Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Explanatory Notes for

Sunday Matins & Divine Liturgy
19 February 2023
35th Sunday After Pentecost – 3rd Sunday of Triodion

By the Grace of God Sunday of Meatfare/Judgement

Compiled, Adapted, Edited & Printed

By Marguerite Paizis
Archondissa & Teacher by Divine Grace
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
marguerite.paizis@gmail.com
or download directly from
Marguerite Paizis on Scribd – www.scribd.com/writers4574

Re-edited & Published - 11 February 2023

Resurrection Gospel 3 – Luke 24 : 1 - 12

1 Corinthians8 : 8:8 - 9:2
Matthew 25 : 31 - 45

24. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES

 Resurrection Gospel 3 – Luke 24 : 1 - 12
 When our Lord Jesus Rose early on the First Sabbath, He Appeared
first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons
• The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ occurred “…early on
the First Sabbath…” - some time before the arrival of His
Ever Blessed Mother and the seven other Holy Myrrhbearers
at the Empty Tomb.
• It was on Sunday, which was regarded as being the first day of
the week but which is now, according to St Luke’s Holy
Gospel “..the First Sabbath…” – a Holy Day of Rest from our
mundane, physical labours, dedicated to God.
• It was the first “Lord’s Day” on which we communally Worship
God and joyfully Commemorate His Glorious Resurrection
according to the New Covenant.
 “…He Appeared first to Mary Magdalene…” who mistook him for
the Gardener of the beautiful garden in which St Nikodemos
had had his new tomb hewn from the rock.
• According to St Gregory Palamas the Theotokos was the first to
see our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. However, as St Mary
of Magdala was Her constant companion, and She always
kept to the background, it is not surprising that St Mark
and the other Evangelists only obliquely referred to our
Lady Theotokos, who certainly would have been there.
 “…out of whom He had cast seven demons…” St Mary of Magdala
was a mature, independent, wealthy and pious woman who had
been devoutly Faithful to God her entire life.
• Consequently, Satan had mistaken her as being ‘the Righteous
Woman’ who would bear the Great Messiah according to the
Old Covenant Scripture, so he possessed her with “…seven
demons…” which Christ eventually exorcised from her.
• However, St Mary Magdalene was never a “prostitute” nor
“harlot” as some erroneously believe.
• She was incredibly courageous and not afraid to speak the
Truth, even confronting the Emperor later concerning the
illegal and unjust persecution and execution of Christ and
His Disciples.
• Being the elderly, unofficial spokesman for the Holy
Myrrhbearers, and by courageously fulfilling the Sacred
Commandments of Christ’s Holy Mission of the New
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 • When we devoutly surrender our free will to the Will of our
Heavenly Father, our life becomes far less stressed, and
uncomplicated.
• No matter what our circumstances might be, everything is
endurable and possible when we walk every step together
with our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Let us link arms and Love, Encourage, Guide and Support
each other as Beloved Brethren in Christ, as we Journey
towards Eternity and our Heavenly Home.
22. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES
Covenant, St Mary of Magdala became entitled as “Equal to
the Apostles.”
 “…She went and told those who had been with Him as they
mourned and wept…”
• Although the other Holy Myrrhbearers were too shocked and
uncertain how to convey or explain their Marvellous
Experience at the Empty Tomb, St Mary Magdalene had no
such problem and proclaimed the Wonderful News of the
Resurrection of Christ to the other Faithful Disciples.
• Men were inclined to ignore anything women had to say, so the
Myrrhbearers probably expected the Apostles and male
Disciple to doubt them.
• The Apostles and Disciples “…mourned and wept…” while
they hid from the Romans and Judeans who threatened to
persecute them for being associated with our Lord Jesus
Christ.
• Mourning and weeping when bereft of our most beloved family
and friends is natural, but long term it shows a lack of Faith
in our own eventual Resurrection, and possible Reunion.
• The Great Joy experienced by His Apostles and Disciples when
they accepted His Resurrection as Truth and Reality,
becomes our own Comfort and Joy, as we anticipate our
Resurrection.
 “…When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her,
they did not believe …” because they were not yet fully
Enlightened and Empowered by Christ and God the Holy Spirit,
and thus could not grasp the Truth and Reality of our Lord’s
Teachings and Revelations.
• Also, to be fair, the Reality of our Lord’s Glorious Resurrection
was too extremely Amazing and Extraordinary for them to
grasp or comprehend, despite St Mary Magdalene’s personal
Testimony, as well as that of the other Holy Myrrhbearers.
• However, according to other Gospel accounts, St John the
Beloved Disciple of Christ and St Simon Peter ran to the
Empty Tomb to witness the Truth for themselves.
 “…He Appeared in another Form to two of them as they walked
in the country…”.
• St Luke and St Cleophas were two Apostles who were close -
and even related - to Christ, yet despite spending hours
with Him, they failed to recognise our Lord until later when
He broke the bread and prayed.
• However, as they testified later, their heart and soul had
spontaneously responded with overwhelming Love to His
3 5 A P - 3 T R I O - M E A T F A R E / J U D G E M E N T S U N D A Y – E X P L A N A T O R Y N O T E S 3.
 Divine Presence while He Enlightened them with Knowledge
and Wisdom beyond their own capability.
• Any Divine Encounter profoundly fills us with overwhelming
Love and Blessed Grace and Knowledge, far beyond our own
limited abilities.
• Christ’s Appearance to these two Apostles teaches us that after
Resurrection we may also appear “… in another form..” but
our Love for God and each other shall connect or reunite us.
• At each Appearance, our Lord Jesus Christ identified Himself
so that there was no doubt that He is indeed our
Resurrected Lord and Divine Saviour.
• The Resurrected Body of Christ transcends not only time and
space, but physical appearance as well. He was sometimes
recognisable by His Words and actions to His Disciples and
at other times, not.
 “…When [St Luke and St Cleopas] went and told it to the others,
they did not believe them either…”
• Failure to believe the Resurrection of Christ (and our own
future Resurrection) is worthy of blame for it is the whole
Purpose of our current Struggles against sin and Striving for
Spiritual Perfection.
• We shall all be Resurrected into Eternal Life or Eternal Death,
depending on our thoughts, words and deeds – whether we
are Believers or not!
 “…Later, He Appeared to the Eleven as they sat at the table…”
• The Holy Apostles had not yet replaced the Betrayer, Judas
Iscariot, which they soon did by drawing lots and electing St
Matthew Levi.
• Our Lord ensured that all His Apostles and many of His
Faithful Disciples saw Him in His Resurrected Form.1
 “…He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because
they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had
Risen.…”
• They had witnessed and Experienced everything our Lord said
and did while with them for at least three years of His
Public Mission.
1
Approximately 120 Faithful Disciples witnessed His Ascension into Heaven on Mount
Olivet, and beheld Him seated (Enthroned) at the Right Hand of God our
Heavenly Father. [We can only behold our Lord Jesus in His Incarnate Image but
never our Heavenly Father nor God the Holy Spirit.]
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fearful reactions whenever they Encounter our Lord Jesus
Christ Whom they instantly recognise and intensely fear, as
the Eternal Son of God Who is our Divine Creator and Judge.
 “...the Righteous shalt go into Eternal Life...”
• Our Lord Jesus Christ quite clearly reveals the Divine Truth and
Reality of our Relationships with God, with each other and
with all Creation.
• Eternal Life is an Eternal Spiritual State wherein we shall
continue to Love and Live in Christ Jesus.
• We need to ceaselessly correct our errors NOW so that we can
remain in a state of Spiritual Life and remain close to our
Most Beloved Lord God.
• This short preparatory lifespan is for us to become Spiritually
Perfected by learning how to
1. LOVE God and each other according to our Lord’s Divine
Truth,
2. apply to every aspect of daily life, and fulfil the Verbal and
Written Holy Tradition,
3. fully participate in all the Holy Services,
4. regularly Partake of the Essential, Life-giving Holy
Mysteries, after being Baptised and Chrismated.
5. continuously and immediately Repent sins so as to remain
in a state of Spiritual Life,
6. pray without ceasing, to learn how to address and
communicate with our Lord God,
7. sing and understand the Divinely Inspired and Angelic
Hymns so that we can Praise our Triune Lord God
together with the Angelic Hosts,
8. Worship God, offering continuous Thanksgiving for His
Divine Love and infinite Providence,
9. sincerely respect everything that is Holy and Sanctified –
both material and Spiritual Aspects of our Faith,
according to the Teachings of Christ and His Holy
Apostles,
10. self-discipline/control is essential for our immortal soul
to control and suppress our selfish, demanding mortal
flesh, thereby becoming Righteous Spiritual Beings who
are worthy Citizens of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
11. Live in Christ by applying His Divine Truth to our
thoughts, words and deeds, thereby acquiring the Holy
Virtues that make us Righteous and Worthy.
• Our Lord has provided everything necessary for our Salvation
and Eternal Life. We need only to fulfil His Divine Will
with Humility and Obedience.
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 21.
 • It is the Eternal Banishment of everything that is opposed to
God and the infinite Love, Blessings, and Beauty of His
Heavenly Kingdom.
• This is Divine Truth concerning Eternity - not mere
speculation or imagination but Divine Revelation!
• There is no need for discussion or debate because Christ our
Lord explicitly tells us about Eternity – “the Ages of ages.”
• The “Everlasting Fire,” “Outer Darkness” or the “Eternal Abyss”
was not intended for mankind, but for the evil one, Satan,
or ‘the devil,’ and all his demons.
• However, we shall Condemn ourselves to that Eternal Torment
due to our own “cold heartedness” – our most tragic lack of
Love for God, for one another and for all Creation!
• We shall either become worthy Citizens of God’s Heavenly
Kingdom of LOVE, or Condemn ourselves to be Eternally
Exiled to Hell, where there is no Love, Mercy, Compassion -
a total, absolute absence of God’s Loving Presence and
Divine Light, as well as everything that is Good.
• There is no third option at all! We only have NOW to Redeem
ourselves by Living in Christ – applying His Divine Truth to
our thoughts, words and deeds in all circumstances,
without exception!
• The devil and his fallen angels, who rebelled against God and
thus caused their own permanent, self-condemned Eternal
Expulsion from Divine Grace, are utterly terrified of their
Eternal Exile, which is why they obsessively crave mankind’s
Fall from our Lord’s Divine Love and Grace into that same
 “…And
appalling and ever miserable Spiritual Death.
• God in His Great Mercy and Love, provides us with every
means necessary, as well as providing us with so many
opportunities to Repent our sins so as to be Restored from
Spiritual Death to Spiritual Life in Christ.
• He has even permitted the evil one and his demons to hover
around – being neither of Heaven nor Earth – to tempt us so
that we become Spiritually Stronger and Perfected, drawing
ever closer to our Lord God.
• By confronting and overcoming our Spiritual Struggles, we
slowly but surely become Stronger and more Experienced,
thereby able to make better choices, decisions and Progress.
• At Christ’s Reappearance in all His Divine Glory – His ‘Parousia’
- the evil spirits shall be banished immediately to the
Eternal Abyss of Outer Darkness – hence the demons’
20. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES
• Some of them had grown up with Him and known Him since
childhood.
• Consequently, Christ “rebuked” His Disciples for their
“unbelief” and “hardness of heart” – their stubborn refusal
to accept Reality and Truth - despite having personally
Witnessed and Experienced the great Joy of Spiritual
Intimacy with our Lord during His Public Mission and at
meals that alluded to the Holy Mystery of Eucharist.
• Likewise, having received His Divine Revelations and Teachings,
none of us has a justifiable excuse for our lack of Love and
Commitment to Life in Christ – for failing to fulfil all the
essential requirements and Divine Commandments, as His
Faithful Disciples.
• If we do “…not believe those who had seen Him after He had
Risen…” we cannot regard ourselves as being Faithful
Disciples of Christ who Live in Him so as to become worthy
Children and Co-Heirs of our Heavenly Father and His
Eternal Kingdom of Love.
• We cannot ‘pick and choose’ what we shall accept or reject
when it comes to our Orthodox Christian Faith, but must
wholeheartedly trust our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ and His
Holy Apostolic, Universal and Orthodox Church.
• All questions, doubts or concerns must be immediately
addressed by consulting our Spiritual Fathers and Teachers
so we can fully comprehend Divine Truth as opposed to
mankind’s flawed opinion thereof.
He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the
Gospel to all Creation …’
• As Striving, Faithful Disciples of Christ, our thoughts, words
and deeds - our attitude, our speech and our actions – ought
to clearly express and demonstrate our Unconditional Love
for God and all Creation.
• As Disciples of Christ we ought to be Righteous Examples or
‘role models’ for others to want to follow and imitate in all
circumstances.
• This is the Sacred Mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He
requires all His Faithful Disciples to fulfil.
• God the Holy Spirit Guides, Enlightens and Empowers all His
Faithful to a full Understanding of the Mystery of Christ
and His Divine Mission, so that we can properly accomplish
all requirements of this Sacred, Divine and Salvific Mission.
• The Glorious Resurrection of our Saviour launched His Holy
Church towards Her World-wide Mission.
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 5.
 • All Nations are to become His Faithful Disciples who bear
witness to His Resurrection, without any discrimination nor
exception by means of their thoughts, words and deeds.
• Christ’s Resurrection affects every creature - the entire
Universe, for we shall all be similarly Resurrected into
Eternity.
 “…he who Believes and is Baptised shalt be Saved. He who does
not Believe shalt be Condemned…”
• These words refer to all mankind and their Faith in the One
True God.
• “…he who Believes and is Baptised shalt be Saved…’ refers to
who those whose thoughts, words and deeds are according
to the Sacred Teachings of Unconditional Love for God and
for each other - as the Holy Prophets of God taught the Old
Covenant Faithful and as Christ our Divine Saviour has
taught us according to the New Covenant of Love.
• All mankind shall be Judged according to these Divine Laws
and Teachings. Those who live respectfully, obediently and
honourably according to Divinely Inspired Natural Laws
shall also be Judged appropriately.
• Natural laws understand the difference between Love and
Goodness, and hatred and wickedness, for everything
created is naturally Good, kind, compassionate, and
beneficial. Anything evil is unnatural and wilfully
destructive.
• The Holy Mystery of Baptism Cleanses us from Ancestral Sin,
without altering our free will to choose good or evil.
• Having “…put on Christ…” when Baptised, we must constantly
Strive to Live in Christ by Struggling against temptation and
resisting or Repenting sins we commit.
• Salvation is an ongoing Process for although we are Saved, we
are constantly being Saved until we are finally – and
hopefully - Saved and granted Eternal Life.
• Due to our sinful inclinations, we must continually Repent our
sins so that we may Acquire the Holy Virtues that lead to
Unconditional Love/Agape and Spiritual Perfection or
Theosis or Deification – our ultimate Sacred Purpose
• Christ commended the Sacred Task of Baptism to His Apostles
- not to the laity or public.
• Only Ordained Apostolic Successors – Orthodox Bishops or
Priests – have the Divine Authority to Baptise and
Chrismate, and to perform the other Divine Mysteries, and
6. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES
in; naked and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison and
you did not visit Me.’
• Most of us consistently or, at least, occasionally, fail to fulfil
our Sacred Duties to God and to our fellow mankind, as well
as to our natural environment and all creatures great and
small.
• Our Lord Jesus repeated these Sacred Duties, which the
Righteous succeeded in fulfilling, while the Condemned
failed to do so, because He wants us to remember them and
to accomplish them whenever an opportunity presents itself
to us.
• He told us that “…the poor shall always be with you…”
because they remind of many important facts of this
temporary lifespan before Eternity.
• As St John of Kronstadt so compassionately and sorrowfully
wept “Today my Brother, tomorrow me!” (Or as a 16th
Century man, John Bradford said: “There, but for the Grace
of God go I …” as he watched a group of convicted criminals
being led to their execution.)
 “...inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you
did not do it to Me... go away into Everlasting Punishment...”
• “…one of the least of these” refers to people and creatures
great and small, whom we neglected to care for, protect
or harmed, either directly or indirectly, voluntarily or
involuntarily!
• All Creation is due to the Love of Almighty God Who
commanded Adam/mankind to take good care of
everything, for as He said “It is Good!” Yet in a very
short period, we have done great harm to nature, our
beautiful planet, and to each other.
• Our Lord God Himself revealed and described the
Consequences of Eternal Condemnation.
• “…Everlasting Punishment…” is Eternal Spiritual Exile or “Outer
Darkness,” which is the absolute, irrevocable,
indescribable and most terrifying of all Spiritual Exile or
permanent, perpetual Alienation from God and all His
Goodness.
• It is an Eternal, Unchangeable State of Spiritual Death,
Darkness and Ceaseless Suffering – the absolute
absence of anything Loving, Peaceful, Blissful, Joyful or
Good!
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 19.
 • Having been created in the Image and Likeness of God, we
should see all humanity as a reflected Divine Image of
God – the Image of the Son of Man.
• By regarding everyone else as though we were seeing our Lord
Jesus Christ Himself before us, is the Fulfilment of His
Golden Commandment to Love each other as much as He
Loves us.
• When we treat others with as much Love as we profess to
have for God, we prove our integrity.
• On the contrary, when we show neither Compassion,
Kindness nor any degree of Love for others, we expose
the wickedness that lurks within our heart and soul!
• As much as God Loves and Blesses us, and as much as we
expect to receive from Him, we must reciprocate by treating
each other with the same consideration.
 “…Signs shalt follow those who Believe…”
• Whatever we do for - or to others - with the right attitude
of Agape, God returns to us “a hundredfold” – He grants
us a hundred times more Blessings!
• Whether good or evil, everything comes back a hundred
times more to us!
• Those who ‘hunger and thirst’ are not only those who suffer
physical hunger and thirst, but who yearn for the Eternal
Hope of the Holy Gospel of Christ Jesus.
 “…In My Name demons shalt be cast out…”
• The Holy, Orthodox Church of Christ provides all our
essential needs for daily Life in Christ so that we no
longer hunger, thirst, nor are left naked, imprisoned or
abandoned.
 “...He shalt also say to those at His left: ‘Depart from Me, you
cursed, into the Everlasting Fire prepared for the devil and
his angels!”
• These most terrifying of all Words shall be addressed to those
who rejected our Lord God and refused to Repent their sins.
• The Everlasting Fire is one of several descriptions of Eternal
Hell – Eternal Spiritual Exile - revealed to us by God
Himself.
• It refers to a Spiritual State that is Eternally Exiled from our
Lord God and totally without any Divine Goodness, Mercy,
Light and Love – an utter absence of anything desirable,
pleasant and beautiful.
 “…I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you
gave Me no drink; I was a Stranger and you did not take Me
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to conduct all the other essential Holy Services that sustain
us.
• Salvation includes Faith and Baptism, which needs to be
correctly taught and understood, so as to be fully
appreciated and respected.
• Obviously, those who voluntarily choose to reject the Divine
Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Triune, Almighty
God, shall be Condemned to Eternal Death – Eternal Exile
and Alienation from God and all His Goodness – “Outer
Darkness” or “the Abyss” which terrifies even the demons!
• The Holy Mystery of Baptism is the Institution of our Christian
Discipleship, without which we cannot Partake nor fully
participate in any of the other essential Life-sustaining Holy
Mysteries.
• Initially, “Signs” of Divine Miracles were granted to assure the
Faithful that everything Christ has Promised us or Foretold
has indeed occurred.
• Now we have so much positive proof and evidence of God’s
Divine Miracles that Signs are not always necessary. Instead
the Spiritual Fruit - the positive results - of one’s Faithful
Labours of Love is clear enough evidence or proof for those
who seek or need it.
• The very first Divine Miracles performed through the Holy
Apostles concerned the Exorcism of demons.
• Nevertheless, their excitement over this accomplishment was
quickly stifled by our Lord Who severely cautioned us never
to brag about ‘defeating’ demons or wickedness, but rather
to be humbly grateful for God’s Great Mercy that Saves us
all.
• Exorcism can only be performed by Ordained Bishops and
Priests who have to prepare themselves very carefully
before doing so.
• We must never let our guard down concerning the evil one and
his wickedness, and must depend entirely upon the Will and
Purpose of Almighty God.
• Sincere and ceaseless Prayers keeps us in the Presence of our
Lord and thus prevents demons from disturbing us.
• To invoke the Name of the Incarnate Son of God is also to call
upon the Father and the Holy Spirit - three Divine Persons,
One/United in Divine Nature and Divine Power.
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 7.
  “…With new Tongues shalt they speak…”
• When God the Holy Spirit descended on the Holy Apostles and
Faithful Disciples on Pentecost Sunday He bestowed His
Divine Gifts on them, Enlightening, Enabling and
Empowering them to fulfil the Sacred Mission of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
• Speaking with “ new tongues” was a Divine Gift of Miraculous
Communication with all those who spoke different
languages or dialects, in order to spread the Holy Gospel of
Christ to all mankind.
• “Speaking in tongues” became highly valued by the Christians
of Corinth, and essential to all those who spread the Divine
Teachings throughout the known world.
• However, it but became unnecessary when everyone spoke the
same language and could communicate clearly with each
other.
• This Divine Gift may also occur spontaneously by the Grace of
God when Faithful Disciples are speaking two different
languages yet are able to fully comprehend each other.
• Unfortunately, those who claim to ‘speak in tongues’ yet babble
nonsensically – not speaking any specific language nor
having a need to convey Divine Truth nor to accomplish a
Sacred Task - are anathema for they mock God the Holy
Spirit, which is an unforgivable blasphemy!
• Furthermore, ‘speaking in tongues’ does not prove one to be
‘Christian’ as some claim because this Divine Gift is
bestowed only according to the Will and Grace of God
when absolutely necessary.
 “…Serpents shalt they take up. No deadly drink shalt harm
them…”
• St Paul had picked up a venomous snake and had not been
harmed by its bite.
• The Church Historian, Eusebius, related an account of St
Barsabas Justus, a Faithful Disciple, who was forced to
drink poison by non-believers who were testing him, yet he
remained unharmed by the Grace of God.
• Nevertheless the Holy, Orthodox Church of Christ strictly
prohibits deliberate, harmful acts against oneself as
demonstrations of one’s Faith. It is strictly forbidden to
test the Lord our God under any circumstances!
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• Thereby we acquire Humility and Obedience to God, which is
the very first big step closer to Spiritual Perfection and
Eternal Life.
 “…the Righteous shall answer Him, saying: ‘Lord, when did we
see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give Thee
drink?”
• Words and deeds of Agape/Love are the natural, immediate
response of the Righteous who Live according to the Love
and Will of our Heavenly Father.
• Words and deeds of Love encapsulate all the various Holy
Virtues such as Humility, Obedience, Liberality/Generosity,
Chastity, Gentleness, Kindness, Patience, Mercifulness,
Compassion, Temperance, Longsuffering, Happiness,
Diligence, etc.
• Those who are truly Righteous, think, speak and act constantly
with unconditional Love for God and others without seeking
any degree of fame, attention nor reward.
• They fulfil the needs of others as and when they see them -
without hesitation nor question, compelled and motivated
by Divine Agape, which few others understand or perceive.
• ‘Hunger’ and ‘thirst’ also applies to our natural Spiritual
Hunger and Thirst for Divine Truth and the need to be in
the Very Presence of Almighty God, even when we are too
immature and inexperienced to fully understand our
Spiritual Yearning to return to His Paradise.
• Acts of welcoming and accommodating ‘strangers’/visitors,
‘clothing the naked’ and ‘visiting those who are ‘imprisoned’
also have more profound meanings.
 We welcome visitors or prospective Brethren into our
Church by providing them with necessary Spiritual
Assistance, Guidance and Encouragement.
 We Teach, Encourage and Guide one another as we all
‘hunger and thirst’ for our Lord’s Divine Truth and
Worship.
 We pay attention to and encourage those who are
Spiritually Adrift - sick or imprisoned by their own
grievous passions - by gently and lovingly leading
them by our own Life in Christ to the Divine Light
and Love of Almighty God.
 “... inasmuch as you did so to one of the least of these My
Brethren, you did it to Me’...”
• Our Lord referred to all the poor, the needy and the destitute
of the world – in both a spiritual and a physical sense.
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 17.
 • Our Loving Lord God prepared His Heavenly Kingdom for us
even before He created the Universe and everything visible
and invisible.
• Paradise is the temporary Spiritual State before Entry into His
Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom that is far beyond anything
mankind can imagine.
 “...I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you
gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was
naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I
was in prison and you came to Me...’
• is the standard of Divine Judgement - uncalculated Love
and Mercy towards one another.
• These Works or Good Deeds that are produced by True Faith
are emphasised by Christ because such Saving Faith always
produces Righteous Works – Good Deeds compelled by
Divine, unconditional, all-encompassing Love – True Agape.
• Whatever we think, say or do reflects our true Inner State.
• No matter what lip-service and empty gestures we use to
convince others – including ourselves – of how well-
intentioned we are, our deeds ultimately expose the true
condition of our soul.
 Our Lord Jesus Christ is “…seated at the Right Hand of God…”
• Consequently, it is essential to our proper Spiritual
Development to be absolutely honest with ourselves, with
god and with everyone else.
• Spiritual Watchfulness and continuous (constructive) self-
examination, which leads to Repentance-Confession,
teaches us to meticulously and continuously scrutinise
our own personal weaknesses – especially those hidden
away in the darkened crevasses of our soul.
• By the Grace of God, we can and must expose such defects
to the Divine Light of God’s Truth and be
Healed/Cleansed.
• D a i l y S pi r i t u a l A c c o u n t i n g is recommended for all
Struggling Disciples of Christ who genuinely wish to
improve themselves and their Relationship with God as
well as with their fellow human beings.
 “…They
• We shall know if we are making any Progress when – instead of
pointing accusatory fingers elsewhere – we immediately
turn our attention inwards and correct our own glaring
errors.
16. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES
 “…After our Lord had spoken to them, He Ascended into
Heaven…”
• This Divine Event of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Ascension into
Heaven in His Resurrected, Incarnate state was witnessed on
Mount Olivet by 120 Faithful Disciples.
• The Holy Icon depicts our Lord Jesus surrounded by His Holy
Angels, who constantly watched over Him while He
sojourned on Earth. In similar fashion, He shall reappear in
all His Divine Glory, for the entire Creation to behold, when
He shall Judge us.
• Before His Ascension in His physical, visible Form, Christ
issued His final Instructions to His Holy Flock, having
assured us that God the Holy Spirit shall be with us,
granting us everything necessary for the accomplishment of
His Divine Mission – the Salvation and Spiritual Perfection
of mankind.
• The Holy Trinity is always with us, acting in Perfect Unity
according to the Will of our Heavenly Father, through the
Teachings of Christ, by the Power and Energy of the Holy
Spirit.
our Heavenly Father, as clearly witnessed by His Faithful
Disciples when the Heavens opened up.
• As the Beloved, Eternal Word and Son of God, our Lord Jesus is
Enthroned and Honoured in all His Glory, at the Right Hand
Side of our Heavenly Father, which is the most honourable
position.
• Although it is impossible for any created being – even the
Heavenly Angels – to see God the Father and God the Holy
Spirit – we can only see and hear our Lord Jesus Christ in
His Incarnate Image and Likeness.
• Even while Living in the midst of His People on Earth, the
Divine Son and Word of God was ever present in His
Heavenly Realm, together with God the Father and God the
Holy Spirit. For the Three Persons of the One Godhead are
Eternally United.
went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working
with them and Confirming the Word through the
accompanying Signs …” after having returned to Jerusalem, as
instructed by Christ, to await God the Holy Spirit.
• After Pentecost, being endowed with Divine Gifts of God the
Holy Spirit, the Apostles and Disciples spread far and wide
to fulfil the Divine Mission that Saves and Perfects us.
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 9.
 • Only by the Will and Grace of God are we able to accomplish
Good Works for His Glory, Honour and Worship. Without
God, we are less than nothing.
• Humility and Obedience to God enable us to fulfil Labours of
Love by the Grace of God - even those far beyond our own
abilities.
• Note the sequence of events:
1. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven and
being seated/Enthroned in Glory “at the right Hand of God”
– the most honourable position.
2. The immovable stability of Christ’s Royal State - His Eternal
sharing in the Divine Power and Lordship of God our
Heavenly Father.
3. The Divine Mission of Christ - He cooperates with His
Apostles, working with them and confirming the Holy
Gospel they preached, partly through accompanying Signs.
• The Book of Acts provides ample evidence of this ongoing
Synergy between mankind and God
• The Holy Orthodox Church has always regarded this ending as
Canonical and Divinely Inspired despite some manuscripts
that do not include this longer ending [verses 9-20]. Later
traditions testify to ‘several endings.’
• The Holy Gospels According to St Matthew and St Luke are
more detailed concerning the Divine Commission of Christ.
First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthian 8:8 – 9: 2
 “...food shalt not commend us to God, for we are no worse off if
we do not eat, and no better off if we do...”
• Whether we Fast from certain foods or not, it makes no
difference to our Spiritual Welfare.
• God does not Judge us on the food we eat - but He does Judge
us on the consequences of our thoughts, words and deeds -
 Self-discipline and unconditional Love
 attitude and treatment of all Creation and one another
 selfishness and self-indulgence
 neglect and waste of our limited lifespan
 failure to Repent our sins
 “...beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a
Stumbling Block to those who are weak...” because our
thoughts, words and deeds always effect others.
10. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES
• His Faithful Sheep are those who Struggle and Strive to sustain
and maintain Spiritual Life in Christ.
• Like sheep, the Faithful Disciples follow and obey our Lord
Jesus Christ in all circumstances, and become worthy
Citizens of His Kingdom of Love.
• On the contrary, the “Goats” are wilful, undisciplined, arrogant
creatures who follow their own desires. They are stubborn,
self-indulgent, unrepentant, and disobedient to the Voice of
the Good Shepherd.
• They Condemn themselves through their lack of Love, Self-
sacrifice, Humility and Obedience and are thus unworthy as
Citizens of God’s Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
 "... Come, you Blessed of My Father: inherit the Kingdom
prepared for you from the Foundation of the world...”
• This most wonderful Divine Invitation shall be addressed to
those who have ceaselessly Striven to become worthy
Citizens of God’s Kingdom of Love.
• Those who are “...Blessed of My Father...” are those who
consistently did everything possible to obey and to fulfil the
Will of our Heavenly Father.
• By Living in Christ, we are indeed Blessed – both now and in
Eternity.
• Inheritance suggests family members such as sons and
daughters rather than strangers or servants.
• The Righteous are those who have truly become Children of
God by Adoption according to their worthy thoughts,
words and deeds.
 Galatians 4: 4 – 7: “... When the fullness of the time had come,
God sent forth His Son, Born of a Woman; Born under the
Law, to Redeem those who were under the Law, that we
might receive Adoption as sons.”
• The Son of God refers to our Lord Jesus Christ Who is Eternally
God by Nature.
• Our Creator became visible and Lived amongst us so as to
teach us directly, in order to Restore all mankind to our
original, created state of Spiritual Perfection.
• Although we are the Adopted Children of God by means of the
Holy Mystery of Baptism, we shall lose our Divine
Inheritance if we remain wilful and unrepentant – if we
remain in a state of Spiritual Death and
alienation/separation from God and each other.
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 15.
 • Since His Crucifixion was impending, our Lord Jesus raised His
Disciples’ awareness of His Visible Glory and Magnificence
when He shall Reappear in all His Magnificent Divine Glory,
seated on His Awesome Judgement Seat, with His entire
Creation before Him.
• Only St Peter, St James and St John fully understood what He
spoke of, since they had witnessed His Glorious
Transfiguration on Mount Tabor
• The Divine Title “Son of Man” refers to the visible, Incarnate
Person of the (invisible) Divine, Eternal Son of God - our
Lord Jesus Christ.
• Being seated on His Throne of Glory, all Creation shall see our
Lord Jesus Christ in all His Divine Majesty and Glory.
 “...gathered before Him shalt be all the Nations…”
• We shall be Judged by our uncalculated Love and Mercy
towards each other.
• Righteous souls shall be overwhelmed by Love, Peace and Joy,
while unrepentant souls shall be trembling with
immeasurable terror.
• Our unrepented sins and errors condemn us. We actually
Condemn ourselves because we choose to remain in a State
of Spiritual Death and Unrepentance.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ was explicitly clear that we only have
this short lifespan in which to correct ourselves and
improve ourselves - by constant self-examination,
Repentance and Confession, in order to become Spiritually
Perfected.
• Our Lord God is our only Judge Who is Loving, Merciful and
Just.
• Our Divine Saviour provides everything necessary for our
Eternal Salvation.
• God never forces His Divine Love or Will upon us.
• The Consequences of our own choices rests entirely upon
us.
 “...He shalt separate them one from another, as a Shepherd
divides His Sheep from the Goats. And He shalt set the
Sheep on His Right Hand Side, the Goats on His left. ...”
• Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd.
• His Faithful Disciples are His “Reason-endowed Sheep” –
intellectual beings with free will - able to make good or bad
choices.
14. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES
• We must always be very careful to neither offend one another
nor lead each other astray by our personal habits, ideas or
preferences.
• Throughout this short preparatory life, we need to perpetually
Struggle against all temptations, and Strive to make good
Spiritual Progress – to acquire Spiritual Perfection.
• It is the Sacred Duty of every Faithful Disciple of Christ to
encourage, support and correctly Guide, assist and teach
one another.
 “...if anyone sees you, who are Knowledgeable, at a table in an
idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his Conscience
is weak, to eat food offered to idols?...”
• Those who are Spiritually Experienced and Knowledgeable have
to become the best examples or role models for others to
follow/imitate.
• Because we Strive and Struggle to become “Christ-like” we
ought not to speak nor act contrary to Christ’s Teachings
and His own Perfect Example.
 “…so this weak Brother is destroyed by your Knowledge – for
whom Christ died…”
• St Paul referred to our own lack of True Knowledge or Divine
Truth, which misleads or causes not only ourselves to
commit sin but encourages others as well.
• A little knowledge is dangerous because all too often we
assume we fully understand something when we are, in fact,
misinformed or far less knowledgeable that we realise.
 “…Thus, sinning against your Brethren and wounding their
Conscience when it is weak, against Christ you sin…”
• By either incorrectly teaching and misguiding our Brethren, we
commit three extremely grievous sins
1. Against our Lord God Whose Divine Truth we have failed to
learn correctly and apply to our own thoughts, words
and deeds.
2. Against our inexperienced Brethren who trust us to know
more than them and depend on us to show them the
Righteous Path by sharing Divine Truth with them.
3. Against ourselves because we have Condemned ourselves
by disobeying God and His Divine Truth and have
subsequently also harmed others by deceiving them due
to our own lack of Knowledge, Humility and Obedience
to God.
• To live in Christ, we must constantly look to Him for Divine
Guidance, or those whom He has Called to Guide, Teach and
3 5 A P - 3 T R I O - M E A T F A R E / J U D G E M E N T S U N D A Y – E X P L A N A T O R Y N O T E S 11.
 Advise – especially our Holy Church Fathers and Teachers
whose Inspired Spiritual Experience is priceless.
• The inseparable Holy Virtues of Humility and Obedience are
vital to our Spiritual Development and Progress.
• Christ our Saviour died for all human beings – He paid the
ultimate Ransom for the Salvation of all mankind – not for
just a select few.
• If we lead others astray through our own misguided or
erroneous knowledge, we cause them to suffer Spiritual
Death – i.e. fall into sin, which separates us from God’s
Divine Grace and Presence – the consequences of which are
dire indeed!
• Consequently, whenever we sin against each other, we sin
against Christ – i.e. Almighty God – the Holy Trinity Who
always operate in Perfect Unity and Harmony.
 “…Therefore, if food is a cause of my Brother’s Falling, I shall
never eat meat, lest I cause my Brother to Fall!”
• If we do anything that causes the Spiritual Death of anyone
else, we must ensure that we never do so again in case we
cause even more people to fall into wickedness or error that
is harmful and Eternally Condemning..
• The burden of that sin shall indeed be upon us who have
caused their Fall and we shall be Eternally Condemned for
it, unless we quickly Repent and correct our errors.
• Faithful Disciples of Christ who Live in Christ, are always
motivated by a selfless regard for the Benefit of many –
never for themselves – and without fail, for the Glory,
Honour and Worship of God!
 “...Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Have I not beheld Jesus
our Lord? “ are rhetorical questions.
• St Paul is a Holy Apostle of Christ who has been granted
Spiritual Freedom when he Encountered our Lord Jesus and
received His Sacred Calling to spread His New Covenant
throughout the known world.
• He became indeed “the Apostle to the Gentiles”, having
converted innumerable multitudes of pagans to Christ and
His New Covenant of Love.
• The authenticity of St Paul’s Apostleship was often attacked by
the Judean Hebrews.
12. 35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES
 “…Are you not my Workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am
not an Apostle, at least, I am to you, for you are the Seal of
my Apostleship in our Lord…”
• These words refer to those who rejected St Paul as an authentic
Holy Apostle of our Lord Jesus and those who wholehearted
accepted him as their Spiritual Father - as the Divinely
Inspired Teacher of Christ’s New Covenant and Holy Gospel.
• St Paul not only preached our Lord’s Divine Truth but also
Lived by It.
• Likewise, if we profess to believe in Christ and His Divine Truth
– to be a Faithful Disciple of Christ - we must also apply
everything He taught us to our thoughts, words and deeds.
• Similar to the Divine Encounter and Sacred Calling of St Paul by
our Lord Jesus Christ, others have also been Called by God
to serve Him, being filled with the Wisdom and Knowledge –
and everything necessary.
• God the Holy Spirit Enlightens, Empowers and Enables us to
fulfil the Wonderful, Divinely-Inspired Work, according to
the Will of our Heavenly Father.
• By the Grace of God, it becomes possible for Extraordinary and
Impossible Feats to be accomplished by ordinary human
beings.
• The Authenticity of Divine Calling is in the Spiritual Fruit
that is brought forth for the exclusive Glory, Honour and
Worship of Almighty God.
• The effectiveness of the Clergy of the Holy Church of Christ –
our Spiritual Shepherds or Holy Fathers - is certified by the
Spiritual Condition of the Faithful – the Spiritual Flock of
God - the Faithful Congregation or Laity (people of the
Parish)
Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 25 : 31 - 46
 “…When the Son of Man comes in His Glory, and all the Holy
Angels with Him, then He will sit on the Throne of His
Glory…”
• This is the majestic climax of Christ’s Discourse concerning His
Second Coming/Appearance – “Parousia.”
• This is the Divine Revelation of the Universal Judgement of
all Creation.
35AP-3TRIO-MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY – EXPLANATORY NOTES 13.