March 23, 2025

Tone 6

 Third Sunday of Great Lent

Veneration of the Cross

Third Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross

Commemorated on March 23

(OCA) The Third Sunday of Lent is that of the Veneration of the Cross. The cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the lenten season not merely to remind men of Christ’s redemption and to keep before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that reality by which man must live to be saved. “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt.10:38). For in the Cross of Christ Crucified lies both “the power of God and the wisdom of God” for those being saved (1 Cor.1:24).

Glory to Jesus Christ!

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is this Wednesday at 6 p.m. If you are planning on receiving holy communion, please fast after lunch.

Akathist to the Passion of Christ will be sung, on Friday at Noon.

Inquirers/Catechumen classes will continue discussing  Catechism: A Short Guide to Orthodox Christianity by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev). If someone you know (or you!) is interested in learning more about the Gospel, the faith of the Church, and what it means to be a disciple of Christ, this is the class.

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

First Petition: Asking for Deliverance from Destructive Passions

"O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk."

Before we can grow in virtue, we must first be freed from the passions that hinder us. This section of the prayer is a plea for spiritual purification, asking God to remove four specific destructive attitudes.

1. Sloth – The Enemy of Spiritual Growth

Sloth, in a spiritual sense, is not merely laziness but a deep indifference toward God, prayer, and our own salvation. It manifests as procrastination in spiritual matters, avoidance of repentance, and lack of enthusiasm for worship.

How It Affects Us:

• Neglecting prayer, church services, and spiritual reading.
• Feeling no urgency to repent or improve spiritually.
• Seeking distractions instead of spending time with God.

Practical Steps to Overcome Sloth:

• Create a prayer rule and follow it daily, even if it’s short.
• Prioritize church attendance - commit to going even when it feels inconvenient.
• Set spiritual goals, such as reading a portion of the Gospel daily.
• Surround yourself with people who encourage your faith.

When we fight against sloth, we invite the fire of the Holy Spirit into our hearts, awakening a true desire for God.

2. Despair – The Loss of Hope in God

Despair is one of the devil’s greatest weapons. It convinces us that we are beyond redemption, that our sins are too great, or that God is distant and unconcerned.

How It Affects Us:

• Feeling unworthy of God’s mercy.
• Losing motivation to repent because we believe we won’t change.
• Becoming overwhelmed by guilt instead of turning to Christ.

Practical Steps to Overcome Despair:

• Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son - God is always ready to receive us.
• Confess regularly - this sacrament is a direct encounter with Christ’s mercy.
• Meditate on the Psalms, especially Psalm 50 (51), which expresses repentance and hope.
• Practice gratitude - recognizing God’s blessings can renew your faith in His goodness.

No matter how many times we fall, we must always rise again. The Saints were not people who never sinned, but those who never gave up on God’s mercy.

3. Lust of Power – The Desire to Control and Dominate

Lust for power is the desire to control, manipulate, or dominate others. It stems from pride and leads to selfish ambition, conflict, and oppression.

How It Affects Us:

• Wanting to be in control of everything.
• Seeking recognition or authority over others for self-glory.
• Manipulating others to get our way.

Practical Steps to Overcome Lust of Power:

• Practice servant leadership - Christ, the King of Kings, washed His disciples' feet.
• Accept that God is in control, not us - learning to trust Him brings peace.
• Be willing to listen and take advice rather than always wanting to lead.
• Cultivate humility - seek ways to serve rather than be served.

True greatness comes from serving others, not ruling over them. The Saints became great not through power but through humility and love.

4. Idle Talk – The Power of Words

Idle talk includes gossip, slander, empty chatter, and meaningless distractions. Words have power - they can bless or harm, build up or destroy.

How It Affects Us:

• Wasting time on useless conversations instead of edifying ones.
• Gossiping or speaking negatively about others.
• Speaking without thinking, causing unnecessary harm.

Practical Steps to Overcome Idle Talk:

• Think before you speak: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
• Use words to encourage and bless others.
• Spend more time in prayer and silence - listening to God rather than speaking.

The tongue is small, but it can set entire lives on fire (James 3:5). When we control our speech, we become more Christ-like.

To be continued...

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, March 19

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

Thursday, March 20

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confession
• 6:00 PM: OCF Meeting

Friday, March 21

• Noon: Akathist to the Passion of Christ

Saturday, March 22

• 3:00 PM: Inquirers/Catechumen Class
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, March 23 (Sunday of the Cross)

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy & Veneration of the Cross

Looking Ahead

Monday, March 24

• TBD: Vespers (Annunciation)

Tuesday, March 25

• TBD: Divine Liturgy (Annunciation)

Wednesday, March 19

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

Thursday, March 27

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confession [canceled]

Friday, March 28

• Noon: Akathist to the Passion of Christ

Saturday, March 29

• 3:00 PM: Inquirers/Catechumen Class [canceled]
• 4:00 PM: Confessions
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, March 30 (Sunday of St. John Climacus)

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 6 Troparion (Resurrection)

The Angelic Powers were at Thy tomb; the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Thy grave, seeking Thy most pure body. Thou didst capture hell not being tempted by it. Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, Who didst rise from the dead,//glory to Thee.  

Tone 1 Troparion of the Cross

O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance! Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Thy Cross,//preserve Thy habitation!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone 7 Kontakion (Cross)

Now the flaming sword no longer guards the gates of Eden; it has been mysteriously quenched by the wood of the Cross.The sting of death and the victory of hell have been vanquished; for Thou, O my Savior, hast come and cried to those in hell://“Enter again into Paradise!”

(Instead of the Trisagion, we sing:)

Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify.

Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-5:6

Brethren, seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

“You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.”

As He also says in another place:

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek.”

Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(Instead of “It is truly meet…,” we sing the following)

Hymn to the Theotokos

All of creation rejoices in thee, O Full of Grace:

the assembly of angels and the race of men.

O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise,

the glory of virgins,

from whom God was incarnate and became a Child:

our God before the ages.

He made thy body into a throne,

and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens.

All of creation rejoices in thee, O Full of Grace.//

Glory to thee!

By the age of 25, about 60% of those baptized as infants will no longer consider themselves members of the Orthodox Church. A parish on a university campus is an important witness not only to the surrounding community but also to high school age and younger parishioner. Establishing a parish on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison helps remind young people that graduating high school doesn't mean "graduating" from the Church. Please consider joining those who have committed their time, treasure and talent in establishing an Orthodox community on the Isthmus.

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