WEBVTT 00:00:04.519 --> 00:00:08.580 and of the Holy Spirit. Glory to Jesus Christ. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:15.580 Well today we celebrate the second Sunday after 00:00:15.580 --> 00:00:22.260 Pentecost. All the saints of Russia and of North 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:25.960 America. We celebrate all the saints of Russia 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:30.160 because the founders of the Holy Protection Church 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:35.609 built back in 1936. immigrated here, many from 00:00:35.609 --> 00:00:39.909 Russia and many from the Slavic lands, and they 00:00:39.909 --> 00:00:45.009 brought the Orthodox faith with them. And the 00:00:45.009 --> 00:00:48.770 richness of the saints of Russia came with them, 00:00:48.890 --> 00:00:52.149 starting with Saint Vladimir, who called the 00:00:52.149 --> 00:00:55.429 people of Kiev to gather and to be baptized, 00:00:55.570 --> 00:01:00.310 leaving paganism behind, and all the way to Saint 00:01:00.310 --> 00:01:04.409 Seraphim of Sarov, who we see here. on this in 00:01:04.409 --> 00:01:07.510 this great wonderful icon we have in the church 00:01:07.510 --> 00:01:13.890 the patron of this holy cathedral so dear to 00:01:13.890 --> 00:01:18.890 us and so we celebrate those who were saints 00:01:18.890 --> 00:01:22.989 in russia and we also celebrate all the saints 00:01:22.989 --> 00:01:28.090 of north america because this is our land we 00:01:28.090 --> 00:01:33.810 live here and the lord is with us and so we celebrate 00:01:33.810 --> 00:01:37.010 all those that have come before in this church, 00:01:37.069 --> 00:01:42.349 on this land of North America, known and unknown, 00:01:42.629 --> 00:01:48.629 and who have shown forth in our land. Since the 00:01:48.629 --> 00:01:52.810 very first liturgy, the divine liturgy on July 00:01:52.810 --> 00:01:58.349 20th, 1741, until this very day in this very 00:01:58.349 --> 00:02:02.769 church. So why is it? that the Holy Church, in 00:02:02.769 --> 00:02:07.109 her wisdom, sets aside this Sunday for us to 00:02:07.109 --> 00:02:11.909 honor and remember these saints. One reason is 00:02:11.909 --> 00:02:17.110 for us to focus on their example. Their example 00:02:17.110 --> 00:02:23.490 of prioritizing salvation, of being sanctified, 00:02:23.710 --> 00:02:27.669 of living a life of faith. Their lives and the 00:02:27.669 --> 00:02:31.879 things they did and the decisions they made led 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:36.400 them to eternal life. And that is an example 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.520 that is set for us so that we too can follow 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:42.879 that same path. All these saints from Russia 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:47.259 and North America have one thing in common. have 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:49.819 confessed our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:53.460 Christ. All the saints have followed Jesus as 00:02:53.460 --> 00:02:56.840 their Lord. They have become saints because they 00:02:56.840 --> 00:02:59.759 have been filled with the Holy Spirit. And being 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:02.340 filled with the Holy Spirit, they have lived 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:06.240 lives of faith and thus were made holy and sanctified. 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:10.860 And now today, you and I are blessed to have 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:16.460 their prayers, yes, in heaven, but also to have 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:21.379 the example of their lives for us. Examples such 00:03:21.379 --> 00:03:26.199 as St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, of 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.879 St. Herman of Alaska, of St. Innocent, Enlightener 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:35.219 of North America, of St. Alexis Toth, of St. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:39.960 Raphael of Brooklyn, of St. Ticon, and very soon 00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:44.740 a new saint will be recognized, St. Olga. there 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:51.259 are so many others. And for me, I think of Father 00:03:51.259 --> 00:03:57.319 Michael Margitich. He, if anyone I've ever met 00:03:57.319 --> 00:04:00.800 in my life, is a saint and is in heaven. It is 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:05.560 him. These, all of these, prioritize their faith 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:11.560 and they put Christ first. And today, for each 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:17.240 of us here, we must face The question, am I prioritizing 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:22.100 my faith in Christ first? Or have I made something 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:28.339 or someone else more important? In today's Gospel 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:31.899 reading from Matthew, the Lord Jesus calls his 00:04:31.899 --> 00:04:35.379 first disciples. Simon Peter and his brother 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:38.439 Andrew, as fishermen, were casting their nets 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:42.370 in the sea. And Jesus said, follow me. and I 00:04:42.370 --> 00:04:45.449 will make you fishers of men. And immediately 00:04:45.449 --> 00:04:49.649 they left their nets and followed him. And then 00:04:49.649 --> 00:04:52.790 Jesus called James and John, the sons of Zebedee, 00:04:52.790 --> 00:04:55.569 to follow him. And they too immediately left 00:04:55.569 --> 00:04:58.610 and followed him. And Jesus calls you and me, 00:04:58.769 --> 00:05:03.569 all of us here, to follow him. To where? To heaven. 00:05:03.709 --> 00:05:08.300 To follow him to eternal life. to save our souls. 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:13.339 How could anything or anyone else be more important 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:20.079 than that? So now is the time to prioritize your 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:23.879 Christian faith as first in your life. Today 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:27.540 is the day to determine in your heart and mind 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:32.360 and soul to do God's will, to leave worldly ways 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:37.519 and appetites behind. And to follow the example 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.420 of the saints who have walked before us, they 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:47.120 showed us how. The words of St. Herman, let us 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:50.519 heed his instruction, who said, for our good, 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:53.939 for our happiness at least, let us make a vow 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:57.699 that from this day, from this hour, from this 00:05:57.699 --> 00:06:01.420 minute, let us strive to love God above all and 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:06.189 fulfill his holy will. Is there something or 00:06:06.189 --> 00:06:10.529 someone that you have prioritized more highly 00:06:10.529 --> 00:06:16.490 than doing God's will? Perhaps in word, perhaps 00:06:16.490 --> 00:06:20.970 in deed or thought, you have denied Christ. Well, 00:06:21.029 --> 00:06:25.209 do not despair. Even St. Peter denied Christ. 00:06:25.370 --> 00:06:30.149 He heard the cock crow. And when he repented, 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:34.079 Our Lord forgave him and made him the chief of 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:38.339 the apostles, and it blessed us here to this 00:06:38.339 --> 00:06:42.199 very day. Let us repent of any past mistakes 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:46.660 we have made and enter into a life of faith following 00:06:46.660 --> 00:06:50.379 the wonderful examples of all the saints who 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:54.420 have walked before us, both in Russia and in 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:57.040 North America. Glory to Jesus Christ.