Comments on: Late for the Most Important Date http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/20/late-for-the-most-important-date/ Contemplations of an Orthodox Christian Priest in Texas Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:45:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Fr. Justin http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/20/late-for-the-most-important-date/#comment-8 Fr. Justin Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:50:02 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/20/late-for-the-most-important-date/#comment-8 Fr. Seraphim, You are right about the services of Nativity. There are many appetizers that prepare us for the main course. This works in many facets of our Christian lives. Daily Vespers and Matins, and Saturday night Vigil prepare us for Sunday morning Liturgy. Great Lent prepares us for Pascha. This life prepares us for the Kingdom. This homily was directed at general practice throughout the year rather than being given as a tune-up for Nativity. It so happened that the week before, half the people who eventually attended arrived after the homily, not characteristic of the parish. The Gospel text almost demanded that I address the subject the very next week. I don't want such bad habits to get rooted here! Fr. Seraphim,

You are right about the services of Nativity. There are many appetizers that prepare us for the main course. This works in many facets of our Christian lives. Daily Vespers and Matins, and Saturday night Vigil prepare us for Sunday morning Liturgy. Great Lent prepares us for Pascha. This life prepares us for the Kingdom. This homily was directed at general practice throughout the year rather than being given as a tune-up for Nativity. It so happened that the week before, half the people who eventually attended arrived after the homily, not characteristic of the parish. The Gospel text almost demanded that I address the subject the very next week. I don’t want such bad habits to get rooted here!

]]> By: Priest Seraphim Holland http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/20/late-for-the-most-important-date/#comment-6 Priest Seraphim Holland Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:21:41 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/20/late-for-the-most-important-date/#comment-6 Dear Fr Justin: A very creative way to refer to the Great Supper and Divine Liturgy. I continue to marvel how every parish is the *same parish*. I have heard these excuses before! Thank God, I am not working now in a secular job, so, with God's help, I may increase the number of Divine services in our church, without any temptation to say myself: "I am too busy!" Therefore, we will have all the "appetizers" for the celebration of Nativity this year! I submit to you something that I am sure you would say is preaching to the choir. The Divine Liturgy of Nativity actually has many more courses than a regular liturgy on Sunday. It has the Royal Hours, the Vespers, often with Vespral Divine Liturgy, the Holy Supper, and the peerless Vigil, when we Exclaim "God is with us!". Unlike in a restaurant, when many appetizers blunt our appetite for the main course, these appetizers make us even more hungry, and make the main course even more delicious. It is my sincere hope that your entire flock dined sumptuously this week. Priest Seraphim Holland 972 529-2754 CELL:972 658-5433 ST NICHOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH, Dallas: http://www.orthodox.net PARISH EMAIL: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church BLOG: http://stnicholasdallas.blogspot.com/ BLOG RSS feed: http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/dashboard?id=1469611 Podcast (homilies) RSS feed: http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/dashboard?id=1515664 Dear Fr Justin:

A very creative way to refer to the Great Supper and Divine Liturgy. I continue to marvel how every parish is the *same parish*. I have heard these excuses before!

Thank God, I am not working now in a secular job, so, with God’s help, I may increase the number of Divine services in our church, without any temptation to say myself: “I am too busy!” Therefore, we will have all the “appetizers” for the celebration of Nativity this year!

I submit to you something that I am sure you would say is preaching to the choir.

The Divine Liturgy of Nativity actually has many more courses than a regular liturgy on Sunday. It has the Royal Hours, the Vespers, often with Vespral Divine Liturgy, the Holy Supper, and the peerless Vigil, when we Exclaim “God is with us!”. Unlike in a restaurant, when many appetizers blunt our appetite for the main course, these appetizers make us even more hungry, and make the main course even more delicious.

It is my sincere hope that your entire flock dined sumptuously this week.

Priest Seraphim Holland
972 529-2754 CELL:972 658-5433
ST NICHOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH, Dallas:
http://www.orthodox.net
PARISH EMAIL:
http://groups.google.com/group.....dox-church
BLOG:
http://stnicholasdallas.blogspot.com/
BLOG RSS feed:
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a.....id=1469611
Podcast (homilies) RSS feed:
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a.....id=1515664

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