Re: Digest for orthodox-ireland@googlegroups.com - 1 Message in 1 Topic

[Sharon Ware]

This was a wonderful gospel reading and yes, I do believe and have faith in Jesus the Christ. Thank you.

On Aug 11, 2013 3:32 PM, <orthodox...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/orthodox-ireland/topics

• Our Lady Pantanassa Parish Newsletter - Service Date and Time for August [1 Update]

 Our Lady Pantanassa Parish Newsletter - Service Date and Time for August

Shannon Ware <bear...@gmail.com> Aug 11 03:08AM -0700  

Orthodox Ireland provides news and information for Orthodox Christians
living in Ireland, Orthodox Christians of Irish descent, and anyone with an
interest in Orthodox Christianity in Ireland. This mailing list is open to
anyone acting in good faith, and is sponsored by Our Lady Pantanassa
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in Cork.
 

*Contents*

- Selected Saints Commemorated Sunday
- Sunday Scripture Readings
- Reflection from Fr John
- Our Lady Pantanassa Parish Service Time

*Selected Saints Commemorated Sunday* The Holy Seven Sleeping Youths of
Ephesus; Recovery of the relics of Martyr Eudokia of Persia *
*
 
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*Sunday Scripture Readings*
 
*The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (15:1-7)*
 
Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak,
and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his
good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is
written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me.” For
whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that
by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have
hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in
such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, so that
together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
 
*The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (9:27-35)*
 
At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him,
crying aloud: “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When He entered the house,
the blind men came to Him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I
am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their
eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes
were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.”
But they went away and spread His fame through all that district. As they
were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to Him. And when the
demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled,
saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees
said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” And Jesus went about
all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.
 
*Source*: http://www.antiochianladiocese.org/service_texts_weekends.html
 
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*Reflection from Fr John*
 
In today’s Gospel we are challenged by Christ’s words; “Do you believe that
I am able to do this?”
 
The people described in this Gospel are blind; dumb; and
judgemental.
The demonic reveals to us that although we are not under the yoke of a
demon yet we are constantly under demonic
attack.
If
we place ourselves in the place of the two blind men, we can glean some
insight into ourselves. We in effect are spiritually blind. When we realise
this we are for the first time seeing
spiritually.
 
Likewise when we open our hearts to Christ in the Mystery/Sacrament of
Confession and receive absolution we invariably get attacked. This is to
distance us from our
Saviour.
We begin to doubt the grandeur of the Sacrament. Disbelieving the fact of
our Spiritual cleaning in Christ; and by extension we doubt the validity of
Christ’s sacrifice for us. Even though we actually don’t mean this it is
the action of doubting suggested to us that opens the abyss before us! This
highlights the subtlety and sheer cunning of the demons attack. Their
attacks are always covert and very nasty. However we have our invincible
protector Christ Jesus Our Living Lord with us; who teaches us through our
individual experiences learning of His Love for us and thereby developing
in FAITH thus crushing the attacks of the
enemy.
 
 
The Pharisee in us judges from a human perspective neglecting that
righteousness is achieved through faith and not through rules. By this I am
not suggesting that our rules of fasting and the commandments should be
rubbished but may only be approached through faith in Christ, where faith
is always the key.
 
Therefore it may be said that our adhering to the need to fast is strongly
linked to our faith development.
 
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
............................................. “Yes Lord”.
 
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*Our Lady Pantanassa Parish Service Time*
 
We are celebrating our next Holy Divine Liturgy on Saturday the 31 of
August at 11.00 am and confessions are at 10.30 am. The location is at Fr
Matthew Quay in the Church of the Holy Trinity.
 
http://www.antiochian-orthodox.co.uk/Parishes/dublin.htm
 
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