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Sunday Epistle & Gospel Explanations
13th Sunday of Matthew (03/09/2017)

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 16:13-24

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-42

Click here to download this week's readings and explanations.

The following article was written by Fr Emmanuel Stamatiou soon after he was ordained a Deacon of the Church.

THE KISS OF A YOUNG CHILD

Following the service of the Divine Liturgy one Sunday while I was preparing for a Baptism I was approached by a little girl who was about five years of age. There was no one else in the Church at the time. I stopped what I was doing, for she remained still and close by my side. I was busy positioning the font and preparing the table upon which the holy Gospel was to be placed along with other essential items required for the Sacrament. Having realised that the little person was waiting patiently at my side I turned around, looked down and asked, can 1 help you? Yes she said, I would like to kiss your hand. She kissed my hand and immediately exited the Church.

Why would a little girl be so happy to kiss the hand of a deacon? Who taught her that this was a good thing to do and for what benefit? From what I could see the child initiated the action herself, there was no adult in sight. She did not kiss the hand to receive a sweet.

She left with a blessing. She could not show it to her mother and say look what I have got, but what she received was very real, as it was real for the person through whom the blessing was given. I was deeply touched by the little girl's presentation and pure heart. I was humbled by her approach. Many adults cannot humble themselves to receive such a blessing. What most people see is the hand of an unworthy priest.

What is important to understand however, is that the hand of the priest which bears the blessing does not emanate from his person or his personality but from his priesthood which is greater than himself and anyone who serves within the priesthood. The blessing is God's blessing and if discharged with faith; both the priest and the recipient are humbled before God.

This young child was in a spiritual place, the house of God. She came to receive God's love and blessing and walked away with joy. She received a blessing which came from God and is beyond every person's comprehension. For this blessing there can be no distinction made between a child and an adult if we approach the priest in the correct manner. She like all innocent children of God seek out the blessing through a pure and sincere heart. This state of Grace is often lost however by adults who choose to rely on reason rather than placing their trust in God.

Celebrating the feast day of Saint Phanourios, a special service was held today for the blessing of the Phanouropita.

Saint Phanourios has become the patron saint of things lost, and his name is invoked in prayers for the recovery of items.

Dismissal Hymn

"A heavenly song of praise is brightly sung on the earth; the hosts of the Angels keep an earthly festival now in splendour and radiant joy; from on high, they praise with hymns thy suff'rings and struggles; and below, the Church doth laud the heavenly glory thou foundest by thy contests and pains, O glorious Phanurius."
The Great Horologion. (1997). 1st ed. Brookline: Holy Transfiguration Monastery.