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GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY & PARISH

OF PROPHET ELIAS NORWOOD & EASTERN

SUBURBS INC.

87 BEULAH RD. NORWOOD SA 5067 P.O. BOX 277, KENT TOWN SA 5071
ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE HON. SECRETARY

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: 8362 4139 . 8431 7789 . 0412 710 037

09-10-11
27 . 1368

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

THE WORD OF GOD

PHONES: 8362 4139 H. 8431 7789 M. 0412 710 037

DATE 09-10-11
YEAR 27 TH NUMBER 1368
WEB PAGE: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.ORG.AU
ONLINE MAGAZINE & RADIO PROGRAM: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.BLOGSPOT.COM
EMAIL: PROPHETELIAS@ESC.NET.AU

( 7:11-16) 9 2011

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THE TERRIBLE PAIN OF THE HUMAN HEART

-THE WIDOW OF NAINLife without Christ is a mournful procession
Luke 7:11-16 9 October, 2011.

Todays Gospel reading shows us the personification of pain. We

speak about the Widow of Nain. This woman, who not long ago had
accompanied the coffin of her beloved husband on his last journey on
earth. This woman, who had nothing else in this world except for her
precious son. The son, a young and vibrant man, suddenly taken by
death, grabbed from within his mothers arms, and now travelling the
same road as his father. The widow of Nain also travels the same road,
to the same cemetery but this time accompanying the coffin of her
much beloved son. In deep sorrow, silent, and with despair as her

escort, she follows the boys coffin, head lowered in the funeral
procession. No matter how much the villagers tried to support her, to
show her some light that will dispel the blackness of her loss and
hopelessness, it was lost amongst the hopeless darkness that covered
her pained heart.
Indeed, if we think about the drama that the widow of Nain was living,
we would perfectly excuse her desperate situation. If you think about it
though, before the Lords Resurrection, the message and sermon of
Easter, Christs raising of the dead, and ultimately Christs own
Resurrection after three days, there was no hope. People saw the
tomb as the end of their existence. So the villagers of Nain, had no
words of comfort to say to the widow since they themselves lived in an
appalling climate of death. How could they talk about hope in life and
console each other when death also accompanied them and followed
them like a nightmare. Who was in a position to comfort this woman to give wings of hope to this embittered mother - this mother whose
world had been destroyed with her sons death. Who would help her
rise from the ruins of despair and the unbearable weight of
hopelessness? It had to be someone above and beyond human.
Someone who could genuinely overturn human logical thinking, and
that could only be the Lord of Life and Resurrection, Jesus Christ.
Beloved Brethren, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and Life.
He is the only Truth and sole Comforter. It is He who allowed this
drama to happen in Nain, to show once again the glory of God. This is

evident at the meeting of Christ with the widow - the procession of

death with the procession of life. The meeting of the funeral and death
with life and resurrection. Two opposing processions yet two meetings
so near to each other. We agree that death is one thing and life is
another - two opposites - but you must also agree that this life is the
successor to death and death to Life. Life has the last word. The life
that we live in this world (whose successor is death) is not real. But Life
which is succeeded by death is eternal.
In todays Gospel reading, we see the Leader of Life approach death
and order it to free the young man and leave. Without the slightest
delay, death frees the child and disappears from the funeral
procession. Simultaneously, grief, pain, sorrow, regret and uncertainty
also disappear. Through the ruins of despair, the Light of Resurrection
illumined the face of the mother and hope grew wings in her heart.
Sighs of relief were heard and exclamations of admiration and joy
came from the mournful procession.
Without Christ, life is a mournful procession that accompanies the dead
to their grave. Without Christ there is pain and sadness, frustration and
despair, falsehood and darkness, death and hell. Truly brothers and
sisters in Christ, can you imagine your life without Christ? Without the
slightest hope of salvation? Without a Heavenly Father waiting for you
as the prodigal son? Just the thought that you have no Heavenly
destination or Heavenly Father, causes a painful sense of isolation.
This of course is felt by those who are sensitive to these matters, and

accept and understand. Unfortunately though there are also those who
are insensitive to matters of the soul who say they do not believe in
Christ. Others say it with actions and others say it with words. But the
fact is, they do not want to have a relationship with God. Why is that?
What will hurt them by having God in their lives? But as this is another
subject, we will not address this today. The issue today is about the
terrible pain of the human heart without Christ.

The Evangelist Luke presents us with a series of factual events and

what happened, allowing us to draw our own conclusions. By painting
a beautiful picture of words, he shows us the picture of drama and the
picture of joy. The picture with Christ and the picture without Christ.
Which picture would you prefer? What procession would you wish to
be part of? Anyone with sense would not want to be in the procession
of grief, pain, despair, death and hell. Impossible! So someone will tell
us that those who do not believe in Christ, have lost their mind. We are
simply presenting you with the two situations of todays Gospel reading
- One with Christ and one without Christ. We mentioned earlier what
happened before Christ came and what happened after. If, for
example, someone was born and raised without Christ, they are
doomed to walk in the procession of death. But if they are given an
opportunity to see inside from their darkened window what Christian
light accompanies Life, then surely they would prefer to go to this light
as soon as they can. But if a man was born and Baptised and

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enlightened in the Light of Christ and then longs for the darkness and
death, what do you think? Havent they lost their mind - yes or no?
What really saddens Christ immeasurably is when Christian parents
distance and remove their children from the accompaniment of truth,
hope, resurrection and life and directs them to the accompaniment of
pain, lies, the grieving of darkness, despair and death. Each day the
Lord reminds us by the funeral of someone who leaves this life, that
soon it will be our turn. According to the procession we have chosen to
follow in this world, we will find the same one in the other life. We pray
that we will not be accompanied by loss but by Life. AMEN

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Baptism
Last Sunday afternoon, Mr Vasilios & Mrs Grazia Kottaridis baptised
their young boy in our church. The Godfather Mr Damien Conoulty
gave him the name Dimitrios.
May the parents of the newly baptised rejoice in him always joyful and
blessed by God. May the godfather have health and enlightenment
from above, to assist and guide little Dimitrios according to the will of
God.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Next Sunday October 16, 2011, the Executive Committee will have
freshly cooked SOUVLAKIA for sale.
We kindly ask you to assist their endeavours and in doing so, assist us
financially.
We take this opportunity to sincerely thank you and awaiting your
positive response in anticipation.

Vespers
This Saturday evening, Vespers Service 5.30pm-6.30pm.

Sunday Schools
With the help of God and the services of our devoted Sunday School
teachers, Sunday school lessons are offered every Sunday morning in
the rooms of our Community Centre.

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We ask parents to help their children in learning about the True God. Our society
is full of different gods, however, the parents who sense responsibility before God
and their child, will endeavour to bring them to the school of Christ.
Parents, do not be led astray by the ways of many. If you wish to assist your child
with issues of importance, please do not deprive them of the most beneficial
school, called Sunday school.

YOUTH GROUP
Last Wednesdays theme was dedicated to the Lords Prayer.
In todays ever growing technological word, the means of communication
between people from all over the word is at our finger tips.
From land line phones to our handheld mobile phones, from our computers,
laptops, fax machines, email, facebook, twiter etc etc, we are able to
communicate instantaneously to all parts of the world.
The question put forward was What means of communication do we have
between our Father in Heaven and us here on earth?
The answer is The means of communication between our Father in Heaven and
us here on earth, is through prayer
And what a better prayer then the Lords Prayer which was recited by the Lord
himself?
Our Father
That God is our Father, so good and so worthy of veneration that there is no
earthly father like Him and that we ought to pray to Him with a childlike
reverence, love and confidence.
Who art in Heaven

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That although God is everywhere, he especially dwells in Heaven, where we

hope to see Him face to face one day.
That we are but pilgrims upon earth and that our true country is in Heaven.
That when we pray, we must detach our hearts from all earthly things and raise
them up to Heaven.
Hallowed be Thy name
That the name of God may never be profaned or blasphemed, but that God may
be rightly known, loved and honoured by us all.
Thy Kingdom come
That the kingdom of God, the Church, may be more and more extended upon
earth.
That the kingdom may now be established in our hearts, in order that after this
life, we may also be admitted into the kingdom of Heaven.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
We ask that we do the will of God on earth faithfully and cheerfully as the Angels
and Saints do it in Heaven and we profess that, in all things, we submit ourselves
to the holy will of God.
Give us this day our daily bread
We ask that God may give us all that is daily necessary for our soul and body.
To teach us that we should wish only for necessaries, not for riches and
abundance.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us
We ask that God forgives us, as we forgive others who offend us.

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When praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your
Father in heaven may forgive you.
Lead us not into temptation
We ask God to remove from us all temptations and all the dangers of sin, or, at
least, give us grace sufficient to resist them.
To keep us humble.
But deliver us from evil
We ask that God preserves us from all evil of soul and body especially from sin
and eternal damnation.
Amen
To express our ardent desire and also our confidence of being heard.
Dear reader, although most people from as young as 2 and 3 years of age, know
how to recite the Lords Prayer, how many truly understand what they are
reciting?
Every Wednesday evening, you have the opportunity between 7-8pm to get to
know and better understand the true meaning of our Orthodox faith. Come along
and bring a friend.

ENGLISH DIVINE LITURGY

Please note that on Saturday October 22, 2011, Rev Father Stavros
Psaromatis will officiate the Divine Liturgy in English between 6pm
7pm.

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