THE ORATOR ST. DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
MESSAGE FROM FR. NICHOLAS Do you love me? Feed my sheep.
Presiding Priest: Fr. Nicholas Hadzellis Cell: 617.530.0885
In the last chapter of the Gospel of St. John, Jesus asks this simple question of Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me …?” (Jn 21:15).
Parish Assistant:
Do you love me? It is not a difficult question. Even in our own lives, He asks us this same question, “Do you love me?” Jesus asked this question of Peter three times as a way of receiving Peter back as one of His disciples after he denied knowing Jesus at the crucifixion (Jn 18:15). Jesus and Peter are reconciled by his confession of love.
Fax: 817.626.5073
Peter responds each time in the affirmative, he says, “Lord, you know all things, You know that I love you” (Jn 21:17). Much like in our own baptismal service, we are asked “Do you join Christ?,” (three times) and “Have you joined Christ” (three times). The candidate for Baptism or the God Parent will affirm three times, “I do,” and “I have.” We pledge ourselves to Christ. We confess our love for Him.
Matt Lee, Treasurer
In like manner we are reconciled with Christ when we confess Him as our Lord and our God. We too are called disciples. As His disciples, He will never leave us and will continue to care for us, feed us, bless us and show us His Mercy. As we continue to dedicate our lives to Him, He continues to lead us to the kingdom. Christ says “Follow Me” (Jn 21:19). From the gospel to our very own lives Christ asks us if we love Him. But do we recognize the commitment we make when we answer that question? If we keep reading the Gospel, we recognize there is a command after each response. Do you love me, then “feed my lambs” (Jn 21:15), “tend my sheep” (Jn 21:16), “feed my sheep,” (Jn 21:17). How should we understand this? When we attend the Divine Liturgy, many of us seek this same reconciliation, and we seek to be fed. We experience it by hearing the Word of His Holy Gospel, through the homily of the priest, through the prayers and petitions and through the reception of His sacred body and precious blood. We will sing praises to Him, offer up by thanks and gratitude for His grace and mercy. We all seek to be spiritually fed. We each have spiritual needs, and we lift them up to Him and He satisfies them.
Samia Shiber Office: 817.626.5578
Parish Council Members Elias Shiber, President John Sempeles, V. President
Georgia Sparto, Secretary Magda Fleming Marina Katzianis Lisa Kelly Terry Kouris Artemis Moon Elaine Reidl George Vardakis
Office email: admin@stdemetrios.net Orator: Orator.stdemetrios@gmail.com Web: www.stdemetrios.net Parish Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm