them away. Deliberately seeking martyrdom is not the path we should follow. And similarly we are not to arrange our lives so as to deliberately cause ourselves suffering. God will permit those things which are necessary for our salvation and we should accept this. Suffering accepted in the right way will lead us to humility. It will strip us of the false belief that we are in control or the idea that peace may come through comfort. It will deepen our prayer and demand from us the will- ingness to forgive others. It will help us to grow compassion in our hearts and take from us any judgement of others who are in need. For any of this to happen, THE ARCHANGEL we must believe that all things are in God’s hands and be thankful for every bless- ing that comes from the One Who is the “giver of all good things”. We all face demands and struggles and it is up to us to choose how we will St. Orthodox Church approach them. The Bible sets before us the story of the myrrh-bearing women, St. Clair, Pennsylvania that group that went on the first Sunday to anoint the body of Jesus. As they walked they discussed how they would move the stone from before the tomb. The of Mark tells us that it was very great. The stone is a symbol of all that stands between us and the resurrection of Christ’s tomb. Our stones may seem insurmountable, and we like the women may wonder who will ever move them away for us. The women that morning had no human hope of success; they weren’t capable of doing it themselves. But without knowing what would happen or how the obstacle in their lives would be overcome, they kept walking. They trusted God, their faith kept them travelling to Christ. This is the example we are to follow. When we face those things which threaten to overcome us, when there seems no possible way to move our stones, we must keep moving towards Christ. The Bible tells us that the stone was removed from before Christ’s tomb with a terrible earthquake. We must be prepared for great upheavals, not slight adjust- ments to ourselves. However impossible things may feel to us, Christ’s resurrec- tion is more powerful than any struggle we may face.

—Father Spyridon Baily, The Ancient Path

March 04, 2018 + Please Remember St. Michael Orthodox Church in your Will +

Rev. Fr. Jeff L. Zias: 570-429-0670

Joseph T. Yarashus: 570-691-4143 St. Gregory Palamas (Parish Council President) Epistle: Hebrews 1: 10-23 The Gospel of St. Mark 2: 1-12

Website: www.stmichaelorthodox.org

The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE 8 faith. We follow Christ who was Himself scourged and crucified and Who warned His followers that what was done to Him would surely be done to those who seek to follow Him. The easy life is in direct opposition to Christianity. This is not to suggest that God wants us to be unhappy. But the happiness, or rather joy of Christianity does not consist of anything the world can give us. Our joy comes from the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit lives in those who struggle to repent of their sins, who partici- pate in the sacramental life of God’s Church, who place their hope and trust in Christ. A big lottery win will only bring more material possessions; it will not grant the peace of God that we were created to know. When we look at the terrible poverty that so many endure we also see that when people are denied the basic necessities of life their opportunities are dimin- ished. And yet aid workers are often overcome with the dignity and faith of people they encounter through their work. Stripped of everything we recognize as vital to life the human heart has a capacity to still receive the blessing of God’s touch. It is we who are rich who build material fortresses around our hearts and shut out the possibility of union with Him. One aspect of the wisdom of growing old is that as we draw closer to an ex- pected age of death we begin to gain true perspective on our lives. We begin to see the pointlessness of so many of our pursuits and understand the true value of oth- ers. We may also be blessed to recognize the value of some of our suffering. The old adage that there are no atheists in a foxhole can be applied to much of our ex- periences. Who amongst us does not find it more necessary to pray when it seems we have no other way to make it through the day? And who cannot admit that at

times of plenty, when life is full of pleasures, we are less inclined to seek God. If St. Michael’s Friday Fish Dinners! our union with God is the true value of our existence, then those times that prompt Come and help; Come and enjoy! us, help us to turn to Him, must surely be of more value than our times of comfort.

It may well be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich ~ All Souls’ Liturgies: March 10, 17, May 26, June 2 (rescheduled) ~ man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven because the wealthy do not feel the truth of

Orthodox Easter (Pascha!)—April 8 their need for God. Our riches give us a false sense of contentment. When life is good we may even begin to feel at home in this world. But this is not our home and we do not belong here. This life is the crucible in which our hearts and souls are molded. It is the heat of purification, the pain of our struggles that helps to prepare Let not one think, my fellow Christian, that only us for our true home. Priests and need to pray without ceasing and not Our attitude must be one of “patient endurance”. So long as we react with re- laymen—No, no. Every Christian without exception sentment or anger our suffering has no value. But when we can use it as an oppor- ought to always dwell in prayer. tunity to deepen our trust in God it becomes salvific. First century were forced to instruct their people not to deliberately have them selves arrested and +St. Gregory Palamas tortured or put to death. The bishops had to do this because of the surprising num- ber of Christians who were joyfully provoking the Roman authorities into dragging

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Bailey, Father Spyridon. The Ancient Path (Kindle Locations 198-200). FeedARead. Kindle Edition.

It is true that we have a physical existence every much a part of who we are as is our spiritual existence: we are being redeemed both in body and soul. But we are more than animals and we are called to live as such. The world applies its pressure in so many ways. The folly of modern economies is that they require constant growth. Consumer goods are named this for a reason. An enormous system of advertising and media manipulation seeks to turn us into true consumers. And for us to want things we must be convinced of our need for March 04, SUNDAY (Plain Chant!) St. Gregory Palamas them. Someone who is satisfied with life and their self has no need for the prod- ucts that promise to bring fulfilment. So advertisers set out to make us feel dis- 10:00 a.m. The of St. Basil the Great satisfied with who and what we are and with as many aspects of our lives as they  Swearing-inin of Parish Council Officers & Trustees can achieve. It starts with our children and continues throughout our lives.  Panachida: +Mary Strenkowski, offered by the Mogish Family

And what is the ultimate goal of all this stuff they want us to buy? It is happi- March 07, Wednesday ness. The promise of a happy life free from discomfort is dangled before us and 6:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts (3 Hour Fast) from every angle voices scream at us to chase it. Psychologists talk about self- March 09, Friday Moleben to the Mother of God, 6:00 p.m.

realization and self-esteem. Politics champion materialistic values and realign our moral system as it calls us to select a side. Movies and television by-pass our ra- March 10, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-7) tional objections and draw us into making emotional responses to characters and 9:00 a.m. All Souls’ Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom stories that are feeding us this same world view. March 11, SUNDAY Cross Veneration

Christianity proclaims a different message. Life is full of struggles, and we 9:00 a.m. Orthodox Education Class are called to face up to them, not avoid them. There are struggles which are exter- 9:30 a.m. Hours of Prayer nal and those which are internal. The circumstances and demands of our lives can 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great cause stress and misery. Huge proportions of humanity live in levels of poverty few March 14, Wednesday of us in the West can even imagine. And yet in our relatively comfortable lives we 6:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts (3 Hour Fast) lose sleep over work and money, we fall into envy at the drop of a hat, millions of March 16, Friday Moleben to the Holy Cross, 6:00 p.m. us buy lottery tickets imagining a big win would bring us the peace we crave (while we assure ourselves that we’d achieve so much good if we got our hands on it). March 17, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-8)

It is the internal struggles that we are called to fight: struggles against tempta- 9:00 a.m. All Souls’ Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom tions, against our passions, against idolatry and unfaithfulness. But so long as we March 18, SUNDAY St.

are caught up with the distractions of our outward concerns which focus on our 9:00 a.m. Confessions own desires, then we cannot begin the true work of the soul. 9:30 a.m. Hours of Prayer Many American Protestants have accepted a heretical belief in the rapture. This 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is the idea that God will rescue His chosen ones so as to save them from the suffer- March 21, Wednesday ings that are to be unleashed on the world. This is no more than an extension of 6:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts (3 Hour Fast) the world’s philosophy into apparently Christian thinking. It is the longing to avoid March 23, Friday Moleben to the Mother of God, 6:00 p.m. suffering combined with the belief that God will protect Christians from it. A quick look through the lives of many, many will dispel us of this falsehood. God’s March 25, SUNDAY St. Mary of

saints have suffered through history more than most. Persecution of the Church 9:00 a.m. Orthodox Education Class has continued throughout all of history around the world, and there are countless 9:30 a.m. Hours of Prayer martyrs whose names are known only by God who have shed their blood for their 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

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Bailey, Father Spyridon. The Ancient Path (Kindle Locations 174-179). FeedARead. Kindle Edition.

Trials and Struggles If you come to serve the Lord prepare your soul for trial, set your heart straight and patiently endure. The path of God is a daily cross. No one has ascended into Heaven by means of -- Ecclesiastes 21-2 ease, for we know where the way of ease leads and how it ends. You who are victorious taste the suffering of Christ in your person that you also

- the Syrian may be deemed worthy of tasting His glory.

- Saint Isaac the Syrian In afflictions and sufferings, endurance and faith, are concealed the promised glo- ry and recovery of celestial blessing. Let us not, who would be Christians, expect anything else than to be crucified. For

- Saint Makarios of Egypt to be Christian is to be crucified, in this time and in any time; Christ’s life is the exam-

How terrible and numerous are the trials which lurk in the way of those who wish ple – and warning – to us all. We must be crucified personally, mystically; for to be saved. through crucifixion is the only path to resurrection. Suffering is the reality of the hu- man condition and the beginning of true spiritual life.

- Elder the Hesychast

- The Seraphim Rose That obedience is salvific which is hard and that which you like and is easy is of He who grumbles is sick in soul. little value. - Elder Dionysiatis - Elder Michael of Valaam Real knowledge is patiently to accept affliction and not to blame others for our From the minute of his new life, the repentant sinner commences his struggle, own misfortunes and struggles. labour, and begins to bear the burden, the yoke. This is so essential that all the Elder Joseph the Hesychast saints accept the only true path to virtue to be pain and hard work. On the contrary, Do not say, “This happened by chance.” In all that exists there is nothing disorder- lightness and ease are a sign of a false faith. Anyone who is not struggling, not in ly, nothing indefinite, nothing without purpose, nothing by chance. Nothing, no podvig, is in prelest. The Apostle says whoever does not endure is not a son. Even matter how small, escapes the gaze of God. temporary ease, pauses and self-pity have decreased and always decrease the pace - Saint Basil the Great of spiritual progress. The greater our trials in this life, the greater our rewards in the next.

- Saint Theophan the Recluse

- Tertullian Paradisiacal blessedness is not given to anyone who has not first suffered. The desire for ease and comfort is one of the most obvious ways in - Elder Ambrose of Optina which we have been infected by the world’s thinking. If there is no God and this Fragile is earthly happiness and blessed is the man who does not chase after it, world and this life are all we have, then it makes logical sense to seek a way of life but places all his hope in Christ the Saviour – he shall not be put to shame. If you live that maximizes pleasure. This was an ancient Greek philosophy created by Epicurus badly, no one will touch you. But if you begin to live well, then there will immediately who proclaimed that the true moral action is the one that maximizes pleasure. His be afflictions, temptations and insults. We bear afflictions and sufferings here be- pagan attitude was in fact, far more refined than the modern versions of hedonism cause we were not made for this life. we see at play today. Epicurus at least attempted to distinguish the higher forms of - Elder of Optina pleasure from the base ones. But with the rationalism of the last two hundred

Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son that he receiveth. years even this apparently civilizing aspect was removed when John Stuart Mills, the preacher of Utilitarianism, pronounced that “push pin is as good as poetry” (push- - Hebrews 126 pin was a mindless drinking game). If there are no sorrows in a podvig and if everyone glorifies and respects This is the world’s voice telling us that whatever makes us feel good must be you, the Lord does not recognize your podvig. But if your spiritual struggle is right. Epicurus recognized the way animals instinctively seek pleasure and avoid for God’s sake, then there will inevitably be sorrows. If the enemy is con- pain and pronounced that this must be the natural order of things. But in fact you quered he will act through people. and I were created in the image of God. You and I were created for a purpose far - Holy Martyr Eudocia greater than to lie stretched out in front of a fire sleeping the day away. (Cont. pg. 6)

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Bailey, Father Spyridon. The Ancient Path (Kindle Locations 119-144). Feed- ARead. Kindle Edition.

Bailey, Father Spyridon. The Ancient Path (Kindle Locations 96-119). Feed-

ARead. Kindle Edition.