Dearly Beloved,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
April 12, 2026, Post Easter Appearance, New Sunday
Scriptural Readings:
- OT: Genesis 41:41-46, Numbers 7:84-89, 1 Kings 18:36-40, Judges 8:13-21, Jeremiah 1:4-12, Isaiah 40:9-15
- NT: 1 Peter 2:19-25, Romans 6:12-23, Holy Gospel St John 20:19-29
Holy Gospel: St John 20:19-29
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Reflections:
This Sunday is called New Sunday. Easter Sunday made everything new. All issues connected to Adamic sin, got solved with the complete obedience of the Son, the Second Adam. Christ’s resurrection gave rise to complete liberation from death that was caused by sin. Jesus went through and identified with human situations that begin with conception, passes through birth, growing through various stages of physicality and age with life situations including achievements, various physical/mental/spiritual conditions including illnesses or ailments and eventually to physical death.
Physical life is an essential part of human existence. As made by the Creator God, humans have soul, essentially spiritual beings at the core. The Genesis account reveals this spiritual essentiality, when God breathed into the nostrils that made them alive. So, the Spirit of God is what keeps humans alive. Hence, the Spirit or the Soul in human beings needs to be connected to the source, the Spirit of God the Creator. Sin causes alienation which had caused death in the Garden of Eden. It was not a physical death. Adam and Eve were still alive and active. They had to leave the garden of free access and to continue their life on a less productive soil. They had two children. They were still productive.
Sin caused issues like distortions which did not exist earlier. Evil was given space to take over. Human history has been soaked in blood due to selfishness and greed for power, since everywhere humans tend to play God. It is not the sustaining role but the destructive role that has brought turmoil, not only to humans but also to the rest of creation. Global warming and ecological issues are products of human greedy actions. We are aware how much distortion wars have brought to the world.
When Adam yielded to sin, they lost the freewill to choose good over evil. They were bound to sin, or they were obliged to listen to Satan. The Image of God had assured freewill, but by disobedience the image got distorted. Hence the human capability to choose life over death was impacted. In every action, death crept in. It was more about humans choosing actions that kills the soul of everything: relationships, nature, habitat, virtues, values, faith, honesty.
Christ was Risen for the resurrection of all lost virtues. Babel of greed and ambitions scattered everyone whereas the showering of Holy Spirit reconciled all languages and cultures. This happened on the day of Pentecost. Spirit gives life. New Sunday is the reminder of the newness we should experience in everything related to our Divine existence. We should keep in mind that we have a divine life to be cared for and catered for. The life we have is so worthy that Jesus gave His life to save ours. New Sunday is also to be a reminder about our own worth and dignity. He is Risen for us to rise in values and dignity.
FEASTS AND REMEMBRANCES:
- April 07 – Marthoma VI, 218th anniversary, entombed at Puthencavu Cathedral
- April 12 – HG Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Metropolitan, 13th anniversary, entombed at Njaliyakuzhy Mar Baselios Dayara
Clergy Demise
Rev. Fr. T. J. Johnson, 53 years, Vicar of St. John’s Orthodox Church, Mayurvihar, a young priest of the Diocese of Delhi, has passed away due to cardiac arrest. He was the former vicar of St Thomas OC Dubai, served during the period 2011-2014. The funeral service shall be conducted on Tuesday April 14 at Mar Baselios Gregorios Valiyapally, Mannarakulanji (Thumpamon Diocese).
We thank God for the life and ministry of Achen and pray for his soul. May the Lord comfort him. May his prayers be a shelter for us.
Conclusion of the Great Lent
We thank all our members for their participation in the daily Lenten prayers and in the Passion Week. May God bless your earnestness as always. May the hope of the Risen Christ enlighten us through each day.
We thank all the speakers for the Lent devotional talks, MMVS and OCYM for organising the talks and daily noon prayer, members who assisted for the noon prayer, Acolytes and Choir members for their assistance for evening prayer and all services, MC members for their guidance and support, all volunteers for cooking, serving, cleaning, seat arrangements, special thanks to respected Geevarghese Thampan Achen for his support on Palm Sunday and Easter. Every year we observe the Great Lent, we feel increasingly grateful to God for giving us this wonderful space, the Holy Temple where we enjoy the fellowship, divine presence and receive all graces and blessings. God is kind and gracious. All glory to Him!!!
Pray for Peace in the Middle East and Gulf.
We continue praying for re-establishing peace and concord in the war affected lands and regions. Our prayers during these days of Lenten fasting may work miracles through Holy Spirit. May the governments and leaders join hands to reconcile and save the world from further injury.
OVBS 2026 – Mar 18 Wednesday -22 Sunday, Theme: Walk in Purity
OVBS’ closing session will be held on Sunday, April 12. Please join after refreshments to encourage our children.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS: Please note in your calendar
- April 06-11, Hevore Days, Days of Light
- April 18, Saturday- MMVS Blood Donation Drive, Location: Canadian Blood Services, 765 Britannia Rd W, Mississauga. Please join and support
- April 19, Sunday- OCYM ‘Nadan Bites’:Ela Ada and Nadan Cutlet Sale. Prebooking is open. Please support
Attention Please:
- Parking: Please be considerate while parking our vehicles, only park at designated space. Leave reserved lots for the intended and kindly park within lines and markings leaving enough space for others to open their doors without scratching or hitting nearby parked vehicles.
AREA PRAYER MEETINGS: Upcoming Prayer meeting schedules shall be updated soon.
FOR OUR ATTENTION & TO NOTE:
Children, please occupy front benches during our Liturgical Services
Kindly avoid crowding at the back of the church. A few concerns.
- Due to safety concerns and for assuring an undistracted worship space, we request all our members to proceed to the front rows except those that are reserved for children when we enter the temple. It would be a bit difficult for our volunteers to suggest moving to the front during the service as it would cause distraction and noise. We need to avoid crowding at the entrance and stair areas as this has raised safety concerns.
. Please be considerate to our senior members to help them find seats or while they try to access the washroom. A slip or a hit should be avoided in any circumstance.
- Please be watchful at the shoe rack area which is also the entrance to both washrooms.
- We request our parents to attend our children not to pull the alarm lever at the back wall.
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. Absolution shall be done during the morning prayer.
April 12, Sunday – in-person meetings:
Quick meeting of the choir before refreshments
OVBS Closing Ceremony & SS Certificates Distribution
LIVE streaming has been reactivated: All services’ Live Streaming is now available.
Holy Liturgical Text for this Sunday
We will be using the Taksa of St John the Evangelist this Sunday.
May the Gracious Lord keep us from all evil and heal the entire world.
Next Week
April 19, Sunday after the New Sunday
Scriptural Readings:
- OT: Exodus 14:26-31, Joshua 6:9-16, Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-8, Isaiah 63:8-14
- NT: Acts 13:26-29, Ephesians 6:10-24, Holy Gospel St John 21:1-14
Yours in Christ
Thomas John Achen
Email ID: fr.thomaspjohn@gmail.com
Mobile: (416) 570 5610