Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Blind Man
Third Discovery of the Forerunner’s Honorable Head
Martyr Celestine of Rome; Hieromartyr Therapon, bishop of Cyprus; Demetrios the Myrrh Streaming
Visitors, we welcome you in the Name of our Risen Lord and Savior.
Nourishment of the Soul: “Whoever you may be, always have God before your eyes; whatever you do, do it according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures; in whatever place you live, do not easily leave it. Keep these three precepts and you will be saved.” — St. Anthony the Great
Angela Wilson invites you to her son Seavor Roach’s Graduation Open House
Saturday, May 31 – 1:00-4:00 pm
Hatfield Elementary School Cafeteria (1081 Teke Burton Dr., Mitchell, IN)
Today, the Myrrh Bearers meet during social hour.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday is the Leave-taking of Holy Pascha as we celebrate the Ascension of Christ.
Monday, May 26: Memorials at Valhalla – Meet at 3:00 outside the Mausoleum.
Wednesday, May 28: Vesperal Liturgy for the Ascension at 6:00
Saturday, May 31: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, June 1: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD
June 4-6: Special Meetings in Chicago – Father attends to cast a vote for the candidates for Metropolitan
June 8: Holy Pentecost – Kneeling Vespers
June 15: All Saints Feast Day – Pitch in and Saints presentation
June 16: Apostles Fast begins.
June 25-29: Midwest Parish Life Conference in Fort Wayne
June 29: Ss. Peter & Paul Cookout (2-year memorial for Archpriest Peter -Name day for Fr. Peter Jon, Robert Rogers, and all celebrating their name day; Anniversary for Father and Khouria
June 29-July 11: Antiochian Village Camp, Session II – Our campers leave early Sunday.
Happy Birthday: Dnssa Miriam Stant (26th); Robert Rogers (29th); Jennifer Patterson Tatlock (31st)
Wedding Anniversary Blessings: David and Jan Gudaitis (26th)
Memory Eternal Anniversary: Archpriest Wladimir (May 18th – Matushka Raisa’s husband)
Prayer List: Patricia; Bob R ; Dr. Frank; Geni; Alex; Zane; Vicki; John; Leanne; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John, Syrian Orphans; Kh. Loretta; Chad & Connie; Beth; Jeffry Ellis; Lillian Miller; Julie; Roger; Virginia McCallister; Marilyn; Eric; Marna; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Ioana; Michael & Shelley: Jill Patterson; Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; John; Charles; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest Roman; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb; Korene; Dennis and Joyce.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.”
Verse: “Hearken unto my voice, O God!” Psalm 103:26, 1
Epistle: The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians. (4:6-15)
BRETHREN, seeing that it is the God Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, the same also shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of power is from God, and not from us. We are pressed on every way, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; smitten down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
But having in us the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke,” we also believe, and therefore we also speak, knowing that the One who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up through Jesus and will make us stand together with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, which is multiplied through the thanksgiving of many, may abound to the glory of God.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (9:1-38)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus was passing, He saw a man blind from his birth. And His Disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him Who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
As He said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” [which means Sent]. So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he”; others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.”
They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them.
So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about Him, since He has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.”
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become His disciples?”
And they reviled him, saying, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.
Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him He said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “And Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshiped Him.