Sunday, Feb. 06 – Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Feb. 07 – Parthenius, Bishop
No Services
Tuesday, Feb. 08 – Theodore, Great-Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayers
Wednesday, Feb. 09 – Nicephor, Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy +Flight 93 from Rick White
7:30 PM Fire-pit Social
Thursday, Feb. 10 – Charalampus, Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Friday, Feb. 11 – Blase, Bishop-Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Moleben to the Holy Spirit
Saturday, Feb. 12 – Meletius, Archbishop
5:00 PM Ventura County Divine Liturgy
6:30 PM Vespers
Sunday, Feb. 13 – Sunday of the Prodigal Son
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender, Ken Bosak, Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow, Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Mary-Jo Koman-Keogh, Patricia Kurczak, Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike, Shannon O’Neill, Denise Painter, Austin Pearce, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins, Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces
Collection: $1,518.00; Candles: $127.29; Online: $1,095.00; VC Outreach: $405.00; All Souls: $195.00; Sunday Socials: $158.00
Total: $3,498.29 / Attendance- PSM: 68
Pride and humility are contrasted in today’s gospel parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. Pride is a defect of character few of us find easy to admit about ourselves; it is more easily perceived in somebody else. What can we do to offset such an affliction? A look at the life of Christ Himself will help. Recall His humility all through His life from the circumstances of His very birth right through His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Father, not my will, but yours be done.”
The lives of Saints, especially the Mother of God, are great examples in humility. Consider as well how passing are the best things in this life: the famous die, the word of praise fades, the greatest accomplishments become pages in a history book. Remember your great dependence on God from whom you came with nothing – and back to whom you must return with nothing.
Realize how God views pride. What do the Scriptures tell us? In the Book of Proverbs, we read, “Pride goes before a fall” (16:18); “From pride, all perdition took its beginning” (Tobias 4:14); St. Luke records our Lord’s words, “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled” (18:14), and the Apostle Peter, in his first epistle, writes, “God resists the proud”(5:5). To look at this in a positive vein, consider the beauty and attractiveness of humility. The Book of Proverbs teaches, “Where humility is, there also is wisdom” (11:2).
Today’s insightful Gospel story is a valuable instruction in the place of humility and a challenge to us to practice it.
Bishop Olmsted invites the faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix to unite for a month of increased spiritual warfare and reception of the sacraments leading up to and during “SatanCon,” which is scheduled to be held in Scottsdale the weekend of February 11-13.
As St. Paul reminds the early Christians of Ephesus, “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:11-12). This is why our main weapons against Satan are prayer and fasting, rather than works against human beings.
“O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” The Publican prayed simply for mercy, and our Byzantine prayer services begin with these simple words. Do you want to receive and share this mercy by giving your life to prayer as a religious, monastic, priest, or deacon? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Saturday, February 5 –
