Dearly Beloved,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
April 21, 2nd Sunday after New Sunday
Epistle Readings: Acts 4:8-21, Hebrews 3:1-13
Holy Evangelion: St Mark 2:13-22
13 He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of[a] the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat[b] with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins.”[c]
REFLECTIONS:
Jesus was a leader different from other leaders. He spoke with authority and was inclusive in approach. He was not prejudiced, judgmental, suspicious, puritan, or self esteemed. He mingled with everyone. Religious stigmas and taboos were not in his concern. He was ready to identify with everyone, easy to adapt to situations and was never demanding. His presence was so light to everyone except for the authorities. The way he treated everyone, popularised him, though his teachings were more of personal. He was more concerned about the inclinations of an individual. The reason for flood in the time of Noah was this (Genesis 6:5). If every individual lives a life as the Lord wishes, the whole world would be a heaven. All actions are processed in human minds. Sin becomes deadly in that respect.
Jesus called the disciples to be life changers. It was not through controlling the world but through managing the self. He had to prepare them for such a life. He knew, when they get miraculous powers, if they are not spiritually mature, they would establish an earthly kingdom that would literally colonise the whole world. In history, this has happened.
We are a new generation called by the Lord to live a life of witnessing the unconditional love of Christ. With the resources we have, we can transform the world for its best. It is through a quality life which is truly caring for the needy and never allow any injustice to happen. He can empower the weak as he did to his disciples. When we are absolutely dedicated to Him, the Spirit of the Lord would be there to work miracles in everything we do. To such a miraculous life, he has called us. With Him we go.
FEASTS AND REMEMBRANCES:
- April 16, Marthoma VIII, 202nd anniversary, entombed at St Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu.
- April 17, HG Gevarghese Mar Philoxenos Metropolitan, Pthencavil Kochuthirumeni, Catholicate Ratnadeepam, 73rd anniversary, entombed at St Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu.
FUTURE IMPORTANT DATES / EVENTS: Please note in your calendar.
- May 04, 05, Saturday and Sunday, Commemoration of St George (Gevarghese Sahada).
- May 8, Wednesday- Feast of Ascension
- May 12, Mother’s Day
- May 19, Sunday- Feast of Pentecost
FOR OUR ATTENTION & TO NOTE:
Hand Waving Machine & Common Absolution Prayer for all communicants
The hand waving machine has been installed at the church entrance for taking count of the communicants. Whoever wishes to take Holy Communion, upon entering the temple, please wave your hand once at the machine. Please be aware that after the Nicene Creed, the machine shall be disabled.
SPIRITUAL ORGANISATIONS’ UPDATES & UPCOMING EVENTS:
Sunday School Events:
Diocesan Level Competitions:
Diocesan level competitions which were planned for May 18 ( Saturday) have been preponed to Saturday, May 11, 2024. Please take note of this change and attend accordingly.
- Poetry, Story writing, Essay Writing – May 11 Saturday 10.00 AM – 11.00 AM
- Drawing competition for all grades – May 11 Saturday 11.30 AM – 12.30 AM
Sunday School Exams:
Centralized Exams for grades 10 and 12 and Final exams for all other grades will be conducted on June 30 Sunday. Teachers will confirm if there are any changes in this date on the respective WhatsApp class groups.
MMVS Events:
MMVS 9th Regional Conference:
Date and Time: Saturday, June 01, 2024, 8.45 AM to 3.30 PM
Venue: St Thomas Orthodox Church
Address: 23 Brownlea Avenue Toronto , ON , M9P 2R5
Keynote Speaker: H G Gee Varghese Mar Yulios Metropolitan (Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kunnamkulam)
Theme: Power of Resurrection
Registration fee: $15
Registration Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe10mKw14vyaSB8YrwEwSSMaSAXxlylq1N4F0rT3TJw5Ak3UA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Kindly register your names through the link and update with MMVS Secretary Mrudula Thakadiyel before Sunday May 15th, 2024.
Blood Donation:
Scheduled for April 27th. Please reach out to MMVS Secretary Mrudula Thakadiyel or treasurer Elizabeth Abraham (Geetha)..
Bake Sale:
Please block May 12 for MMVS Bake sale.
MMVS 2nd Annual Regional meet:
Scheduled for Oct 19th – 2024. There will be a Talent show in addition to Bible Study. It will be hosted by our parish.
Searching for Script Writers for Talent Show Skit:
Our parish MMVS is planning to do a skit as part of the Talent show. Hence calling in MMVS talented Script writers. Theme will be discussed later. Please reach out to Mrudula Thakadiyel latest by April 20th -2024.
Art Exhibition:
Scheduled tentatively for Nov 17th, 2024. All interested in displaying their art skill are requested to start preparing for the same.
IN-PERSON MEETINGS:
OCYM monthly meeting after the refreshment.
LIVE-STREAMING LINK:
Please see below the link for Sunday Holy Liturgy Live Streaming
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDT7tcyQw1yZ1_yCG9AWStA
HOLY LITURGICAL TEXT FOR THIS SUNDAY:
We will be using the Taksa of Mar Isaac this Sunday.
May the Gracious Lord keep us from all harm and heal the entire world.
Yours in Christ
Thomas John Achen
Email ID: fr.thomaspjohn@gmail.com
Mobile: (416) 570 5610