Our venerable father Sabbas the Consecrated was born in Cappadocia. He arrived at the desert of Judea and instituted a new sort of eremetical life in seven monasteries, which were called “laurae.” He gathered solitaries under one overseer (hegumen). In the great laura, which afterward was adorned with his name, he dwelt for many years, a shining example of sanctity. He strove assiduously for the faith taught at the Council of Chalcedon. (532)
Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom, and your suffering made your labors fruitful a hundred-fold; you became a shining torch over the world. O venerable father Sabbas, pray to Christ our God that He may save our souls.
You were offered up by your virtues, becoming a Gardener of Piety, being a chaste offering to God from your youth, O Blessed Sabbas. Therefore, you were the enrichment of monastics, and a praiseworthy citizen of the desert. Therefore, we cry out to you: Rejoice, truly wealthy Sabbas.
Galatians 5:22 – 6:2
Brothers and sisters: The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity. Against such there is no law! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the spirit, let us follow the spirit’s lead. Let us never be boastful, or challenging, or jealous toward one another.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is detected in sin, you who live by the spirit should gently set him right, each of you trying to avoid falling into temptation himself. Help carry one another’s burden; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Matthew 11: 27-30
The Lord said to his disciples: “everything has been given over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son– and anyone whom the Son wished to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.”
1 Timothy 4: 4-8, 16
Timothy, my son: Everything God created is good, nothing is to be rejected when it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by God’s word and by prayer.
If you put these instructions before the brotherhood you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, reared in the words of faith and the sound doctrine you have faithfully followed. Have nothing to do with profane myths or old wives’ tales. Train yourself for the life of piety, for while physical training is to some extent valuable, the discipline of religion is incalculably more so, with its promise of life here and hereafter.
Watch yourself and watch your teaching. Persevere at both tasks. By doing so you will bring to salvation yourself and all who hear you.
Luke 20: 19-26
At that time the scribes and high priests tried to get their hands on Jesus, but they were afraid of the people. They were well aware that Jesus has told the parable [of the tenant farmers] with them in mind. Waiting their chance, they sent spies to Jesus in the guise of honest men to trap him in speech, so that they might then hand him over to the office and authority of the procurator. They put him this problem: “Teacher, we know that your words and your doctrine are completely forthright, that you are no respecter of persons but teach the way of God in truth. May we pay tax to the emperor or not?” Realizing their duplicity Jesus said, “Show me a coin. Whose inscription do you read?” “Caesar’s,” they replied, to which he said, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” They were unable to trap him publicly in speech. His answer completely disconcerted them and reduced them to silence.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Thursday, December 4 –
