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ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE
ARCHDIOCESE OF
THYATEIRA & GREAT BRITAIN

BULLETIN OF SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION
15TH SUNDAY OF LUKE
27 January 2013
1st Mode. No. 1268

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27 2013
. . . 1268

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EPISTLE READING

. 26 2

Heb. 7: 26 8:2

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rethren, it was fitting that we

should have a high priest that is
holy, blameless, undefiled, separated
from sinners, and exalted above the
heavens. Unlike the other high priests,
he has no need to offer sacrifices day
after day, first for his own sins, and then
for those of the people; this he did once
for all when he offered himself. For the
law appoints as high priests those who
are subject to weakness, but the word of
the oath, which came later than the law,
appoints a Son who has been made
perfect forever. Now the main point in
what we are saying is this: we have such
a high priest, one who is seated at the
right hand of the throne of the Majesty
in the heavens, a minister in the
sanctuary and the true tent that the
Lord, and not man, has set up.

APOLYTIKION OF ST
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
he grace which shone from your
mouth like a torch of flame
enlightened the whole earth; it laid up
for the world the treasures of freedom
from avarice; it showed us the height of
humility. But as you train us by your
words, Father John Chrysostom,
intercede with Christ God, the Word,
that our souls may be saved.

KONTAKION OF ST
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
ou received divine grace from
heaven, and through your lips
you teach us all to worship one God in
Trinity, venerable John Chrysostom,
wholly blessed. Fittingly we praise you,
for you are a teacher who makes clear
things divine.

Patience is the companion of wisdom (St

Augustine of Hippo)

If you only lament for your sins, then He will receive this for your salvation (St John Chrysostom)

GOSPEL READING

. 1-10

Luke 19:1-10

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t that time, Jesus entered Jericho.

A man was there named
Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector
and was rich. He was trying to see who
Jesus was, but on account of the crowd
he could not, because he was short in
stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a
sycamore tree to see him, because he
was going to pass that way. When Jesus
came to the place, he looked up and
said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and
come down; for I must stay at your
house today. So he hurried down and
was happy to welcome him. All who
saw it began to grumble and said, He
has gone to be the guest of a sinner.
Zacchaeus stood there and said to the
Lord, See, half of my possessions, Lord,
I am giving to the poor; and if I have
defrauded anyone of anything, I will
pay back four times as much. Then
Jesus said to him, Today salvation has
come to this house, because he too is a
son of Abraham. For the Son of Man
came to seek out and to save the lost.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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He who prays with understanding patiently

accepts circumstances, whereas he who resents
them has not yet attained pure prayer. (St.
Mark the Ascetic)

hen the stone had been sealed by

the Jews, and while soldiers were
guarding your most pure Body, you rose,
O Saviour, on the third day, giving life to
the world; therefore the heavenly
Powers cried out to you, Giver of life:
Glory to your Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to your Kingdom! Glory to your
dispensation, only Lover of mankind!

"When you are praying alone, and your spirit is dejected, and you are wearied and oppressed by your
loneliness, remember then, as always, that God the Trinity looks upon you with eyes brighter than the
sun; also all the angels, your own Guardian Angel, and all the Saints of God. Truly they do; for they are
all one in God, and where God is, there are they also. Where the sun is, thither also are directed all its
rays. Try to understand what this means." (St John of Kronstadt)


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SERMON ON THE GOSPEL READING

odays Gospel Reading tells us the well-known story of Zacchaeus, a Tax Collector,
shunned and despised by his own people, but who is received by Christ, much to
the shock and disappointment of Christs followers. It is the story of deep change
within the human heart, a story of repentance, forgiveness and salvation.

Gods kindness calls me to repentance

It is worth noting that our Lord does not say to Zacchaeus, If you repent, I will come to
your house. He simply says, I must stay at your house, and as a result of this
Zachhaeus repents. This is a great example for our clergy and spiritual fathers. They

must learn to accept sinners as the Lord did - not as an approval of their sin, but so that
they may make a beginning of repentance. As St Paul writes, Gods kindness leads you
to repentance (Rom.2:4).
It was no small feat for a man who for years lived a life of sin, deceiving and
cheating others, and making a handsome profit from it, to respond so quickly and
dramatically to Gods acceptance of him. His change of heart is rapidly made manifest
in concrete actions: he more than compensated those whom he had cheated, and gave
away many of his possessions to those in need. This is something that even those who
are considered to be righteous hesitate to do! But often, and as our Lord Himself said, it
is those who have been forgiven much that love much (Luke 7:47).
Do I respond to Gods kindness?
The big question that this Reading should prompt us to ask ourselves today is this: does
our love for God and our fellow men reflect how much God forgives us for our sins? Or
is the problem that we have not even acknowledged those sins and recognised how
many times God has forgiven us and shown mercy to us?
Zacchaeus was invited once to eat with Christ. We are called to His Supper
every Sunday in Church. Zacchaeus met the Lord once, and his life was completely
changed by it. We meet with Him Sunday by Sunday, and we even eat and drink His
Body and Blood. But have we been so moved by this experience, so touched by Gods
acceptance of us sinners, that it has caused a radical change within us and in our dayto-day living? Do we come to church wanting to meet Christ? Do we come seeking
forgiveness and yearning for Him to accept us and receive us?
Do I desire the right things?
The story of Zacchaeus, as well as being a story of repentance and salvation, is also a
story about desire. Zacchaeus was too short to see Jesus, but he desired so much to see
Him that he climbed a tree to overcome this impediment. Man follows his desire, and
strong desire overcomes our natural limitations; when we passionately desire
something we do things of which normally we are incapable. Zacchaeus was short, but
his desire overcomes this and leads him up the tree which catches Christs eye above
the crowds of people surrounding Him. He was unjust, but now his desire makes him
righteous and benevolent. He was greedy, but now he becomes charitable.
The only question, therefore, is whether we desire the right thing, whether the
power of desire in us is aimed at the right goal. Zacchaeus desired the right thing: he
wanted to see and approach Christ. He is the first symbol of repentance, for repentance
begins as the rediscovery of mans true desire: the desire for God and His righteousness,
the desire for true life. It was this desire in Zacchaeus which caught Christs attention
and brought Him to his home.
We must desire that which is deepest and truest in ourselves, and acknowledge
the thirst and hunger for the Kingdom of God that is within us. And if we desire deeply
enough, strongly enough, then Christ will surely respond.
ArchdioceseofThyateira&GreatBritain,5CravenHill,LondonW23EN
Tel.:02077234787.Fax:02072249301.Email:mail@thyateira.org.uk.Website:www.thyateira.org.uk

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