Newsletter April 4, 2024

Video – His Wisdom: An Interview with Metropolitan Saba (Isper) – Part 1

Upon the first anniversary of his arrival in North America (April 7, 2023), His Eminence Metropolitan Saba shares the successes he has seen across the Archdiocese and his vision for building upon them.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2006
watch the video: https://youtu.be/fJZRppYsSwA

All services at 5:00 PM

These are also listed on the parish calendar: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2024 web.pdf

Full schedule: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2024.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 4:14-16; 5:1-6

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, ‘Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee’; as he says also in another place, ‘Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel: MARK 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.

Revelation: Removing the Veil (Part 2)

Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol

But the Lord will put an end to everything, not in order to punish us, but to give man a new birth, to bring man into the eternal Kingdom, to return everything to its own paths, as it was in the beginning, to recreate man according to the image of God; so that all who love the Lord may live with Him; so there would be a new Heaven and a new Earth, where God reigns, where there is neither pain, sorrows, nor human pettiness, but only Christ everywhere and in everything. The Lord has left us this blessed hope-bearing message. He told us not to fear anything. You’ll hear about wars, about dangers—one, then another, then a third. Don’t give in to your thoughts and don’t be afraid. This is how it should be and will be. But it will pass. And don’t be afraid. Don’t look at what’s going on now, but at Him Who is coming; at Christ, Who is the King of everything and everyone who has received and loved Him.

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The book of Revelation teaches us a lot, especially when we begin to carefully delve into its words, when we see how Christ holds the world in His hands and acts with wisdom in all things. We’re not forgotten or abandoned to fate. But at the same time, the devil has his rights and his freedom, he has room to act based on what he possesses. The freedom of every man is preserved by the wisdom of the providence and love of God. Not a single person will be left without the righteous judgment of God.

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There’s always been a special interest in Revelation. But we don’t need to look closely at it for what will happen in the future—when the world will end, when the Second Coming will happen, whether the Antichrist has already been born or not. Revelation doesn’t talk about that. Revelation shows how you should prepare to face and make it through these events; what you should be like before these events; how you should seek Christ; how to remain faithful to Christ; how to avoid being deceived, seeing what’s going on; how to keep your mind and eyes fixed on Christ, no matter what’s happening around you. This is what you have to look for. The rest will happen, and we won’t be able to stop it.

Read the entire article: https://orthochristian.com/158760.html