Sunday, September 26, 2010

Translucent Transitions

Translucent Transitions

During this season of the Holy Cross, the loss of a loved one can emphasize the understanding of the divine and unique purpose of each of us. Fr John Brian used a few verses from the Sunday readings and some quotes from St Ephrem the Syrian (circa 4th Century) to aid and comfort those in mourning:

Here is one of the quotes from Sunday's sermon:
"For just as in the case of the limbs of the body, their individual needs are fulfilled by one another, so too the inhabitants of the world fill in the common need from the common excess. We should rejoice in this need on the part of us all, for out of it is born harmony for us all; for in that people need one another, those in high position stoop to the lowly and are not ashamed, and he insignificant reach out to the powerful and are not afraid. Even in the case of animals, seeing that we have a need for them, we take care of them.
Clearly our need for everything binds us with a love for everything."(from Letter to Hypatius as found in The Luminous Eye - The Spiritual World Vision of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, 1985 by Sebastian Brock, page 167)

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, September 262010 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox
Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Father John, you're the best! Thank you for making so much available to us online.