SERVICE SCHEDULE
All services are held at the Cathedral unless otherwise noted.
Please watch the Messenger and website for places/times of other services.
|
Meeting of the Lord, |
The Meeting of the Lord
(Feb. 2)
The feast of The Meeting of our Lord in the Temple is the conclusion of a season that began with Advent, included the celebration of the Nativity, Circumcision and Theophany of the Lord, and now - after 40 days from the Nativity - we mark the bringing of the Lord into the temple, as related in the Gospel - a very important moment in the life of the Lord and of the Holy Family, but of immense significance 'for us and for our salvation'.
Thus this is a liturgical season, a season for which we do not actually have a name, but a season that commemorates all the major events of the early life of Our Lord the Incarnate Word, even up until the beginning of His public ministry.
This has been a season celebrating the saving ‘Coming of the Lord’ as ‘God with us’. The Gospel reading for the feast relates how the Mother of God brought the Lord to the Jerusalem temple, as was the custom under the Law of Moses.
The righteous elder Simeon, received the infant Christ in his arms and knew immediately that this was no mere child but the very Savior or Messiah, the Redeemer foreseen by the prophets. A prophet himself, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, Simeon exclaimed the words we know so well from Vespers: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of Thy people, a light to lighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).
Simeon understands that with this child something new has begun: the light and glory of Israel - that is, the presence of God Himself - is now palpable and present in Christ, for Israel and for all the world.
- Fr. Andrew
Schedule of Services
Note: All services *except* Sunday Morning will be held in the downstairs St. Andrew's Chapel during rennovation.
| This Week's EventsMonday, January 30 |
