Saturday 7th October 2023 @ 7pm
Good Shepherd Chapel, Abbotsford
Decorated in burgundies and reds, the church welcomed us warmly as the bells rang out across Abbotsford.
Father Mark read from Paul's letter to the Corinthians, and then Father Matthew read from the Gospel according to St Luke. The reading spoke of the time when Jesus went out on a boat and they caught lots of fish.
After the gifts were brought to the altar, Metropolitan Raffaele explained that the Gospel reading described the time when Jesus brought the fish to the nets and when St Peter made excuses of why he was not worthy of spending time with Jesus. The Metropolitan explained that, with God, the table is laid for us - all that is missing is you.
Next, the holy gifts were blessed and a beautiful rendition of the Amen was sung. And before Mary was honored, Metropolitan Raffaele spoke about the two trees in the Garden of Eden - the tree of knowledge and the tree of wisdom. Then we all prayed to honour Mary together.
As the liturgy continued, we prayed Our Father together before the clergy sang the prayer. Then, the warm water was added to the chalice and communion was shared.
Metropolitan Raffaele gave his homily after communion, speaking about his connection to St John the Baptist. At this feast a decade ago, the Metropolitan was ordained into the Preisthood. St John was ordained at just 13 years old. John was given the task of looking after the gardens and other menial jobs. He noticed that the other priests were exploiting the gardens he cared for, and so left and went to the desert to join the monks and sit in silent prayer and contemplation of God.
The Metropolitan went on to explain that when Mary was pregnant with Jesus, her cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant with John. Elizabeth was thought to be barren, but the Lord had granted her a surprise gift. When the women met, Jesus and John recognized each other in the womb and John kicked in joy - just as Father Matthew's children have done at all our liturgies when Our Father was sung and Communion was shared.
He reminded us to allow God into the silence of our minds and hearts - that through faith, hope and love of God, the impossible becomes possible. He went on to describe how St John had denounced King Herod, because the king had stolen his brother's wife - this was a sin and John feared that the father of Herodias (Herod's brother's beautiful wife) would seek retribution by burning down the villages Herod's people. The Metropolitan finished by telling us that John didn't immediately recognise Jesus as he had not seen him since they were children - it was only after three miraculous events occurred that he recognised him as the messiah.
After the homily, the congregation venerated the relics of St John and shared agape in the vestibule.
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