Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 2nd Sunday of Luke

“Be Merciful, Just as Your Father Is Merciful”

This Sunday, October 4, we gather at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for the 2nd Sunday of Luke.

Our Lord gives us one of the most beautiful, and perhaps most difficult, commands of the Christian life:

“As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” — Luke 6:31

But Christ does not stop there. He calls us beyond loving those who love us. He calls us to love our enemies, do good without expecting anything in return, and show mercy because our Heavenly Father is merciful.

This week’s message from Fr. Michael asks us to look honestly at forgiveness, resentment, mercy, and the way we respond to those who have hurt us.

A Message from Fr. Michael

Dearly Beloved faithful in Christ:

Today, our Lord gives us one of the most challenging and beautiful commandments of the Christian life:

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”

We hear these words often, but living them is another matter entirely. It is easy to love those who love us. It is easy to be kind to those who are kind to us. But Christ calls us to something much greater. He calls us to love even those who hurt us, misunderstand us, reject us, or treat us unfairly.

Our Lord says:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

These words are not simply advice for becoming nicer people. They reveal the very heart of the Christian life.

The world teaches us: Love those who love you. Forgive when the other person deserves it. Give back what you receive.

Christ teaches something different: Love without expecting anything in return. Forgive even when it is difficult. Do good even when no one thanks you.

Why?

Because this is how God loves us.

Every one of us has experienced God’s mercy. We have failed Him, forgotten Him, ignored Him, and fallen into sin, and yet He continues to call us back. He does not wait for us to become perfect before He loves us. His mercy comes first.

That is why Christ concludes today’s Gospel with these words:

“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

The measure of Christian love is not the behavior of the other person. The measure is the mercy of God.

Forgiveness Does Not Mean Approving of Wrongdoing

This does not mean that we should pretend that evil does not exist or allow ourselves to be abused. Forgiveness does not mean approving of wrongdoing, and loving our enemies does not mean that we cannot establish healthy boundaries.

Rather, Christ asks us not to allow hatred and resentment to take possession of our hearts.

When someone hurts us, we naturally want to hold on to the injury. We replay the conversation. We remember the words. We imagine what we should have said. Sometimes we carry an offense for years.

But when we refuse to forgive, we may think we are punishing the other person. In reality, we are often imprisoning ourselves.

Forgiveness begins when we place the person, and our pain, into the hands of God.

A Prayer When Forgiveness Is Difficult

Sometimes we cannot immediately say, “I forgive you” with our whole heart. The wound may be too deep.

But we can begin with a prayer:

“Lord, I cannot forgive this person yet. But I want to want to forgive. Please heal my heart and have mercy on us both.”

That prayer itself can become the beginning of healing.

And notice that Christ does not merely tell us to tolerate our enemies. He tells us to pray for them.

Prayer changes us.

When we pray for someone who has hurt us, we begin to see that person not simply as “the person who hurt me,” but as another human being created in the image and likeness of God, a person who, like us, needs God’s mercy.

Perhaps the greatest spiritual victory is not when our enemy changes, but when our heart changes.

Christ Gives Us the Example

St. John Chrysostom reminds us of the extraordinary power of forgiveness and mercy. The Christian does not overcome evil by becoming more like the person who has done evil. We overcome evil by remaining faithful to Christ.

Our Lord Himself gives us the ultimate example.

From the Cross, after being mocked, beaten, and crucified, Christ prayed:

“Father, forgive them.”

This is the love we are called to imitate.

It is difficult. Sometimes it seems impossible.

And that is precisely why we need the grace of God.

We cannot live the Gospel through our own strength. We need prayer. We need the Holy Mysteries. We need confession and Holy Communion. We need to allow Christ to transform our hearts so that His love can become our love.

A Challenge for This Week

As we leave church today, perhaps we can each think of one person whom we struggle to forgive.

Do not begin by asking:

“Does this person deserve my forgiveness?”

Instead, ask:

“Have I received God’s forgiveness?”

And then remember the words of Christ:

“Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

This week, pray for that person. Do one small act of kindness. Refuse to speak badly about them. And if reconciliation is possible and appropriate, take one small step toward peace.

We may not be able to change another person’s heart.

But with God’s grace, we can offer Him our own.

May our merciful God grant us the strength to forgive, the humility to ask forgiveness, and the love to pray even for those who have wounded us.

And may we become, in our homes, in our families, in our parish, and in our community, living reflections of the mercy of our Heavenly Father.

Prayerfully yours,

+ Fr. Michael

Scripture Readings for October 4

Prokeimenon — Mode 1

Psalm 32:22, 1

“Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.”

Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

Epistle

St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6–11

Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

God is able to provide every blessing in abundance, so that we may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.

As it is written:

“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply our resources and increase the harvest of righteousness.

We will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God.

Προκείμενον. Ήχος α’

ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1

Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς.

Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

Πρὸς Κορινθίους β’ 9:6–11 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ σπείρων φειδομένως, φειδομένως καὶ θερίσει· καὶ ὁ σπείρων ἐπʼ εὐλογίαις, ἐπʼ εὐλογίαις καὶ θερίσει. Ἕκαστος καθὼς προαιρεῖται τῇ καρδίᾳ· μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· ἱλαρὸν γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεός. Δυνατὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς πᾶσαν χάριν περισσεῦσαι εἰς ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν παντὶ πάντοτε πᾶσαν αὐτάρκειαν ἔχοντες περισσεύητε εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν· καθὼς γέγραπται, Ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκεν τοῖς πένησιν· ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Ὁ δὲ ἐπιχορηγῶν σπέρμα τῷ σπείροντι, καὶ ἄρτον εἰς βρῶσιν χορηγήσαι, καὶ πληθύναι τὸν σπόρον ὑμῶν, καὶ αὐξήσαι τὰ γενήματα τῆς δικαιοσύνης ὑμῶν· ἐν παντὶ πλουτιζόμενοι εἰς πᾶσαν ἁπλότητα, ἥτις κατεργάζεται διʼ ἡμῶν εὐχαριστίαν τῷ θεῷ.

Holy Gospel

Luke 6:31–36 | Love Your Enemies

The Lord said:

“As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.”

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to receive as much again.

But Christ calls us to something greater:

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.”

Your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.

Christ concludes:

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Living the Gospel This Week

This Sunday’s Gospel is not simply asking us to be polite to difficult people. Christ is asking for something much deeper: a heart transformed by God’s mercy.

That does not mean ignoring wrongdoing or refusing to establish healthy boundaries. It means refusing to allow another person’s actions to fill our hearts with hatred and resentment.

So perhaps our prayer this week can be:

Lord, show me where I am holding onto resentment. Give me the grace to forgive as You have forgiven me. Help me pray for those who have hurt me, and make my heart a reflection of Your mercy.

Bible Study & Catechism Classes

Come grow with us in our knowledge of Holy Scripture and the Orthodox Faith.

Bible Study: 9:00 AM–10:30 AM

Catechism Class: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM

Upcoming Class Dates

• Saturday, October 17, 2026

• Saturday, December 5, 2026

• Saturday, January 16, 2027

• Saturday, March 13, 2027

All are invited to attend!

Classes use the Orthodox Study Bible. Please remember to bring yours with you.

October Birthdays 🎂

We wish a happy and blessed birthday to:

October 3 — Liam Hill

October 3 — Zachary Verros

October 7 — Thomas Muse

October 14 — Wanda Spangler

October 14 — Hunter Constance

October 16 — Andriana Yanni

October 17 — Victoria Baker

October 18 — Peter Kapasouris

October 25 — Steven Christopher

October 28 — Catherine Roy

October 28 — Theresa Vriniotis

October 31 — James Potter

May God grant you many blessed years!

October Anniversaries 💒

We celebrate and pray for the couples marking their anniversaries this month:

October 5 — George & Susan Beres

October 9 — Dean & Helen Raptakis

October 13 — Andrew & Debbie Kontos

October 20 — Nestor & Anna Tsimpedes

October 21 — Issam & Maisa Dubbaneh

October 25 — Monica Vallee & Norman Cardinale

May God continue to bless their marriages and grant them many blessed years together!

Upcoming Special Services

These services are in addition to our general Sunday Orthros and Divine Liturgy services.

Friday, October 23, 2026

Feast Day of St. James (Iakovos), the Brother of the Lord

Orthros: 9:00 AM

Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM

Friday, November 13, 2026

Feast Day of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

Divine Liturgy: 9:00 AM

No Orthros

Wednesday, November 25, 2026

Feast Day of St. Katherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria

There will be NO SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Orthros and Divine Liturgy will instead be celebrated at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida.

Sunday, November 29, 2026 | 1:00 PM

Vespers for the Eve of the Feast Day of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle

Join Us at Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

24411 Rampart Blvd.

Port Charlotte, FL 33980

Phone: 941-629-3888

V. Rev. Dr. Michael Bahlatzis, Protopresbyter

Presiding Priest-Proistamenos

Phone: (607) 215-3887

We warmly invite our parish family, visitors, and anyone interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith to worship with us.

As we enter another week, may we remember that Christian mercy is not measured by whether another person deserves it. It is measured by the mercy God has already shown us.

“Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

May our homes, families, parish, and community become living reflections of the mercy of our Heavenly Father.

Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be. ☦️