SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020

Third Sunday of Great Lent – Трећа недеља поста
Veneration of the Holy Cross – Крстопоклона Недеља

On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. The commemoration and ceremonies of the Third Sunday of Lent are closely parallel to the feasts of the Veneration of the Cross (September 14) and the Procession of the Cross (August 1). Not only does the Sunday of the Holy Cross prepare us for the commemoration of the Crucifixion, but it also reminds us that the whole of Lent is a period when we are crucified with Christ. As we have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24), and will have mortified ourselves during these forty days of the Fast, the precious and life-giving Cross is now placed before us to refresh our souls and encourage us who may be filled with a sense of bitterness, resentment, and depression. The Cross reminds us of the Passion of our Lord, and by presenting to us His example, it encourages us to follow Him in struggle and sacrifice, being refreshed, assured, and comforted. In other words, we must experience what the Lord experienced during His Passion - being humiliated in a shameful manner. The Cross teaches us that through pain and suffering we shall see the fulfillment of our hopes: the heavenly inheritance and eternal glory.

У суботу треће недеље Великога Поста, од давних времена, на средину цркве се износи крст, а четврта недеља Великога Поста која следи после тога назива се Крстопоклоном недељом. Знамо да је Велики пост припрема за Страсну седмицу, за дане у које се Црква сећа страдања, распећа и крсне смрти Исуса Христа. Изношење крста на Крстопоклону недељу има за циљ да нас опомене на крајњи циљ нашег интензивног и продубљеног хришћанског живота којим живимо у те великопосне дане. У вези са тим умесноје да се још једном присетимо места које Крст - као главни и узвишени символ Хришћанства - заузима у хришћанској вери. Тај символ има два - међусобно уско повезана - значења. Са једне стране, то је Крст Христов као онај одлучујући догађај којим се завршава земаљски живот и служење Господа Исуса Христа. То је прича о чудној и страшној људској мржњи према Ономе Који је све Своје учење усредсредио на заповест о љубави, Који је сву Своју проповед усредсредио на позив на самоодрицање и саможртвовање у име те љубави.

THE READING FROM THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL TO THE HEBREWS (4: 14 – 5: 6)

Brethren, seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this, he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

THE GOSPEL READING FROM SAINT MARK (8: 34 – 9: 1)

At that time, when Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him, the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

WHOEVER DESIRES TO COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME

And you see how He also makes his discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, ‘whether you will or not you must suffer this,’ but how? ‘If any man will come after Me.’ I do not force, I do not compel, but each one I make lord of his own choice ...For to good things do I call you, not to things evil or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel. No, the nature of the thing alone is sufficient to attract you ...For you ought not, O Peter, because you have confessed Me, Son of God, therefore only to expect crowns (Cf Mark 8:29), and to suppose this enough for your salvation, and for the future to enjoy security, as having done all. For although it be in My power, as Son of God, to hinder you from having any trial at all of those hardships, yet such is not My will for your sake, that you may yourself contribute something, and be more approved.

- St. John Chrysostom. Homily LV on Matthew XVI, 1. B#54, p. 339.

Читање из посланице Јеврејима светог Апостола Павла (4: 14 – 5: 6)

Имајући, дакле, великог Поглавара свештеничког, који је прошао небеса, Исуса сина Божијег, да се држимо признања. Јер немамо Поглавара свештеничког који не може пострадати с нашим слабостима, него који је у свачему искушан као и ми, осим греха. Да приступимо, дакле, слободно к престолу благодати, да примимо милост и нађемо благодат за време кад нам затреба помоћ. Јер сваки поглавар свештенички који се из људи узима, за људе се поставља на службу к Богу, да приноси даре и жртве за грехе, Који може пострадати с онима који не знају и залазе; јер је и он под слабошћу. И зато је дужан како за народне тако и за своје грехе приносити. И нико сам себи не даје части, него који је позван од Бога, као и Арон. Тако и Христос не прослави сам себе да буде поглавар свештенички, него Онај који Му рече: Ти си мој син, ја Те данас родих. Као што и на другом месту говори: Ти си свештеник вавек по реду Мелхиседековом.

Читање светог Јеванђеља по Марку (8: 34 – 9: 1)

У време оно, дозвавши народ с ученицима својим рече им: Ко хоће за мном да иде нека се одрекне себе и узме крст свој, и за мном иде. Јер ко хоће душу своју да сачува, изгубиће је; а ко изгуби душу своју мене ради и јеванђеља онај ће је сачувати. Јер каква је корист човеку ако задобије сав свет, а души својој науди? Или какав ће откуп дати човек за душу своју? Јер ко се постиди мене и мојих речи у роду овом прељуботворном и грешном, и Син ће се човечји постидети њега кад дође у слави Оца свог с анђелима светима. И рече им: Заиста вам кажем: имају неки међу овима што стоје овде који неће окусити смрт док не виде царство Божје да дође у сили.

РАСУЂИВАЊЕ из Охридског Пролога Св. Владике Николаја Велимировића

Чак ни у мукама на крсту Господ Исус не осуди грешнике него изнесе пред Оца Свога извињење за њихов грех говорећи: не знају шта раде! Да и ми не судимо никога, да не би били осуђени. Јер нико није сигуран, да неће и он до смрти учинити онај исти грех за који осуђује брата свога. Св. Анастасије Синајски учи: "Ако и видиш некога да греши, не осуђуј, јер не знаш како ће он довршмти свој живот. Овај разбојник, распети с Исусом, беше човекоубица, Јуда пак беше апостол Исусов, па ипак разбојник уђе у Царство, а апостол оде у пакао. Ако и видиш некога да греши, ти не знаш и његова добра дела. Јер многи сагрешише јавно а покајаше се тајно, и ми видимо грехе њихове а покајање њихово не знамо. Зато, браћо, никог да не осуђујемо, да не бисмо били осуђени."

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Seven counties in the greater San Francisco area have been ordered to “shelter in place” until April 7, 2020, and from last night the entire state of California, with no non-essential services being permitted, so as to slow the spreading of this disease.

This restriction affects all churches in the Bay Area, and Serbian parishes will abide by the guidelines of the authorities.

For this reason, our St. John the Baptist Cathedral will continue serving Divine Liturgies without attendance, or rather reducing it to only a couple of chanters who will maintain a social distance of at least six feet from one another. Please be patient in these times of great challenge, and please pray that this pestilence ends soon. Meanwhile, keep up good faith, watch carefully over your neighbors and friends, especially if help is needed. Pray for your family, your Church and for all people who are affected by this virus. Let us hope that God through the work and prayers of good servants will solve crises as soon as possible.

Stay home, pray and be healthy,

I am available to you, so please call if you have any questions or needs,

415-567-5869

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Djurica

Prayer of Protection from the Coronavirus

(Prayer by His Grace Bishop Alexis (Trader) of Bethesda)

O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Your ineffable goodness, look down upon Your people gathered in Your name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. You know our weakness. You hear our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who loves mankind deliver us from the impending threat of the coronavirus. Send Your Angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians, and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve You in peace and glorify Your most honorable and majestic Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.