Sophia - Melkite Eparchy of Newton

News from Around the EparchyAReflectionSt. Philip Mission – San Bernardino, CALLet your light shine before men thatthey may see all your good worksand give glory to your Fatherwho is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)Congratulations to pastor Fr. JustinRose, protodeacon Stephen Ghandour,deacon Jacob Pesta and subdeaconJoseph Kaiser.We pray:Father most holy we proclaim yourgreatness, all your works show forthyour wisdom and love, you formed manand (woman) in your likeness andentrusted the whole world to theircare, so that in serving you alone, theircreator, they might be stewards of allcreation. (St. Maximos the confessor)And, we also pray:May they be the salt of the earth, andthe light of the world. (Cf. Matthew5:13-14)The Church of St. Philip in SanBernardino, CA was revered by thepresence of many shepherds, flockedby St. Philip’s parishioners andenlightened with the presence of theMelkite Shepherd Cyril Bustros whospoke of the Truth of Christianity.“Whereas,” he said, “the religion ofIslam awaits the second coming ofChrist, and the Jewish religion believesin a messiah who is to come, weChristians pray, celebrate, and glorifythe Christ who is among us.”Afterwards, the community of St.Phillip the Apostle Mission welcomedArchbishop Cyril at the same hallwhere Jesus-the-poor-is served everyThursday’s Lazarus night.The most excelled, positive argumentfor apologetics is silence, is love.The Christ who dwelt among us, theLove who dwells among us, said, followme. None paused, none questioned,none doubted, yet all marveled.Christianity is marvelously deliveredup to freedom, and the joy is ours tochoose or refuse. In serving the poor asmy friend Mike Mobley joyfully handsthe salt to our homeless friends, thewords of my beloved Jesus arerefreshed in my mind: you are the saltof the earth. What a joy most mercifulGod! A joy that presses our hearts inwant! Not that you need our service,14 SOPHIA • Winter 2008but you will us happiness. Apologeticsis living our faith, is falling down atJesus knees saying, depart from me forI am a sinful man O Lord. (Cf. Luke5:8) Surely Jesus didn’t depart, andPeter was the one chosen out of thetwelve who followed the Savior.Celebrating the elevation, the ordination,and the blessing of the new protodeacon,deacon, and subdeacon respectivelyby Archbishop Cyril Bustros, weas Catholics ought to feel privileged withthe humility of obedience.I believe as Christians we have noexcuse not to care, not to smile, not toshare, for in the most humbling, mostelating personal relationship withJesus, in the Eucharist, there is no limitto the comfort we can give others oncewe are comforted. We were boughtwith a price. We owe gratitude. One’sindividual love, integrity, generosity,concern for others, respect for thelowly is a Sacramental sign of Christ’spresence to another individual, henceno dramatic or extraordinary deedsrequired. As we close our eyes, shutour ears to the wickedness of theworld, we enter with reverence thehouse of God, with our sins before uswe call: Lord have mercy.I pray every person we meet seesJesus in us, as we see Jesus in them.Through our works, through being servantsto one another, let us exemplifywhat the Master told us: the servant isno greater than his master. Aren’t thesebeautiful events, these services, goodworks that give glory to our Father whois in heaven? “For as the body apartfrom the spirit is dead, so faith apartfrom works is dead.” (James 2:26)I pray we contemplate on the lives ofthe Saints and try to follow in theirfootsteps. During Lent, we fast, andmost of us complain as if we are doingGod a service. I wonder, do we think ofour brothers and sisters who live Lentall year, every day, who fast out oflack, and who are content with a loaf ofbread? Saints did.Even if your food is reduced to oneloaf, if there is a beggar at the door, takethis loaf out of your larder, hold it up toheaven in your hands and say these sad,but generous words: Lord, the loafwhich you see is my last and danger isimminent; but I am remembering yourcommand and am giving of the littlethat I have to my brother who is hungry.(St. Basil of Caesarea) †Ms. Nellie Jo Antonios, a parishioner of St.Philip Mission, writes from Riverside, CA.