“O Christ God, when we were buried with Thee in Baptism, we became deserving of Thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise Thee, crying: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.”
Dear to Christ you who are baptized into Christ,
The hymn above says that in baptism we were buried with Christ, because we died with Him now, we can enjoy His Resurrection. Today as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we are invited in the midst of this lockdown for the second year by the first antiphone from Sunday to sing:
“I am filled with joy, for the Lord will hear the voice of my supplication. The anguish of death encompassed me; the perils of hell beset me. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. I found tribulation and anguish, and I called upon the Name of the Lord. I will walk acceptably before the Lord in the land of the living.”
The 3rd Antiphone says: “O, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Israel now say that He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Let all that fear the Lord now say that He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”
Even in the midst of this lockdown and pandemic we are invited to give thanks to the Lord for His mercy endures for ever. Fr. LeMaster writes: “We know that in one week we will celebrate His glorious resurrection from the dead, His destruction of Hades and victory over the tomb. We are not there yet, however, and we live in a world that still longs for its redemption. We remain all too subject to the fear of death, whether caused by the current pandemic or something else. Our minds are filled with concern about the health of our loved ones, the economic impact of the crisis, and the disorienting challenges presented by social isolation. So much that we took for granted is now in question and well beyond our control. We understandably wonder what the “new normal” will look like. Instead of allowing the challenges of the pandemic to keep our minds distracted by a variety of future possibilities, we should use them as reminders that we need peace beyond what we can give ourselves, regardless of what the future holds.”
Let us all cry today: “Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us. Save us, O Son of God”
This Palm Sunday all families are invited to come after the Liturgy to light a candle, say a prayer, take a palm home, take communion if prepared, and take a picture. Please, follow the rules of safety and guidelines by the Province.
The Holy Unction next Wednesday will be postponed to after the lockdown is lifted.
Please, remember to give to our Patriarchate of Antioch as per Metropolitan Joseph letter.
Please, don’t forget to give back to God His portion from your treasure.
As we celebrate Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, please join us on Friday night at 7 PM for the Canon of St. Lazarus. Father will be available after every Liturgy for those who would like to come in and pray. Saturday and Sunday services will be online.
Please, read the two Apolitikion for this Saturday and Sunday with your children:
Lazarus Saturday: “In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.”
Palm Sunday: “O Christ God, when we were buried with Thee in Baptism, we became deserving of Thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise Thee, crying: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.”
In the crucified Christ,
~Pastor’s Message of April 25, 2021~