Jesus sending the 12 Apostles



Gospel Reading
Matthew 10: 16 - 25

The Lord Jesus says to His Disciples

"See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is

enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!”

Maronite Celebration of Pentecost and the Rite of Kneeling on Pentecost

Description of the Icon

This Icon of Pentecost is full of many colors. It shows us the Light of the Holy Spirit and the Ora(light) of the first reconciliation of the 11 Apostles and others who were there. The first Sacrament of "Reconciliation"

"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven;
if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:22-23

The Icon shows the Blessed Mother in the center. The 11 Apostles are the there with her

and surround her during this event. The leaders of the Catholic Church, at its infant stage

are depicted. The women in front of the Blessed Mother and the 11 apostles are shown as women who are kneeling and who are showing their faith in the Lord. These women are also symbols of the sacrifice for the faith that many would endure. The blue and orange circle at the top of the Icon represents God the Father and his divinity.  The dove, which is a well known symbol of the Holy Spirit is clearly visible over everyone and is also visable in each of the tonges of fire over each persons head.  This Icon is the the ultimate representation of the strength and fire of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Catholic Church.

The Rite of Kneeling dates back over 1,000 years.

RITE OF KNEELING ON PENTECOST

From the Qurbono, the Book of Offering According to the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church, Season of the Glorious Resurrection, Dated 1994, St. Maron Publications

This rite is composed of three stations/qawney of the canonical hours of the office with their proper psalms, hymns, hoosoyeh (prayer of forgiveness), and readings. The stations are addressed to the Three Divine Persons: the first to the Father; the second to the Son; the third to the Holy Spirit. Each station is concluded by kneeling in honor of each Divine Person: on the left knee (for the Father), on the right knee (for the Son), and on both knees (for the Holy Spirit).

ADORATION OF THE FATHER

The congregation stands with reverence and in prayer, imploring the coming of the grace of the Holy Spirit, while they repent for their sins.

Invitation to Kneel

The celebrant faces the congregation and cries in a loud voice:

“Let us kneel before the Lord on the left knee!”

Diaconal Proclamation
Deacon: Let us kneel and ask the Lord for His mercy. Bend your knee to the exalted Godhead and receive pardon of your faults from the Holy Spirit. In the likeness of tongues of fire, He was sent to the Upper Room so that you may receive, by His hovering, happiness of life, confidence, and victory.

Meanwhile, the celebrant prays silently, then stands up and cries aloud:

Celebrant: By the power of God, stand up!

Prayer
Celebrant: This is the day of salvation and consolation. The Father poured forth His gift of tongues, renewed by the Spirit. He divided them among the apostles, that they might call the nations back from error. Rejoicing with the disciples of the Son, we adore and praise Christ, so that we may receive the pardon of our faults and glorify Him, now and forever.

Congregation: Amen

ADORATION OF THE SON

The celebrant faces the congregation and cries in a loud voice:

“Let us kneel before the Lord on the right knee!”

Diaconal Proclamation
Deacon: Let us kneel and ask the Lord for His mercy. With the angels who worship Him in fear, we bend our knee and adore the Father of truth; for He is our maker and Lord. Before Him, all knees bend, and to Him, all tongues give praise. By Him, all nations live.

Come, let us worship the true Son, sent by the Father of Light. He knelt on our behalf, offered prayer for our sake, and raised us up from our fall from grace. He showed His mercy to us and forgave us. Let us worship the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, and bend our knee before Him. On this day, He was sent from the mysterious depths of the Father and came to us. By His hovering over us, He took away our sins and clothed us with glorious victory.

Meanwhile, the celebrant prays silently, then stands up and cries aloud:

Celebrant: By the power of God, stand up!

Prayer
Celebrant: This is the day when heaven and earth, angels and seraphim, exult with the apostles; for they received the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. On this day, the saving unction taken away from Adam our father, because of his disobedience, was restored to us. With it, the disciples were anointed, the nations were granted forgiveness, and all races were allotted salvation. We glorify and praise You, O Christ, Your Father, and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Congregation: Amen

Paraclete, Comforter (L. Consolator; Greek parakletos), an appellation of the Holy Ghost. The Greek word which, as a designation of the Holy Ghost at least, occurs only in St. John (14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7), has been variously translated "advocate", "intercessor", "teacher, "helper", "comforter". This last rendering, though at variance with the passive form of the Greek, is justified by the Hellenistic usage, a number of ancient versions, patristic and liturgical authority, and the evident needs of the Johannine context. According to St. John the mission of the Paraclete is to abide with the disciples after Jesus has withdrawn His visible presence from them; to inwardly bring home to them the teaching externally given by Christ and thus to stand as a witness to the doctrine and work of the Savior. There is no reason for limiting to the Apostles themselves the comforting influence of the Paraclete as promised in the Gospel (Matthew 10:19; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11, 21:14) and described in Acts 2.

 ADORATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 The celebrant faces the congregation and cries in a loud voice:

“Let us kneel before the Lord on both knees!”

Diaconal Proclamation
Deacon: Let us kneel and ask the Lord for His mercy. Bow your heads, O mortals, and worship God, the Holy Spirit. He speaks through the prophets; to visionaries. He whispers the secrets of hidden things; and to seers, He reveals the future. Then in the likeness of tongues of fire, He descended upon the blessed disciples. To Him are due glory and thanksgiving, now and forever.

Meanwhile, the celebrant prays silently, then stands up and cries aloud:

Celebrant: By the power of God, stand up from the earth!

Prayer
Celebrant: Lift up Your heads and sign yourselves with the cross of light. Place in your souls the assistance and salvation that comes from the Holy Spirit, whom we worship in true faith with the Father and the Son, now and forever.

Congregation: Amen.


Reading for the Sunday of Pentecost:

Acts 2

New International Version (NIV)

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^{[b] 10} Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
¹⁹ I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’^[c]  



Celebrating the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple



Presentaion of Our Lord in the Temple



Luke 2:22-35

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2:22-35.

The Evangelist Writes:

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

This is the Truth, Peace be with you!

 

Some Comentary on the Reading and the Feast Day

 

Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. Forty days after Jesus Christ’s birth, Mary and Joseph, brought Christ to the Temple to make the customary offering for purification; a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (according to the Law of Moses (Leviticus. 12:2-8), a woman who gave birth to a child was forbidden to enter the Temple of God for forty days).

The prophetess Anna and the aged Simeon met Mary Joseph and the Child Jesus. Simeon sensed the fulfillment of Isaiah’s puzzling prophecies of a virginal birth (Isaiah 7:14), and received God Incarnate just as he was promised he would before his death. Then Simeon praised God singing a hymn now called the Nunc Dimittis: “Now let Your servant depart in peace, O Master” (Luke 2: 29-32). Also, in the Temple was Anna the Prophetess. She had been a widow for many years. Anna was about eighty-four years old and spent her time in the Temple worshiping, fasting, and praying. When she saw the Christ Child she praised God and spoke of him to all who were awaiting the Messiah. After Jesus was presented in the Temple, the family returned to Galilee to the town of Nazareth. The Bible tells us that Jesus grew and became strong, and was filled with wisdom. (Luke 2:22-40)

Sunday of the Priest - “You are The Priest for eternity in the image of Melchizedek.”

Icon of St. Melchizedek

Hebrews 7 1This Melchizedek is The King of Shalim, Priest of The Most High God, and he met Abraham when he returned from the massacre of Kings and blessed him. 2And Abraham distributed to him a tenth of everything that he had with him; but his name is interpreted, “King of Righteousness” and again “King of Shalim”, which is, “King of Peace”, 3Without his father and his mother being written in the genealogies, neither having beginning of his days nor end of his life, but in the likeness of The Son of God, his Priesthood remains for eternity. 4But how much greater is This One than the man Abraham, Chief of The fathers, to whom he gave the tithe of the best? 5For those of the sons of Levi who received Priesthood had a commandment of The Written Law to take a tenth part from those people of their brethren, as also they had come forth from the loins of Abraham. 6But This Man who is not written in their genealogies received the tithe from Abraham and blessed him who had received The Promise. 7But without dispute, he who is lesser is blessed by him who is greater than he. 8And here the children of men who die receive tithes, but there, he about whom the Scriptures testify that he lives. 9And as a man, let us say about him that by Abraham, Levi, who receives tithes, was caused to tithe. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father when he met Melchizedek. 11If perfection therefore is by Priesthood of Levi, ( for by it The Written Law was established to the people ), why was another Priest needed to arise in the image of Melchizedek? But does it say that he would be in the image of Aaron? 12But just as there was a change in The Priesthood, in this way there was also a change in The Law. 13For he about whom these things were said was born from another tribe, from which a man never ministered at the altar. 14For it is revealed that our Lord arose from Judah, about which tribe Moses never said anything concerning Priesthood. 15And moreover, again, it is apparent by this that he said that another Priest arises in the image of Melchizedek, 16He who was not by the law of carnal commandments, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17For he testified about him, “You are The Priest for eternity in the image of Melchizedek.” 18But there was a change in the first testament because of its impotence, and there was no benefit in it. 19For The Written Law perfects nothing, but hope, which is greater than it, entered in its place, by which we approach God. 20And he confirmed it to us by an oath. 21For they were Priests without an oath, but this one, with an oath, as he said to him by David: “THE LORD JEHOVAH has sworn and will not lie, that you are The Priest for eternity in the image of Melchizedek.” 22This Covenant, of which Yeshua is The Guarantor, is entirely better. 23And there were many Priests because they were dying and were not permitted to continue. 24But This One's Priesthood, because he is Eternal, does not pass away. 25And he can give life for eternity to those who come near to God by him, for he lives always and offers prayers for our sakes. 26For because this Priest also was right for us: pure, without malice and without defilement, who is separate from sin and exalted higher than Heaven, 27And he has no compulsion every day as The Chief Priests to offer sacrifice, first for his sins and then for the people, for This One did it one time by his Life which he offered. 28For The Law establishes weak men as Priests, but the word of the oath which was after The Law, The Son, who is perfect for eternity. Gospel of Luke 12 42:48   41Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” 42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? 43“Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 44“Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45“But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

WEEK OF THE REVELATION OF CHRIST’S MYSTERY TO NICODEMUS

THIRD  SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
 
 
 
 
John 3:1-16
 
WEEK OF THE REVELATION OF CHRIST’S MYSTERY
TO NICODEMUS

The Apostle said: Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. This is the truth. Peace be with you