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2 THE SHEPHERD • JUNE 2024 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO Χριστός Ανέστη! At this time of renewal, I find myself clinging in hope to the idea that it is never too late for us to change our ways. Over the last several years I have become very fond of an elderly gentleman. He is often in my thoughts and I truly look forward to seeing him every week. He has “confessed” many times that he is not a believer, yet I continue to not believe him. If the stories of Great Lent tell us anything, surely they tell us it’s never too late to have a change of heart. It wasn’t too late for a criminal on the cross; it wasn’t too late for the Roman Centurion who pierced His side at the Crucifixion; it wasn’t too late for the disciples who denied Him and ran away in fear; and it’s not too late for us. Every year in the late hours of the Resurrection Service, we are reminded in the words of the Pas- chal Homily of Saint John Chrysostom that it’s not too late. “If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has de- layed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gra- cious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the elev- enth hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.” Wherever we are on the clock, whether the first, third, sixth, ninth or eleventh hour, there is still time for us to have a change of heart. The end of Great Lent is not an end- ing but a door to a new beginning to walk to the light of Christ. It is like the spring, when seedlings buried in darkness burst into the light to share their beauty. This is truly a new season for each of us to change, to forgive, to serve, to love our neighbors, and to truly love God with all our heart. The coming months will be filled with many activities at our Church and there are lots of opportunities for you to share your time, talents, or treasures. As you look around the property, you will see that many things are being refreshed; a spe- cial thinks to Art and Gina Balourdas who have been spearheading the effort. Our annual Greek Festival will be on June 8th and 9th , and we are still looking for volunteers. You may sign up at sdgreekfesti- val.com/volunteer. The National Clergy La- ity Congress will be in San Diego, June 30th through July 4th , and St. Spyridon will be hosting Archbishop Elpidophoros and the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod for di- vine services on Sunday, June 30th . As they say, it takes a village and we are looking for help; please let us know if you are willing. Let us remember that until our last breath we have the chance to change, and to utter the words of the good thief, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom,” and to pray that we will hear His words, “Assur- edly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 39-43) Many Blessings, Jim Gilpin, Parish Council President FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT continues 7 Parking in the alley is not permitted. Vehicles parked illegally are subject to towing. Also, please do not double-park or block any of the exits in the church lot. Such activity may pose inconvenience to others and could be dangerous in case of an emergency. We thank you for your consideration and cooperation. Our group is currently not meeting, and we are going through a transition period as we consider different ways to reorganize, given how many members’ current circumstances have changed. Having just passed through Great Lent, Holy Week, celebrating Pascha and now marching towards the Holy Ascen- sion and Pentecost, we continue to contem- plate Christ’s last messages and lessons to His disciples. In Jn 13:34 He says, “A new commandment I give to you that you love one another; that as I have loved you, you also love one another.” Just what is this new way and what kind of love is this that Christ leaves us with, telling us, indeed, even expecting us to learn how to practice ourselves? In fact, the ancient Greeks had 4 words for love – agape, philia, storge, and eros. As writ- ten in this Gospel and referred to also in the Epistles, the word Christ uses is “agape” – not just any kind of love, but the highest form which involves the idea of service, charity, and compassion. As He repeats later in the same Gospel: “As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love…This is my command…that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:9,12) To lay down one’s life for anoth- er - this is a sacrificial love, one that requires us to reorder our priorities, reconsider our own supposed needs, our own personal as- pirations and desires, even to reevaluate who we define ourselves to be with respect to how we serve the other, how we judge one another, evaluate what and who is most im- portant. Even tolerance and patience with one’s neighbor, although good and in the right direction, has not reached that pinnacle of agape – self-giving, all patient, nonjudg- mental love. Even that love which parents have for their children at best falls into the domain of “storge” – a deeply binding, fa- milial love, and though we imagine it to be unconditional and rightly aspire to that, if we’re truly honest with ourselves, the only one who has really achieved that level of un- conditional love is God the Father and His Only-Begotten Son. One of Christ’s fiercest disciples, Peter, after denying Christ three times, is questioned in the kind of love he demonstrates to Christ where Christ asks him, using the verb for the agape form of love, “Peter, do you love me?” (Jn. 21:15-17) and Peter keeps answer- ing Him with the philia form of the verb, in WOMEN WORD OF THE Wherever we are on the clock, whether the first, third, sixth, ninth or eleventh hour, there is still time for us to have a change of heart...This is truly a new season for each of us to change, to forgive, to serve, to love our neighbors, and to truly love God with all our heart.