relationship. It is not in vain that all members of the family bear one common surname, for they must live a common, cordial life. The head of the family is the husband. The well-being of the family is formed on him and on his toils. The family is his first duty. Of those who do not look after their own family, Apostle Paul says bluntly and quite clearly. "If anyone does not care for his own, and especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tm.5:8).

St. Ephrem the Syrian (4th Century) writes a wonderful poem in which among many other things he meditates on Luke 8:26-39, the Gerasene demoniac named Legion. Ephrem is encouraged by the fact that Christ grants Legions request to be allowed to go into the swine. First, Christ grants the prayer of a demon, so surely He will listen to the prayers of Christians. Second, the demon asked to go into the herd of swine, surely Jesus will much more joyfully grant the request of those seeking with their whole hearts entrance into heaven. Look too at Legion: when in anguish he begged, our Lord permitted and allowed him to enter into the herd; respite did he ask for, without deception, in his anguish, and our Lord in His kindness granted this request. His compassion for demons is a rebuke to that People, showing how much anguish His love suffers in desiring that men and women should live. Encouraged by the words I had heard, I knelt down and wept there, and spoke before our Lord: Legion received his request from You without any tears; permit me, with my tears, to make my request, grant me to enter, instead of that herd, the Garden, so that in Paradise I may sing of its Planters compassion.

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

For reservations contact Kathleen at 346-2414

Devotions and Readings for this week

Mon 10/24 Tues 10/25 Weds 10/26 Thurs 10/27 Fri 10/28 Sat 10/29 Great Martyr Arethas & companions The Martyrs Marcian ans Maryrios Great Martyr Demetrios The Martyr Nestot The Martyrs Terrance and his family Anastasia of Rome Phil 2:12-16 Phil 2:16-23 2 Tim 2:1-10 Phil 2:24-30 Phil 3:1-8 Phil 3:8-19 2 Cor 1:1-11 Lk 6:24-30 Lk 6:37-45 Jn 15:17-16:2 Lk 11: 9-13 Lk 7:17-30 Lk 7:31-35 Lk 8:16-21

Prayer Requests

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

October
26 Annual Spaghetti Dinner 30 Coffee Hour after Liturgy Youth Meeting 5PM8PM

Marie Abda Marie Abda Marie Barron Joseph Barron Mary Sue Betress Chris Carey Nikki Boudreaux 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
Candles Weekly Holyday Monthly

Sacrificial Giving 10/9/2011 $ 8.50 $ 546.00 $ 10.00 $ 134.00

The Weekly Quiz

Who wrote these words? "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth." David Solomon Isaiah Joshua
Last Weeks Answer Q. Where did the apostles preach to the Jews only and "the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed? A. Antioch

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