February 20, 2022 - Divine Liturgy

so [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] m [Music] [Music] for our country the president and all in public service let us pray to the lord [Music] for this city and perish for every city and land and for the faithful who live in them let us pray to the lord [Music] for temperate weather abundance of the goods of the earth and for peaceful times let us pray to the lord [Music] for those who travel by land to sea and air for those who are sick or suffering or in captivity and for their safe keeping let us pray to the lord [Music] that we may be spared all affliction wrath danger and want let us pray to the lord [Music] help us save us have mercy on us and keep us o god in your grace remembering our most holy pure blessed and glorious lady the theotokos and ever virgin mary with all the saints let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to christ our god [Music] for all glory honor and worship are your due father son and holy spirit now and always and to the ages of ages [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Music] r [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] okay [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] [Music] again in peace let us pray to the lord [Music] help us save us have mercy on us and keep us o god in your grace remembering our most holy pure blessed and glorious lady the theotokos and ever virgin mary with all the saints let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to christ our god for you are a good and loving god and to you we give the glory father son and holy spirit now and always and to the ages of ages [Music] please rise now and join with us as we sing our entrance him this morning found on the first page of your hymnals in the second tone ortega is [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] see [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] oh [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] ah [Music] let's hear [Music] is [Music] let us be attentive the lord is my strength and my song and he became my salvation the lord chastising chasten and corrected me but he did not give me up to death wisdom the reading is from paul's first letter to the corinthians let us be attentive brethren all things are lawful for me but not all things are helpful all things are lawful for me but i will not be enslaved by anything food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food and god will destroy both me and the other the body is not meant for immortality but for the lord and the lord for the body and god raised the lord and will also raise us up by his power do you not know that your bodies are members of christ shall i therefore take the members of christ and make them members of a prostitute never do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her for as it is before as it is written the two shall become one flesh but he who is united to the lord becomes one spirit with him shunned immortality every other sin which a man commits is outside the body but the immortal man sins against his own body do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit within you which you which you have from god you are not your own you were bought with a price so glorify god in your body and in your spirit which belong to god peace [Music] wisdom let us stand and hear the holy gospel peace be with all [Music] the reading is from the holy gospel according to saint luke let us be attentive [Music] the lord said this parable there was a man who had two sons and the younger of them said to his father father give me the share of property that falls to me and he divided his living between them not many days later the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country and there he squandered his property in loose living and when he had spent everything a great famine arose in that country and he began to be in want so he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed swine and he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate and no one gave him anything but when he came to himself he said how many of my fathers hired her hired servants have bread enough and to spare and i perish here with hunger i will arise and go to my father and i will say to him father i have sinned against heaven and before you i am no longer worthy to be called your son treat me as one of your hired servants and he arose and came to his father but while he was yet at a distance his father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him and the son said to him father i have sinned against heaven and before you i am no longer worthy to be called your son but the father said to his servants bring quickly the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and the shoes on his feet and bring the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and make merry for this my son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found and the beg and they began to make mary now his elder son was in the field and as he came and drew near to the house he heard music and dancing and he called one of the servants and asked what this meant and he said to him your brother has come and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has received him safe and sound but he was angry and refused to go in his father came out and entreated him but he answered his father lo these many years i have served you and i never disobeyed your command yet you never gave me a kid that i might make merry with my friends but when this son of yours came who has devoured your living with harlots you killed for him the fatted calf and he said to him son you are always with me and all that is mine is yours it was fitting to make mary and to be glad for this your brother was dead and is alive he was lost and is far [Music] please be seated you can stay in but don't talk okay okay open the door for me thank you we're getting closer and closer my friends to great length uh the the 40-day preparation period before a holy week starts and and of course pasca and as we get closer and closer to great lent we hear gospel lessons on the sunday gospels that have to do with the major themes of great lent especially like we heard last week humility and this week the theme of repentance being relayed to us in a parable that jesus told his disciples and so this parable of the prodigal son as we know it is famous we've heard it many times in our life and it is something that has a special pertinence to us all as christians of course but especially now as we get closer and closer to lent so generally speaking the idea is this son thought he'd go off and do his own thing left his father the son of course represents us and the father represents god the father but ultimately the son found that when he left his father things got worse and worse and he finally came to his senses and he came back to his father's home and that's the whole idea of repentance coming back to god the father we might go off and do some silly things or some bad things in life but ultimately the important thing is that we remember to come back to god so that's generally what the what the parable is all about but i want to kind of dive a little bit deeper into the parable and examine a couple of things that happened in it first of all first of all why in the world would the younger son want to leave his father's house obviously from the story in the details we gather the father was a wealthy man he had lots of livestock fields a beautiful house servants why would a young son want to leave that good of a situation well there's the bible doesn't tell us st luke doesn't tell us but we can imagine maybe the sun felt stifled by some of the rules then regulations that the the farm had the father had for his farm maybe he disagreed with his father on something maybe he didn't get along with his brother but for whatever reason the son decided to do something very very bold and a little bit insulting when he went to his father and said you know when you die for example i know i'm going to get half of everything you have why don't you give it up to me up front an insulting thing to say to a father and the father you know instead of chewing him out and saying now you sit there and you do your job he said no no no here take it and go that was one amazing feature of this that no matter how ridiculous the sun's demand was god the father doesn't say anything no matter how many silly and ridiculous things that we do in our life god doesn't say anything he just lets you go that's called the gift of free will god gave us the gift of free will to go and do whatever we want a parishioner called me this last week and he said he said i've got something for your sermon i said no kidding wow let me hear this i want to hear what you got for my sermon he goes do you have your your your laptop and yeah i have it right here go to google and look up director national director of um nuclear waste disposal look that up so i type it in nuclear waste disposal and this article comes up of a of a man who is up to the senate for confirmation to become director of nuclear waste disposal across the whole country okay and had this picture maybe you've seen this picture skinny guy kind of a balding head with a mustache with bright red lipstick and wearing a bright red long evening gown a man and i looked at that and i said wow wow that is something i wonder if he's going to wear that to the senate chambers when they go to confirm him whether he was transgender or whatever transvestite i don't know what he was i didn't read the article because it was so shocking but that shows how far off we can go when we think we're trying to prove a point and obviously he was trying to prove some kind of point i don't know what the point was but he was trying to prove some kind of point but in order to prove a point some of us are willing to go so off the path of what we would call normal behavior either to attract attention to themselves or whatever that they'll do anything the good news is though even though people are willing to do that all of us have the opportunity to come to our senses and to turn back to god who wants for us only good things oh god's going to punish me god's going to punish me no he's not the only way god punishes you is if you walk away from him and leave from his protection god doesn't punish anybody with lightning bolts or anything like that he loves us and he waits for us to come back to him because he gave us the free will to do whatever we want so that's the first thing and the next thing i want to emphasize on on this parable you know the parable is known and has been known for generations as the the parable of the prodigal son right the prodigal son of the prodigal means wayward prodigal son but you know what a better title for this parable might be i think perhaps the title should be the parable of the loving father look at what disgrace this father was subjected to look at the insult that his younger son gave to him and look at the waste of his money that he that was allowed to happen and yet and yet when his son was returning he saw him at a distance under he ran out to meet him he didn't wait for the sun to come down he ran out to meet him and when the sun started explaining you know i have sinned before heaven and against you and this and that and he was starting to give his apologies father wouldn't even let him finish he told the servants bring a robe bring a ring and put it on his hand put slippers of shoes on his feet and get the fatted calf and let's have a party wouldn't even let him finish his apology the father was so happy to receive him back so maybe it might be a better title to call this the par the parable of the loving father because that's how much god loves us and he always loves us always will love us no matter what we may do against him i'm just amazed in our society today to see how strange strange strange strange things have become i would have never expected this before coronavirus let's say that once the coronavirus hits now all the bets are off and everybody does whatever kind of weirdness they want they try to create stuff like one i love this one they tried to create a city inside seattle you remember that what a crazy thing didn't last but they were going to go and start their own city in the middle of seattle our society today is so far off track it's so so so strange anymore that you don't know what to expect but but the good news at least for me is to know that no matter what happens in our society it's never too late to return to god never too late and the way society returns to god is if each one of us makes it our business to recognize how good god is and to run to him and stay as close to him as possible amen okay please rise now and join with us as we continue in the divine liturgy on page 12 in your liturgy books again be we bow before you and pray to you o good and loving god hear our supplication cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement the flesh and spirit and grant that we may stand before your holy altar without blame or condemnation grant also god progress in life faith and spiritual discernment to the faithful who pray with us so that they may always worship you with reverence and love partake of your holy mysteries without blame or condemnation and become worthy of your heavenly kingdom [Music] [Music] it's ready to go [Music] [Music] be [Music] yay [Music] is [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] yes [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] may the lord our god remember you all in his kingdom now and always and to the ages of ages yes [Music] see [Music] it [Music] [Music] we continue now on page 15 in your liturgy books [Music] [Music] that this whole day may be perfect holy peaceful and without sin let us ask the lord [Music] for an angel of peace a faithful guide a guardian of our souls and bodies let us ask the lord [Music] for forgiveness of our sins and offenses let us ask the lord for all that is good and profitable to our souls and peace in the world let us ask the lord [Music] that we may live out our lives in peace and repentance let us ask the lord for a christian and to our lives peaceful free of shame and suffering and for a good defense before the dread judgment seat of christ let us [Music] remembering our most holy pure blessed and glorious lady the theotokos and ever virgin mary with all the saints let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to christ our god [Music] gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the failings of the people make us worthy to find favor with you so that our sacrifice may be pleasing to you and that the good spirit of your grace may come upon us upon these gifts here presented and upon all your people through the mercies of your only begotten son with whom you are blessed together with your all holy good and life-giving spirit now and always and to the ages of ages [Music] with [Music] all us love one another that we may with one mind confessed [Music] oh [Music] the doors the doors in wisdom let us [Music] please refer now to the pamphlets found in your pews and join in reading the creed i believe in one god father almighty creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible and in one lord jesus christ the only begotten son of god begotten of the father before all ages light of light true god of true god begotten not created of one essence with the father through whom all things were made who for us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven and was incarnate of the holy spirit and the virgin mary and became man he was crucified for us under pontius pilate and suffered and was buried and he rose on the third day according to the scriptures he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father and he will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead his kingdom shall have no end and in the holy spirit the lord the creator of life who proceeds from the father who together with the father and the son is worshiped and glorified who spoke through the prophets in one holy catholic and apostolic church i confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins i look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come amen [Music] foreign [Music] this is [Music] the grace of our lord jesus christ the love of god the father and the communion of the holy spirit be with all [Music] let us lift up our hearts let us give thanks to the lord [Music] it is fitting and right to sing of you to bless you to praise you to give thanks to you and to worship you in all places under your dominion for you are god beyond describing beyond comprehending neither to be seen nor conceived forever existing forever the same you and your only begotten son and your holy spirit you brought us into being out of nothingness and when we had fallen raised us up again leaving nothing undone until you could lead us to heaven and grant us your future kingdom for all these things we thank you and your only begotten son and your holy spirit for all these blessings both known and unknown manifested or hidden that have been bestowed on us we thank you also for this liturgy which you have deemed worthy to accept from our hands even though you are surrounded by thousands of archangels and tens of thousands of angels by the cherubim and the seraphim six-winged many eyed soaring on their wings [Music] oh oh [Music] oh [Music] [Music] knows [Music] oh [Music] take it this is my body which is broken for you for the remission of sins [Music] drink of this all of you this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins [Music] please kneel [Music] once again we offer you this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood and we ask pray and entreat you send down your holy spirit upon us and upon these gifts here offered and make this bread the precious body of your christ amen and that which is in this cup the precious blood of your christ changing them by your holy spirit i mean i mean i mean [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] the [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] know [Music] [Applause] [Music] among the first lord remember archbishop yerasimos grant that he may serve your holy churches in peace keep him safe honorable and in health for many years rightly teaching the word of your truth also remember lord those whom each of us has in mind and all your people [Music] lord those who toil and do good works in your holy churches and who are mindful of the poor and upon us all sent down your mercy and granted with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise your most exalted and majestic name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit now and always and to the ages of ages [Music] and may the mercies of our great god and savior jesus christ be with allah [Music] [Music] [Music] that our loving god having accepted them at his holy and mystical altar in heaven as an offering of spiritual fragrance will in turn send down upon us divine grace and the gift of the holy spirit let us pray [Music] having prayed for the unity of the faith and the communion of the holy spirit let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to christ our god [Music] [Music] [Music] our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for yours is the kingdom the power and the glory father son and holy spirit now and always and to the ages of ages [Music] [Music] let us bow our heads to the lord we give thanks you invisible king in your infinite power you fashioned all things and in the abundance of your mercy you brought all things from nothing into being look down o master from heaven on those who have bowed their heads to you for they have bowed not before flesh and blood but before you the awesome god will you then master order what lies ahead according to each one's need sail with those at sea accompany the wayfarers heal the sick as physicians of our souls and bodies by the grace mercy and love for us of your only begotten son with whom you are blessed together with your all holy good and life-giving spirit now and always and to the ages of ages [Music] [Music] is [Music] is [Music] [Music] oh [Music] okay [Music] known [Music] is this [Music] turn now to page 29 in your liturgy books and join in reading the communion prayers i believe o lord and i confess that you are truly the christ the son of the living god who did come into the world to save sinners of whom i am the first i also believe that this is your sacred body and this your precious blood therefore i pray to you have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions voluntary and involuntary in word and deed both known and unknown and make me worthy to partake of your sacred mysteries for the remission of sins and life eternal amen behold i approach for holy communion o creator burn me not as i partake for you are fire which burns the unworthy wherefore do you cleanse me from every stain those of you have prepared to receive holy communion i ask that you come down the center aisle to receive [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] [Music] [Music] the fear of god with faith and with love drawing [Music] let's go back up you you is [Music] yes [Music] is [Music] [Music] there [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] is [Music] go [Music] oh [Music] the [Music] is [Music] [Music] ah [Music] [Music] lord save your people and bless your inheritance [Music] oh [Music] r [Music] [Music] oh let us be attentive having received the divine holy pure immortal life giving an awesome mysteries of christ let us give fitting thanks to the lord help us save us have mercy on us and keep us o god in your grace having asked that this whole day may be perfect holy peaceful and free of sin let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to christ our god [Music] [Applause] we thank you loving master benefactor of our souls that this day you have once again made us worthy of your heavenly and immortal mysteries make straight our path keep us firmly in awe of you guard our lives keep us steady on our way through the prayers of the glorious theotokos and ever virgin mary and of all your saints for you are our sanctification and to you we give the glory father son and holy spirit now and always and to the ages of ages let us depart in peace let us pray to the lord [Music] lord bless those who praise you and sanctify those who trust in you save your people and bless your inheritance protect the whole body of your church sanctify those who love the beauty of your house glorify them in return by your divine power and do not forsake us who put our hope in you grant peace to your world to your churches to the clergy to those in public service to the armed forces and to all your people for every good and perfect gift is from above coming from you the father of lights and to you we give glory thanksgiving and worship father son and holy spirit now and always and to the ages of ages [Music] [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] yes [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] may god bless you and keep you please be seated okay i mean we want to welcome this morning paul thomas from amador county visiting his brother paul welcome to you and have and we're glad to have you with us today also today the memorial flame burned in memory of geno paul smirns four years since his passing and was offered by his parents anthony and stacy smirns and we pray that god rests him today our children in the dance groups are going to be uh going to the grand banquet and everything at fdf and uh seeing if they win a ribbon or something we'll see we'll see but they were dancing yesterday i think in the day before and i was able to click on the link that they sent me and they look just beautiful up there dancing on the stage so we hope but to hear some good news and we look forward to them coming back today is the last day of fdf and they'll be traveling home soon so we wish them a good journey on their way home and that and that we have a parish council meeting today um i think we'll get a cup of coffee and then come back into the office to have our parish council meeting and i believe there's a filippo's meeting next week i think they've scheduled so there's that too great may god bless you and keep you please join us for some refreshments at the coffee hour i believe it's um oh thank you jesus thank you cevasi as i said in the sermon earlier great lent is starting on march 7th will be cathara deft our pure monday and that's when the day that lent begins is march 7th pure monday and working up to that we have the gospels that we've heard of the last couple of weeks in church but also working up to that we have a series of memorial saturdays or sijosabata and the first one is this saturday this saturday see the first sijo sabato it'll begin at 10 o'clock with divine liturgy and we'll have a memorial service to remember all of those people that you would like to have remembered in the memorial service members of your family or or close friends and all i ask is that you take a piece of paper and write a cross at the top which means that these people have passed from this life and then write the first names of those family members that you'd like me to remember during the memorial service okay we'll do that we're going to have one this sunday this saturday this coming saturday 10 o'clock the following saturday i'm going to be out of town so we won't have one but then we'll have the third one after lent begins okay god bless you thank you for the reminder and please come down the side aisles to receive your andidoro foreign

Channel: Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church - Elk Grove

Views: 88

Keywords: Greek Orthodox, Orthodox Christian, Divine Liturgy

Id: OaskQhlpK04

Length: 78min 0sec (4680 seconds)

Published: Sun Feb 20 2022