Icon of the Entrance into Jerusalem

Entrance into Jerusalem(Palm Sunday)

Flowery Sunday / Palm Sunday April 9, 2017 Glory to Jesus Christ! Our Bishop, clergy, religious and faithful welcome you to St. Stephen Ca-thedral. We are delighted that you have joined us for our Divine Liturgy. Our Church follows the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel and passed on to us through the teachings of the Apostles and Holy Tradition.This Week’s Liturgy ScheduleSun. 4/9 FLOWERY SUNDAY/PALM SUNDAYSat. 5:00 PM Parishioners, Benefactors and Friends (Blessing of Palms/Willows)(Fr. David) Sun. 7:45 PM Blessing of Palms and Pussy Willows with procession to churchSun. 8:00 AM +Richard J. Ramaglia by Donald Sopiak Family (Fr. Joe)Sun. 9:45 PM Blessing of Palms and Pussy Willows with procession to churchSun. 10:00 AM +Jonathan Sharpie (Fr. Diodoro) Mon. 4/10 Holy Monday7:00 PM Bridegroom Matins (Bishop John) +Jonathan Sharpie (Panachida)

Tue. 4/11 Holy Tuesday 7:00 PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Bishop John) +Mary Somich by a Friend

Wed. 4/12 Holy Wednesday6:00 PM Special Healing Service and Blessing of Grounds7:00 PM Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts (Bishop John) +Tom Garcia by Sisters of St. Basil

Thu. 4/13 Holy Thursday 7:00 PM Vesper/Liturgy of St. Basil the Great Fri. 4/14 Good Friday7:00 PM Entombment Vespers/Procession with Holy Shroud (Bishop John) Confession times: After Vespers All-Night Vigil: after Vespers to Jerusalem Matins

Sat. 4/15 Holy Saturday 9:00 AM Jerusalem Matins (Bishop John)5:00 PM Pascha Vigil Divine Liturgy of St. Basil (Bishop John) Blessing of Easter Food in parish hall

Sun. 4/16 Pascha / Day of Our Lord’s Resurrection9:00 AM Resurrection Matins with Procession & Divine Liturgy (Bishop John) Blessing of Easter Food to follow in the parish hall

SPECIAL SPONSORSThis space is available for advertisements to help subside the cost of the bulletin. If you know of a business and/or an organization that would like to advertise in our bulletin please contact Fr. Dio-doro for promotional rates. Thank you!*************************************************************************************************Vital Biz Group, PLLC Nicholas Stefaniak III, CPAStrategies for Today’s Business info@vitalbizgroup.comScottsdale AZ 85258 www.vitalbizgroup.com480-526-7909 Office602-577-4991 Cell*************************************************************************************************LOUIE’S ULTRA CLEANERSWWW.LOUIESULTRACLEANERS.COMEco-friendly Dry Cleaning/ Alterations & Repairs/ Wedding Gown PreservationLeather & Suede/ Household Items4410 W. Union Hills Dr. Glendale, AZ 85308 (623) 582-4470 10855 N. Tatum Blvd. Phoenix AZ 85028*************************************************************************************************Q & A…email your questions: What is antidoron?

This word comes from the Greek, ‘instead of the gift’. The antidoron is cut from the PROSPHORA left after the Prothesis (Preparation). It is blessed during the Divine Liturgy and distributed or offered after the APOLYSIS (Dismissal). Antidoron is received and eaten with reverence. Some worshippers take antidoron to their homes and eat a little, with a sip of blessed water, as the first food of the day. It is the custom for communicants to take antidoron and, in some churches, wine mixed with warm water as an ablution. It is the practice in many places, especially the DIASPO-RA, for antidoron to be offered to visitors as a sign of Christian fellowship.

What is an antimension?

This is a Greek word that comes from the Latin mensa, ‘table’. The modern Byzantine antimesion is a lined oblong cloth imprinted with the image of Christ laid out for burial. The antimension should contain relics, and is usually consecrated by being used to wipe the oil with which an AL-TAR is anointed when it is consecrated. The bishop signs the antimension and issues it to a priest as his authority to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. In current use the chalice and diskos are always placed on an antimension during the Divine Liturgy; in earlier centuries, the sacred vessels were placed on the ILITON (Purification Cloth).

Essentially, the antimension is a substitute altar, which allows celebration of the Divine Liturgy where no consecrated altar exists. In periods of war and persecution the antimension has been of great pastoral importance.

Coming Events – Mark Your Calendars NowSaturday, April 22- GCU Rummage Sale in Parish Hall: 6 AM – 1 PMSunday, April 23- 50th Parish Jubilee Committee Meeting After 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy Sunday, April 23- St. Thomas Easter Food Pot Luck & April Birthday & Anniversaries In parish hall after the 9:00 AM Divine LiturgySunday, April 30- Parish Advisory Council Meeting in Rectory Office after 9:00 AM LiturgySunday, May 7- ECF Picnic in the parish hall after the 9:00 AM Divine LiturgySaturday, May 13- Mother’s Day Tea 11:30 AM to 2 PM in parish hall

Our Weekly Gifts to the Lord—May the Lord bless your kindness and generosity!Saturday: 5:00 PM: 12 Sunday: 8 AM: 45 Sunday: 10:00 AM: 103 Tithes: $1,472.00, Candles: $58.47, Easter Offering: $210.00, Easter Flowers: $97.00,Bishop’s Appeal: $475.00, Coffee Social: $78.00, Gift Shop: $52.00, Home Missions: $50.00,Priest’s Medical Insurance Collection: $25.00, Coffee Social: $15.00, Gift Shop: $54.00,Total: $1,981.41

Bishop’s Appeal Collection For 4/2/2017$1,180.00

Fish Fry Net Income: $2,457.00 & Bake Sale Net Income: $501.00 = $2,958.00(above amounts do not include expenses)

This Week’s Candle IntentionsElevation of Cross: +Mary O’Connor by Joseph GallucciResurrection: Kenneth Dec by Martin Dec

Special Intentions: Erwin Armada, Barbara Dugan, Joanie Mahar, Helen Furka, Vincent Rice, McCarthy Family, Gemma Hillman, Marti Lopez, Kathleen Linkowsky, Betty Geletey, Richard Gable, Robert King, Margaret Kunak, Ann Ryan, Chris Faix, Robyn Foy and Elaine Browne

May the Lord rest His healing hand on His servants and hear their requests:Mary Rabayda, Jane Walsh, Steve Durkit, Dorothy Dumnich, Richard Reese, Chris Balsz, Mary Lou Clark, Sr. Christopher, OSBM, Dorothy Bezeredi, Carlene Eneroth, Fred Way, Audrey Noble, Sharon White, Nancy Sandrock, Marlene Rolling, Bob Dugan, Cathy Milko, Cathy Simpson, Michael Dougherty, Widad Butty, Kris Lara, Mike Chapa, Mark D. Chapa, Noa Lee Chapa, Te-resa Blanc, Clementina Mendoza, Dolores Balcazar, Vivian Rodarte, Nicholas Stefaniak Jr., Marie Mika, Mary Popovich, Betty Iwinski, Anne Peterson, Dan Palaschak, Michael Sherwood, Christina Toth, Alice Garcia, Liz Kol Sopiak Families, John DeCenso, Anthony Diaz, Michael Diaz, Mat-thew Diaz

PONTIFICAL GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION FOR HOLY LAND CHRISTIANS!PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY ON GOOD FRIDAY!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HOLY MYSTERY OF PENANCE/CONFESSIONOur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commissioned His Church to preach “the repentance and for-giveness of sins to all nations” (Lk. 24:47) in His name. Since He does not “wish that anyone should be lost, but that all be brought to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9), our Lord endowed the Church with the power to forgive sins by instituting the Holy Mystery of Penance, simply known as Con-fession. The Holy Mystery of Penance is the mystery instituted by Jesus Christ to forgive, in His name, the repentant sinner all his or her sins committed after baptism. Sin is disobedience of God’s will, therefore it is a direct offense against God. Hence, only God can forgive sin. But Almighty God, “generous in His mercy” (Eph. 2:4), sent His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ “to save His people from their sins.” (Mt. 1 :21) And Jesus Christ came into this world “not to condemn but to save the world,” (Jn. 3:17) therefore He called all the people “to repentance” (Mt. 4:17) and to those who came to Him, He “forgave their sins.” (Lk. 7:49) Confession times are always available before and after each Divine Service or by appointment. This Good Friday confessions will be heard after Entombment Vespers. There will be several priests available.

NEW LITURGICAL TIMESOne Sunday Liturgy at 9:00 AM starting April 23, 2017After praying, discerning and consulting with the Parish Advisory Council, it has been decided to consolidate the Sunday Liturgies. Beginning Thomas Sunday, April 23, there will no longer be two Divine Liturgies on Sunday. Instead, we will have one Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM. On the same weekend as the above change, we are modifying the time for the Saturday Vigil. Beginning Satur-day, April 22, the Saturday Vesper Liturgy will start at 4:00 PM instead of 5:00 PM. We apologize for the inconvenience these changes may cause. We pray and hope that you will understand that they are necessary to strengthen St. Stephen’s attendance, to welcome visitors to a fuller church, and to bring us together as a parish family of God.

PRAYER VIGIL AT THE TOMB OF CHRIST There will be a vigil for prayer at the tomb of Christ from Good Friday after the Entombment Vespers until Jerusalem Matins on Holy Saturday. Please sign up to come and pray at the tomb of Christ.

NEW LITURGICAL FURNITURE will be blessed by Bishop John on Palm Sunday, April 9 during the 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy. The new items are sand candle stands, a baptismal font and a wooden holder for the shrouds of Christ and the Dormition. We once again thank our anonymous donors. God grant them many blessed years!

OUR CATHEDRAL PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS AFTER THE PASCHA VIGIL VESPER LITURGY ON HOLY SATURDAY AND AFTER THE RESURRECTION MATINS AND DIVINE LITURGY ON PASCHA (EASTER SUN-DAY) TO ENJOY YOUR BLESSED EASTER FOOD IN THE PARISH HALL.

THOMAS SUNDAY EASTER FOOD POT LUNCHEON: SUNDAY APRIL 23 On Thomas Sun-day following the Divine Liturgy and Breaking of Artos Bread, we will have an Easter Food Lun-cheon with ham, kolbasi, paska (bread), Easter eggs, Easter cheese, etc. The cathedral will provide the ham and parishioners are asked to sign the sheet telling what items they will bring. We will celebrate the April birthdays and anniversaries on this day.

BISHOP’S APPEAL Parish Goal: $29,700.00 Amount Pledged: $13,928.00 (38 of 108 households pledged)Pledge Payments Received: $12,328.00 Amount Needed to Reach Goal: $15,772.00*Please note that instead of requesting $200.00 per family, the Eparchy is kindly asking for a pledge of $275.00 per family to allow the Eparchy to continue funding programs within our Eparchy. It has been 20 years that we have asked for $200.00 and it’s now time to upgrade that to meet the ris-ing cost of programs from 20 years ago.

A HUGE THANKS to all the volunteers who came to work at the Fish Fry & Pirohi Dinner on the sixth Friday of Great Lent.

PARISH ADVISORY MEETING Sunday, April 30, 2017 in the Rectory Office after the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy.

SPRING CLEANING RUMMAGE SALE sponsored by the GCU Lodge 999 will be held on Satur-day, April 22 in the parish hall from 6 AM to 1 PM. Breakfast items and light lunch will be avail-able for purchase. Proceeds will benefit Americare Hospice. You can drop off items in the small hall in the parish hall from April 8th - April 21st. For more information please call Joanie Mahar at 602-920-0607.

MOTHER’S DAY TEA sponsored by GCU Lodge 999 will be held on Saturday, May 13 from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM in the parish hall. Donation is $15 for adults and $7.50 for children under age 11. The event will benefit the Lodge 999 Scholarship Fund. Women and men are invited and a light luncheon will be served. For more information contact Joanie Mahar at 602-920-0607.

2017 MYRRH BEARERS RETREAT for women and girls will take place at the Franciscan Re-newal Center in Scottsdale from Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25. Brochures and retreat regis-tration forms will be coming soon. For more information please see Sr. Jean Marie.

ALIVE IN CHRIST 2017 This year’s Alive in Christ will be held at Prescott Pine Christian Camp in Prescott, Arizona beginning Thursday, July 6 at 2:30 PM and concluding on Sunday, July 9 at 1:00 PM. The theme of the this year’s spiritual retreat camp is “Theosis Through Liturgy: “The Work of the People and Their God.” All applicable forms and payments are due by May 12, 2017. Checks are to be made payable to “Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix”. If you are interested, please pick up one of the yellow forms at the entrance table in church.

THE PARISH ADVISORY COUNCIL & PARISH FINANCE ADVISORY COUNCILwould like to hear from you. Do you have any ideas, suggestions or input that you would like con-sidered at our next meeting? If so send us an email or inform us directly. Fr. Diodoro, rectorss@eparchyofphoenix.org & Fr. Joe, huts1009@gmail.com

EASTER FLOWER DONORS: John & Kari Surmay- +Paul StemanJohn & Julie Pete - +Chupko and Pete Family John & Louise Decenso - +FamilyKaren Ratliff – Mottet Family, Scioli Family, Julie Beck & Family, Ratliff Family,+Anthony Scioli

Preparations are well under way for the 50th Jubilee Celebration. A special event will be held each month beginning June, 2017 and concluding June, 2018. To date the events in progress are: Thursday, June 22, 2017, Moleben to St. Stephen at 5:00 PM with dinner to follow. All of the clergy from our Eparchy will be present. On Saturday, July 29, 2017, a service project “Feed My Starv-ing Children” is being sponsored. See the fliers to register. During the month of August, you are encouraged to attend one of the Pilgrimages. Let us join in “Proclaiming a Year of Grace.” Next meeting for the 50th Planning Committee is Sunday, April 23rd after the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy. Committee members are asked to please bring your ideas on the following topic so as to expedite the meeting: 1) Anniversary Booklet ideas: What should format be? What pictures? What articles, etc?

BACK TO THE GARDEN

A LENTEN JOURNEY THROUGH GENESIS

Monday of Sixth Week of the Great Fast

Genesis 27:1-41

There’s a cliché that says, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” The reason it’s become a cliché is because it’s true. God very often accomplishes his purpose by using highly imperfect people and unexpected situations.

This week we read excerpts from the life of Jacob the patriarch and his sons. Jacob is the ultimate crooked line, always looking for an angle and ready to deceive to get what he wants. His name means “supplanter,” one who takes another’s place by deceit and trickery. From the womb Jacob was looking for the advantage. We’re told in Genesis that he and his brother Esau struggled in the womb causing distress for their mother Rebecca. The Lord told her that this struggle would go on and that the elder was destined to serve the younger. Esau was born first but Jacob was not far behind: he was born holding Esau by the heel. Later Jacob would trick his brother into selling his birthright for some stew. Esau was a strong man, a man of action, a hunter and outdoorsman whereas Jacob was a homebody. And yet it was this seeming nobody who God chose to be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

In today’s reading, Jacob uses trickery to steal his brother’s blessing thus becoming head of the family. He deceives his father Isaac and cheats his brother Esau, all at the instigation of their mother Rebecca. And you thought your family was dysfunctional! Although some spiritual writers put a good face on it, Rebecca’s and Jacob’s trickery were clearly wrong. And yet, God uses this sinful action to bring about good.

It’s interesting to note that when he speaks to Issac, Jacob mentions “the Lord your God.” Jacob seems to have no relationship with God at this point in his life. There are idols in his life but no God. The idols of deceit, trickery and lust for power. Saint Ephrem’s prayer warns us against the lust for power and yet, like Jacob, the way of power is what we crave. Not just power as it is usually thought of: the ability to control others and to have our way with people and situations. But that lust which is attracted to power: to the accomplished, the beautiful and those who might wield power in our behalf. This is Jacob and Rebecca’s way, deceit in the pursuit of power.

The way of the cross in contrast is the way of failure, ugliness and weakness. The crucified Lord is all these things: an ignominious failure tortured to death by those who believe they are his en-

emies. Unlovely as he hangs beaten and naked on a tree. Helpless and weak, immobile and at the mercy of all who pass by. And yet, the church holds this event of weakness, ugliness and failure to be a great triumph, a supreme victory. We exalt and venerate and bow before the cross which is the instrument of our salvation. We cannot help but feel love and gratitude for the king of the universe who, unlike Jacob, gives up power in order to rescue those he loves, in a mysterious way, draw all men to himself and take away the sins of the world. In this love and gratitude the Lord’s weakness, ugliness and failure become our strength, and beauty and victory.

For Reflection:

How does the Cross show me what real victory means in my own life? How can the power of the Cross turn my weakness into victory?

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of the Great Fast

Genesis 31:3-16

Jacob is at the end of his time in the land of his wives and father-in-law. It has been a time of learning and change for Jacob. God is no longer just the God of Abraham and Isaac, but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob’s relationship with God has changed as has his relationship to the world. The trickster has been tricked by his father-in-law over the years but come out ahead. He knows now that this is not due to his own schemes but to the Lord’s providential care for him.

The Lord tells Jacob to return home to Canaan, a place he’s been away from for 20 years. He has a family and a fortune to take with him but still, it must have taken faith to make that journey to a place that might be very different than it was when he left. Were his parents still alive? What about his brother Esau who had sworn revenge for Jacob’s cheating him out of both birthright and blessing?

There are two aspects to faith, the head and the heart. Using our head, we receive what God has revealed to us in scripture and through the teaching of the Church. We give “assent” to it. This means we make a decision with our will to believe these things. But using our hearts is sometimes more difficult. We are asked to trust God and his steadfast love for us.

We are asked to trust that whatever happens, God is near us. But our sense of trust in God is wounded and broken. Like our first parents we sometimes doubt God’s love and care for us. We don’t trust that God has our best interests at heart, that he always wants the best for us. This lack of trust is the original sin. We participate in this sin whenever we distrust God and his love.

The goal of our Lenten disciplines, praying, fasting, and caring for the poor even more than we do the rest of the year, is to come into a relationship of trust in God. We can never trust God too much; we can never rely on him too much. In fact, the more we trust God in every circumstance in life the more he looks on us with favor and affection because He has a special love for those who trust him.

Part of the mystery of salvation is that in his passion, Jesus conquered the temptation to doubt God. In the garden of Gethsemane, he said yes to God. Thus, like Jacob, he begins the arduous journey of trusting faith. For Jesus, this journey ends on the cross where he feels abandoned by his father. And yet, in giving up his spirit in the father’s hands, the Lord affirms his trust in the father’s love. In a similar way, our Lenten journey is an invitation to the arduous but joyful way of trust.

For Reflection:Are there areas in my life where I find it difficult to trust the Lord? Can I decide to trust God or is trust something that just comes on its own?

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of the Great Fast

Genesis 43:26-31, 45:1-16

Jacob plays a minor role in today’s reading. He is referred to but makes no appearance. The focus shifts to his son Joseph who was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers and has now risen to be second only to Pharaoh in power. Those same brothers now appear before Joseph needing help during a time of famine.

What must have been going through Joseph’s mind as he spoke to his brothers? Did he feel anger, resentment, regret for everything he had missed at home? Perhaps the thought of an easy revenge flashed through his mind. If he felt any of these emotions, they were short lived. The reading says “Joseph could no longer control himself…” He is, in fact, overcome with emotion, overcome with compassion and love for the brothers who sinned against him so cruelly. In this, Joseph is a type of Christ. This means he is like Jesus in some way and points to Jesus and his saving work. Joseph could have lashed out in anger at his brothers. As a powerful man he could have exacted a revenge as equally cruel as their sin against him. But instead, unable to control himself, he embraces his brothers with love and forgiveness. The brothers are amazed and frightened by this display. It’s too good to be true. There must be a catch. There must be another shoe about to drop. The goodness they experience in Joseph is alien to them. Because of their own sin they can’t imagine such forgiveness. But it is real. There will be no reprisals, only a family reunited.

Joseph tells us something about God and our relationship to him. Many people have a distorted image of God. They may see him as a Santa Claus who’s there to dole out gifts and favors. Or they may see him as the mean old man who wants to cramp their style with all his rules and command-ments. The God that Joseph imagines and that is definitively revealed in Jesus is very different. This god doesn’t just love; he is love. The classic definition of love is to will for another. This is exactly what God does. He always has our best interests in his heart: he always wills the very best for those he loves. We might even say, in a manner of speaking, that like Joseph God can’t control himself; he simply must love; because that is his nature.

This doesn’t mean that God is a pushover and that we can sin with impunity. Love wills the very best for the beloved and wills that the beloved be the best they can be. God is both just and com-passionate. But if we are to emphasize one aspect of God’s character it is truer to speak of his compassion and forgiveness. This compassion and forgiveness is transformative. It makes us who God intended us to be all along. In fact, the goal of the Christian life is to become more and more like God, to undergo the gradual and painful process of divinization so that in the end we are so like God that it’s hard to tell the difference between him and us. This is the goal of all of our pray-ing and fasting during Great Lent: to be unable to control ourselves in our love for God and our neighbor.

For Reflection:Joseph forgives his brothers completely and without reservation. Why is it so hard for me to for-give? How can my Lenten discipline lead me to an attitude of compassion and forgiveness?

Thursday of the Sixth Week of the Great Fast

Genesis: 46:1-7

It must have been difficult for Jacob to make the decision to go down to Egypt. After all Canaan was the land promised to Abraham, the land where a great nation would come to be. Jacob offers a sacrifice to God who speaks to him in visions of the night telling him that, indeed it is His will that Jacob travel to Egypt with his whole family and all his possessions.

We often speak of sacrifice during the season of Great Lent. We pray, we fast, we give to the poor. All these are sacrifices. A sacrifice is an offering, a gift of something valued to another. Parents often sacrifice for their children. They give of their time, their attention out of love for the child. Children may return this sacrificial love to their parents, taking care of them when they are elderly and giving of their time and attention. During Great Lent, we give something to God: in time, our prayer; in fasting, our hunger and longing; in caring for the poor, our resources.

But sacrifice always involves death. Under the Old Covenant, this was often the death of an animal

sacrificed on an altar. In the New Covenant it involved the death of a person, Jesus the Son of God who offered his life as a sacrifice for sin.

The purpose of the Christian life is to die. To die to our own selfishness which is the root of all sin. We see ourselves as the center of the solar system with everyone else existing in relation to us and our difficulties and needs. To live the life of sacrifice is to undergo a kind of Copernican Revolu-tion. To realize that the center of our solar system, our universe, is Jesus Christ. We live in rela-tion to him, we live because of him, we live for him.

The Triodion calls Great Lent the time of “bright sadness.” It is sad because our prayer, fasting and good works, our sacrifice, involve a death to self and death is always sad. It is bright because this death to self is not the end. Our sacrifice leads to resurrection, to a new life. This is the life of the total gift of ourselves to another, to God and our neighbor. This is the only life that ultimately leads to fulfillment because it is the very life of Christ, a life whose essence is self-giving love.

Our reading says that Jacob took “everything that he had” and trusted God to lead him where he was supposed to go. Jesus gave “everything that he had”, his life and his death out of love for the world. We too are called, during our Great Lenten journey and the journey of our lives to die to self, to give ourselves completely, to empty ourselves as Jesus did, so we can be filled with His love and peace.For Reflection:

Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for us; am I willing to sacrifice my life for him? What would this look like in my day to day life?

Friday of the Sixth Week of the Great Fast

Genesis 49:33-50:26

At some point everyone asks the question, “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” Most often the question is more personal: “Why has God allowed this bad thing to hap-pen to me? Maybe I’m being punished. Maybe God is angry with me. Maybe he never loved me in the first place. These questions are so common that there is a whole branch of theology that tries to “justify” God; that is, to find a reason why a good God could allow evil in the world.

Joseph must have asked the same questions when he was thrown into a pit by his brothers then sold into slavery. He must have asked them again as he languished in prison after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. Perhaps he even asked them when his brothers, fearful of revenge, begged for mercy upon their father’s death. Joseph responds with mercy and gives what has become a classic answer to the problem of evil. God allows his creatures the dignity of freedom.

Sometimes those creatures misuse that freedom to do evil. Rather than violating that freedom even to do wrong and to hurt others, God brings good from evil deeds we commit.

Saint Paul says the same thing: for those who love God everything works out for good (Romans 8:28). All the pain and sorrow and suffering -- God brings good out of all of it.

The most evil act ever committed is also the most beautiful act ever performed. The death of Jesus on the cross was an evil act, committed by evil men and not only Jewish and Roman authorities; it was my action too. My own sin and evil was the reason for the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. In a sense, each of us sold the Lord into the slavery of death by our sins. We might well, like Joseph’s brothers, cower before the victorious Lord and beg mercy for our sins. But repentance doesn’t mean wallowing in fear and shame. It means having things different from now on. From now on I will try to follow Jesus with everything I have. In fact, the turn of repentance is a turn toward the crucified and risen Lord. When we turn to him we see the beautiful face of merciful love. We are drawn to this love and, though we may fall again and again into sin, the memory of that face of love always leads us to turn around in repentance to experience love again.When we make this turn we may expect anger, judgement and recriminations. What we will find instead is the welcome, joy and peace of the risen, victorious Lord. He might well say to us what Joseph said to his brothers: that what we meant for evil (our sins) God meant for good (our sal-vation). Saint Paul reminds us that God allowed us to sin so that mercy could be his gift to us. (Romans 11:32) So repentance, like the whole season of Great Lent, is a time of bright sadness: sadness for sin but bright joy at the mercy of God.

For Reflection:When I approach God in repentance should I do so with fear? If I do, am I afraid of His punish-ment or of His overwhelming love?

LESSONS IN LIVING HOLY WEEK AND EASTERPALM (FLOWERY) SUNDAY

by +Fr. George Perejda

“One more week ‘til Easter, one more week we say. Today we sing ‘Hosanna!’ Tomorrow we betray with a kiss as Judas, we games do play.” “One more week ‘til Easter, one Holy Week to pray. Suffer-ing, death betrayal are yet along the way. To learn the love of Jesus, to greet the Great Big Day!”

This is the Sunday before Easter. On this day we re-live the entrance of Jesus in the city of Jerusa-lem, where in a few days He will suffer and die for us. The Gospel of the day describes the events: “A large crowd heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting ‘Hosanna – Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the king of Israel.’ Jesus found a donkey and sat on it, just as the scripture

says: ‘Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Here comes your king, riding on a young donkey.’ His disci-ples did not understand this at the time; but when Jesus had been raised to glory they remembered that the scripture said this about him; and that they had done this for him.” (John 12:12-16)

And so we, the disciples or followers of Jesus also remember this triumphal event, by taking branches from the trees, and going to church (the new Jerusalem) to greet and welcome Jesus. We don’t have palm trees here as they do in the Holy Land, but we do have lots of willows. So we gath-er pussy willow branches, and bless them in church, and each of us receives a branch to remind us of this day, as the tropar says: “Let us, then, as children of the Lord, take up branches from trees as a banner of victory, and greet our Lord as the conqueror of Death, and sing ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The blessed pussy willows are taken home and placed behind the holy cross and icons.

These pussy willows are a great and meaningful sign for us; they have a lot of meaning. The pussy willows mean that the branches are budding, are beginning a renewed life because it is spring. But it is only a beginning; soon they will grow and mature into the full greenery of summer. So, too, is this Palm (Flowery) Sunday only a beginning of our spiritual growth which will reach maturity through the events of Holy Week ahead, and blossom most gloriously on the Great Day of Pascha –and blossom forever in the eternal life of the heavenly kingdom.

Willow, willow – pussy willow,Soft and lovely, green to grow.I am budding like the willow

I have also far to go.

Willow, willow – pussy willow,Sign of life and hope to come.

I am like the pussy willowI must grow with – IN the Son.

THE GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY

On Holy Wednesday we gather for the final Pre-Sanctified Liturgy of Holy Week. During the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy the Mystery of Anointing is administered in remembrance of the anointing of Jesus by the woman in preparation for His burial. In receiving the Mystery of Anointing we are given the strength and healing as we prepare to keep vigil with Christ through His passion, suffer-ings, crucifixion and burial leading up to His glorious Resurrection.

THE GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY

On the evening of Holy Thursday, the faithful people of God gather together in Church to re-live the last supper and evening that Jesus spent with his apostles before his suffering and death. This evening service of Vespers is combined with the Divine Liturgy so that we can partake in the mys-tical supper.

The hymns of this service remind us of how some people are planning to arrest Jesus. We recog-nize the wickedness of Judas who agreed to sell out “The Priceless One”. He reaches out his hand to the wicked plotters to receive the pieces of silver, and later dares to reach out his hand to Jesus at the supper. In the garden, Judas kisses Jesus, not as a sign of love, but as a sign of treachery: “This dishonorable man, with the taste of heavenly bread still in his mouth”, betrays love with the sign of love. These prayers are a great lesson to us, as we prepare to re-live the Mystical Supper today – and every day. We learn not to be like Judas, not to betray our Friend Jesus (or any other friend) with a false kiss. These prayers before Communion during every Divine Liturgy remind us not to be like Judas when we take part in the Mystical Supper of the Lord. A reading from the book of Exodus (19:10-20) reminds us of how Moses and his people in the Old Testament prepared three days for the great day of the Covenant (the contract or agreement) that God would make with his people.

Then St. Paul (1 Cor. 11:23-29) reminds us of the new deal, or agreement that Jesus would make with his renewed people: “This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread… and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me’. In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me”. Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death, and so anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be behaving unworthily towards the body and blood of the Lord… so, in order not to be like Judas, “Everyone is to recollect himself before eating this bread and drinking this cup; because a person who eats and drinks without recognizing the Lord is eating and drinking his own condem-nation.”

Then there is a reading of the Gospel from St. John (13:1-18) about this last supper Jesus has with his friends. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to pass from this world to the Father. He had dearly loved those who were in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was. He washed their feet, and then spoke his last prayers and farewell and gave them his last will and testament. He told them He was going to die and leave them, but that He would be with them, and they would always be with Him and the Father if they loved one another: “I am the vine and

you are the branches.” He prayed for them to love each other, or else they would not be his true friends. He promised to give them His Holy Spirit, to return again, and to be united with them forever if they remained united with each other.

And then all the people re-live the last supper of Holy Thursday by re-living the mystical sacrifice and supper of the Divine Service on this Great and Holy Thursday.

THE GREAT GOOD FRIDAY

This Friday is a great and solemn day, full of awe and wonder and love. We re-live the mystery of God’s love for us. We re-live the mystery of Jesus Christ’s sufferings, His dying on the Cross, and His burial. From morning until night, we relive the agony sorrow of Jesus.

Matins with the 12 Passion Gospels

We come to the church in the morning to hear the story of the holy and redeeming sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, to listen to the Good News (Gospels) of His sufferings, which is told by the four writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We re-live the whole story from the last supper to the last sealing of the tomb, in twelve lessons. Between each lesson we sing and pray, and let the story sink in, as our thought and hearts are lifted up with the incense towards heaven. This is the great and holy Friday morning service of “Sufferings.” Jesus suffers and dies on the Cross and is buried, in this dramatic enactment or reliving of the Word, and we arethere, with Jesus and His mother and His disciples, to see and hear it all happen again.

Evening Service of the Vespers of Burial

Later, in the evening of this great Friday, we come to church for the holy evening service Vespers at the tomb of Christ. Jesus Christ dies on the Cross, and is buried in the tomb, or sepulchre, and we gather together for this burial service, this funeral service at the Holy Sepulchre or Tomb.

In the church stands the Holy Cross and the new Tomb, or Holy Sepulchre. When I behold the wondrous Cross, upon which Jesus died for love of me on Golgotha, the place of the skull, on Calvary I sing and sympathize, “O Lord, my God who willingly suffered for me, O long-suffering Lord, thank you, and glory be to You!” This is an awesome and glorious mystery we see happen-ing today! We stand in mourning at the foot of the Cross with Mary, His sorrowing Mother, and the beloved disciple John.

And we listen to the reading from the great prophet Isaiah (52:13-53:11), who described hun-dreds of years before how Jesus would suffer as the servant of God, the Messiah. And we listen to St. Paul (1 Cor. 1:18-2:3) as he explains the language of the Cross and the lesson of the crucified Christ. And again we hear the Word of God about the death of Jesus, and how Joseph of Ari-mathea took down His most pure body from the Cross, wrapped in a linen shroud, and placed it in a new tomb.

Then we also love and care for Christ, re-living the funeral procession and burial of Jesus. The HOLY SHROUD, the image of Christ’s Body, is carried slowly and solemnly in procession, and gently placed in the Holy Tomb or Sepulchre, where it will remain until the early morning of the Great Day of Resurrection.

Then with reverence and awe, with loving hearts, each of us approaches the Holy Shroud – the Body of Christ – to kiss His holy wounds with tenderness and gratitude and love.

THE GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY

Jerusalem Matins

The Holy Sepulchre or Tomb, is beautified and surrounded with flowers and candles, and the lov-ing presence of those who love Jesus. During the holy hours of Great Friday and Holy Saturday, the community makes sure that someone from the family of believers is always present at the Holy Tomb, to keep vigil and venerate the Holy Shroud, the image of the Body of Christ. We stand on guard for Christ’s sake.

Hopefully we will take time to spend part of the day to keep watch with Jesus, as He rests in peace. And in His peace, as we keep company with Him, in thoughtfulness and prayer, we, too shall learn peace… in the quiet of the church, at the Holy Sepulchre, before the Holy Shroud, as we watch and listen, we hear God speak to us, and we learn a little more about the mystery of God’s plan for us, a little more about life and love, about living and dying, about suffering and carrying the cross, and being buried – about being close to Jesus.

Vigil of Pascha Vespers /Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

Holy Saturday is the day on which Jesus rested in the tomb, and on this day, as much as we are able, we remain with Jesus, close to His Holy tomb, waiting and watching peacefully, praying and venerating the Holy Shroud, the image of the Body of Christ.

Later in the afternoon we come to church for the Vesper Service of Holy Saturday which is com-bined with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. The service begins in dark vestments because Jesus still rests in the tomb. Since Saturday will soon become Sunday, we begin to look forward to the glorious radiance of Easter, and we end several prayers by saying “Gory, O Lord, to your Cross and Resurrection.”

We listen to a reading from the first book of the Bible, Genesis (1:1-13), about the creation of heaven and earth, and realize that there is hope for life to come. Then there is a reading from the powerful prophecy of Jeremiah (31:31-34): “See the days are coming, it is the Lord who speaks. When I will make a new covenant, deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people.” And then we sing the Great Praises, “praise the Lord! Bless him forever!” We invite all of creation to join us in praising the Lord.

Then we sing, “All you who have been baptized into Christ, have been clothed with Christ!” And listen to a reading from St. Paul (Rom. 6:3-11) as he reminds us, “You have been taught that when we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized in his death; in other words, when we were baptized we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead…., we too might live a new life. If in union with Christ, we have imitated his death, we shall also imitate him in his resurrection.”

After the readings, the priest, having taken off the dark red vestments and now vested in white, opens the royal doors and while the people sing Psalm 81 “Arise, O God, and judge the earth, for you rule all the nations” and its verses, he removes the shroud of Jesus from the tomb symbolizing the Resurrection of Christ after his descent into Hades. The priest places the shroud on the holy altar where it will remain for 40 days until the Ascension of our Lord.

Then the priest or deacon reads the Gospel which proclaims the Good News of the Great Day: “There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified… He has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay… He has risen from the dead and now he is going before you…” Then Jesus speaks to his disciples, and to us, and tells them to go and make disciples of all nations: “baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.”

Then the Divine Liturgy is joyfully continued, and the holy sacrifice of the Cross is mystically renewed in the bloodless offering of the body and Blood of Christ, and we are invited again to partake of the Mystical Supper, and in the intimacy of Holy Communion to receive the life-giving Body and Blood of the Risen Christ.

THE GREAT DAY OF RESURRECTION –PASCHA

Having already celebrated the Resurrection of Christ at the Vigil Vesper / Liturgy we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on Pascha on Sunday morning. The church is darkened and no lights or candles are lit until after the priest and people come into the church after the proces-sion around the outside of the church. Carrying lit candles the faithful congregate in front of the doors of the church where the priest sings the Paschal some psalm verses, to which the people respond with the Resurrection tropar: “Christ is risen from the dead, by death he trampled death, and to those in the tombs he granted life.” The priest with the hand cross makes the sign of the cross on the doors of the church and opens the doors.

Then the church is flooded with the joyful singing of the Resurrection Matins and the lights are turned on and the candles are lit in the sanctuary. On and on we sing CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD as the priest incenses down the aisle of the church. For a moment we pause solemnly to recite: “Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us bow to the holy Lord Jesus, the only sin-less One! We bow down to your Cross, O Christ, and praise and glorify your holy Resurrection… O come all you faithful, Let us bow down to the holy Resurrection of Christ, let us praise His Resurrection, having endured His death on the Cross, He has conquered death by His death. We continue to sing more and more, CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!”

The Mother of God and the Mother of Light is praised in this very beautiful Easter Hymn: “The angel exclaimed to her, full of grace, Rejoice O pure Virgin. Again I say Rejoice, your Son is risen from the grave on the third day and has raised the dead. Rejoice, all you nations.Shine in splendor, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. O Zion, now dance and be glad, and you, pure Theotokos, rejoice in the resurrection of your Son.”

The joyful fullness of the service is climaxed in the Paschal praises: “Today the Holy Pasch is re-vealed to us; the new and holy Passover, the mystical Passover… the Great Pasch, the Pasch of the faithful; the Passover that opens the gates of paradise to us, the Pasch that sanctifies all the faith-ful. This is the Day the Lord has made: let us be glad and rejoice in it! Pasch beautiful! Pasch of the Lord! Pasch! The precious Passover has dawned on us!... it is the Day of Resurrection, so let us be radiant in celebrating; and let us embrace one another, saying Brother! Sister! Friend! And to those who hate us, let us forgive everything, because of the Resurrection. And so let us sing again: CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, BY DEATH HE TRAMPLED DEATH, AND TO THOSE IN THE TOMBS HE GRANTED LIFE!”

The Divine Liturgy of the Great Day

After this incessant and breathless outpouring of Easter joy and feeling, the Divine Liturgy is cel-ebrated most solemnly, and the CHRIST IS RISEN rings out now more peacefully. The good news of the Gospel is proclaimed in as many of the languages as possible. The Divine Sacrifice is offered and fulfilled triumphantly.

Then the ARTOS -- the Pascha which represents Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life -- is blessed and set out on the tetrapod (icon table), and all the people come forward again for anointing, with oil and the Pascha greeting CHRIST IS RISEN is given, to which they respond INDEED HE IS RISEN!

After many other joyful Easter greetings, everyone goes home for the further fulfillment of the Easter feast in the form of food and drink -- delicious and spirited.

BLESSING OF THE EASTER FOOD

A colorful and meaningful Easter custom is the blessing of Easter Food. Each family prepares the paska (Easter bread), hrutka (cheese), butter (often in the form of a lamb), ham, kolbasi, lamb, col-ored Easter eggs, beets with horseradish, and other food and drink they have abstained from dur-ing the Great Fast. These are brought to church in a basket wrapped in a large embroidered cloth on Holy Saturday afternoon or Easter Sunday morning. After the services in church are finished, a lighted candle is placed in the midst of the food. This candle represents Jesus Christ; the light of His Resurrection enlightens us and all that we do. The food which is offered here and blessed gives us life and sustains life within us; and Jesus Christ gives us life and sustains life within us -- and as-sures us of resurrection and life everlasting. The priest incenses and blesses the food, as the people sing CHRIST IS RISEN!

The priest then moves from Easter basket to Easter basket, sprinkling each basket of food with holy water and blessing the food, as everyone again sings: “Christ is risen from the dead; by Death he conquered death and to those in the tombs He granted life.”

The Easter food is then taken home where it will be eaten, eagerly and deliciously, by the family as the evening meal on Holy Saturday or the morning meal on The Great Day. The family again gathers around the food, in the heart of their own home now, and again sing joyfully three times: “Christ is risen …” Thus they re-echo and re-create within the smaller circle of their family and home the wider and all-embracing catholic circle of true believers, which is the Church. Thus the family reaffirms its oneness and togetherness with all of those who rightly profess and praise Jesus Christ.

Then one of the blessed eggs is divided into many sections, and each member of the family receives and reverently eats the portion. Thus the many members of the family dramatize their oneness in Christ and their hope to remain united and one with Him and with each other in the community of faith and love.

Rejoice at His Coming!

Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box 3909 -- Fairfax, VA 22038-3909 www.ecbulletin.com Ph: 703-691-8862 Fax: 703-691-0513

Visit www.ecpubs.com for more publications.

Sixth Sunday of the Great Fast - Palm Sunday April 9, 2017Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!

Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral8141 North 16th Street, Front

Phoenix, Arizona 85020-3950Office: 602.943.5379 Fax 602.997.4093

Website www.stsbcc.org Saturday Liturgy : 5:00 PM Sunday Divine Liturgy: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM Weekday Services See Bulletin Served by: Most Rev. John S. Pazak, CSsR., Bishop Most Reverend Gerald N. Dino, Bishop Emeritus Rev. Diodoro Mendoza, Rector - rectorss@eparchyofphoenix.org Rev. Joseph Hutsko, Vice-Rector - huts1009@gmail.com Very Reverend Archpriest David M. Petras, Retired Msgr. Kevin McCauliffe, In Residence Deacon John Montalvo - Deacon James Danovich Sister Christopher, OSBM - Sister Jean Marie, OSBM

Parish Advisory Council Served by:Mary Beth Foster Sean GrimesSr Jean Marie Cihota - Michelle KlingerJoanie Mahar - Patty MarmolBasil Rabayda - Luke Roll

Parish Finance Coucil served by:Dolores Sugent John Montalvo IIITed Cooke Stephanie Rimmer