Nov. 21 Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

According to Holy Tradition, the parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anna, praying for an end to their childlessness, vowed that if a child were born to them, they would dedicate it to the service of God. When the Most Holy Virgin reached the age of three, the holy parents decided to fulfill their vow. They gathered together their relatives and acquaintances, and dressed the All-Pure Virgin in Her finest clothes. Singing sacred songs and with lighted candles in their hands, virgins escorted Her to the Temple. After entrusting their child to the Heavenly Father, Joachim and Anna returned home. The All-Holy Virgin remained in the quarters for virgins near the Temple. The earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos from Her infancy until She was taken up to Heaven is shrouded in deep mystery. Her life at the Jerusalem Temple was also a secret. 

Troparion

Today is the prelude of God’s benevolence and the herald of our salvation; for the Virgin openly appears in the temple of God and foretells Christ to all. Let us also with full voice exclaim to her: Rejoice, fulfillment of the Creator’s plan.

 

Kontakion

The most pure Temple of the Savior, the most precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Treasury of the glory of God, is led today into the house of the Lord, bringing grace in the Spirit of God. God’s angels praise her in song; she is the Heavenly Ark.

 

Readings for the feast

Epistle

Hebrews 9: 1-7

    Brothers and sisters: The first covenant had regulations and an earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was constructed, the outer one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the showbread; this was called the holy place. Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the holy of holies, in which were the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant entirely covered with gold. In the ark were the golden jars containing manna, the rod of Aaron which had blossomed, and the tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of expiation. We cannot speak now of each of these in detail. These were the arrangements for worship. In performing their service the priests used to go into the inner one, and that but once a year, with the blood which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people. 

 

Gospel

Luke 10: 38-42, 11: 27-28

    At that time Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and listened to his words. Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to Jesus and said, “Lord, are you not concerned that my sister has left me to do the household tasks all alone? Tell her to help me.”

    The Lord in reply said to her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things; one thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it.”

    While he was saying this a woman from the crowd called out, “Blest is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” Jesus replied, “Rather, blest are they who hear the word of God and keep it.”

 

Readings for the day

Epistle

2 Thessalonians 1: 1-10

    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    It is no more than right that we thank God unceasingly for you, brothers, because your faith grows apace and your mutual love increases; so much so that in God’s communities we can boast of your constancy and your faith in persecution and trial. You endure these as an expression of God’s just judgment, in order to be found worthy of his kingdom – it is for his kingdom you suffer – even if strict justice would require that God visit hardships on those who visit them on you. He will provide relief to you who are sorely tried, as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels; when, [as Scriptures say], “with flaming power he will inflict punishment on those who do not acknowledge God nor heed” the good news of our Lord Jesus. Such as these will suffer the penalty of eternal ruin apart from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might on the Day when he comes, to be glorified in his holy ones and adored by all who have believed – for you already have our witness to you.  

 

Gospel

Luke 17: 20-25

    At that time, on being asked by the Pharisees when the reign of God would come, Jesus replied: “You cannot tell by careful watching when the reign of God will come. Neither is it a matter of reporting that it is ‘here’ or ‘there.’ The reign of God is already in your midst.”

    He said to the disciples: “A time will come when you will long to see one day of the Son of Man but will not see it. They will tell you he is to be found in this place or that. Do not go running about excitedly. The Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning that flashes from one end of the sky to the other. First, however, he must suffer much and be rejected by the present age.”

 

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

 

Table of Service (reverence iv)

(Part IV in a series encouraging reverence of the Holy Places and Things)

Along with the Holy Table and the Table of Oblation, inside the altar areas is the Table of Service, in Greek, the diakonikon.  This table stands to the right of the Holy Table and opposite the Table of Oblation.  In the early church this was its own room or apse, and today most churches have what we call a sacristy that serves the same purpose.  It holds vestments, books and other items needed for worship.   Above this table is an icon that depicts service or sacrifice in the spirit of the Eucharist.  Examples of icons found here are “ultimate humility” ( Christ dead and in the tomb), the sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. 22), the Holy Trinity/Hospitality of Abraham (Gen. 18), Melchisedek (Gen. 14) or The Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.  You will see similar images, or additionally the Nativity of Our Lord (commemorated during the proskomedia rite) over the Table of Oblation on the other side of the altar area.

Table of Oblation (reverence iii)

(Part III in a series of posts encouraging reverence of the Holy things)

Along with the Holy Table, there are two other tables in the Holy Place.  The table to the left of the Holy Table (under the icon of the Holy Trinity in our temple) is the called the Table of Prothesis (“placing before/offering”), Table of Proskomedia (“offering”) or Table of Offering/Oblation in english.  Let’s call it the Table of Oblation (“offering” a sacrifice to God in this context) for simplicity’s sake.  This was originally a whole separate room attached to the temple.  The faithful would bring the bread they would bake as an oblation for the Divine Liturgy.  The deacon would then choose the most perfect  loaf or loaves (5 in our slavic tradition) and these would be used for the Divine Liturgy.  This Table of Oblation is now where the priest and deacon prepare the bread and wine (with prayers, cuts and pours) to be carried to the Holy Table during the Great Entrance, and then changed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Nov. 20 Our Father Gregory the Decapolite; Our Father among the saints, Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople; Pre-festive Day of the Entrance in the temple of the most holy Theotokos

Our venerable father Gregory the Decapolite first professed the monastic life and then the life of an anchorite. Then he made a journey and settled for a long time in Thessalonica. Finally he returned his soul to God in Constantinople where he fought vigorously in defense of the holy Images during the 9th century. 

Our holy father Proclus, archbishop of Constantinople, who vigorously proclaimed blessed Mary to be the Theotokos (“she who gave birth to God”). He returned the body of St. John Chrysostom from exile in a triumphal translation. His episcopate was so adorned with the blessings that the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon he was thought worthy to be called the Great. (446)

 

Troparion – saints

O God of our Fathers who always deal with us according to Your compassion, take not Your mercy away from us, but through their prayers, guide our life in peace. 

 

Troparion – Prefeast

Today Anna prepares for us a joy that dispels all sadness for she has blossomed and borne the only Ever-Virgin. Today she fulfills her vows with gladness and leads into the Temple of the Lord the one who is the true temple of God the Word and His pure Mother. 

 

Kontakion – Gregory

The Church recognizes you as a brilliant sun which enlightens  the world with virtues and with miracles of healing. You pleased Christ, therefore, we celebrate your precious memory and honor your struggles, O Gregory, our father wise and all-blessed.

 

Kontakion – Proclus

Today the most honorable of cities truly celebrates your honorable repose, O father of fathers Proclus the wise!

 

Kontakion – Prefeast

Filled with joy today by the auspicious feast of the Theotokos, the whole world cries out: This is the Heavenly Ark.

 

Epistle

Ephesians 2: 14-22

    Brothers and sisters: It is [Christ] who is our peace, and who made the two of us one by breaking down the barrier of hostility that kept us apart. In his own flesh he abolished the law with its commands and precepts; to create in himself one new man from us who had been two and to make peace, reconciling both of us to God in one body through his cross, which put that enmity to death. He came and “announced the good news of peace to you who were far off, and to those who were near”; through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

    This means that you are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. 

 

Gospel

Luke 12: 16-21

    The Lord told this parable: “There was a rich man who had a good harvest. ‘What shall I do?’ he asked himself. ‘I have no place to store my harvest. I know!’ he said. ‘I will pull down my grain bins and build larger ones. All my grains and my goods will go in there. Then I will say to myself: You have blessings in reserve for years to come. Relax! Eat heartily, drink well. Enjoy yourself.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life shall be required of you. To whom will all this piled-up wealth of yours go?’ That is the way it works with the man who grows rich for himself instead of growing rich in the sight of God. [Let him who hears this, heed it!]”

 

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Sunday Bulletin 11/10/22

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Saturday, Nov. 19  –  Obadiah, Prophet     

5:00 PM          Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula

6:30 PM          Reader Vespers

Sunday, Nov. 20  –  24th Sunday after Pentecost       

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, Nov. 21  –  Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple (Solemn Holyday)        

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

6:00 PM          Akathist* for those suffering Addictions & Mental Illness

6:30 PM          Divine Liturgy    In gratitude from Rick White

Wednesday, Nov. 23  –  Amphilochius & Gregory, Bishops

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

6:30 PM          Divine Liturgy    In Thanksgiving for God’s Mercy

7:30 PM          Firepit Social

Saturday, Nov. 26  –  Alypius the Stylite, Venerable     

4:15 PM          Outreach Vespers in Santa Paula

5:00 PM          Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula

Sunday, Nov. 27  –  25th Sunday after Pentecost       

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy 

*Add first names to this prayer service by emailing niemirick@gmail.com

MYSTERY OF REPENTANCE (Confession)

St. Mary’s: Sundays 8:45 AM or by appointment

Santa Paula: Saturdays 4:15 PM or by appointment

PRAYER REQUESTS

(Please resubmit or submit names to admin@ByzantineLA.com)

The Carlin Family, Michael Hefferon, Shirley Kunze, Michael Mina, Peter Mina, Fr, John Mina, Mila Mina, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fern Bonowicz, Shannon O’Neill, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $1,561.00; Candles: $45.25; Online: $30.00; Santa Paula: $1,655.00; Parish Charity: $440.00

Total: $3,720.25 / Attendance- PSM: 619  

You can pick up the October issue of the GCU Magazine and the newest issue of the Joyful Light magazine from our seminary in the narthex.

 

Table of Service

Along with the Holy Table and the Table of Oblation, inside the altar areas is the Table of Service, in Greek, the diakonikon.  This table stands to the right of the Holy Table and opposite the Table of Oblation.  In the early church this was its own room or apse, and today most churches have what we call a sacristy that serves the same purpose.  It holds vestments, books and other items needed for worship.   Above this table is an icon that depicts service or sacrifice in the spirit of the Eucharist.  Examples of icons found here are “ultimate humility” ( Christ dead and in the tomb), the sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. 22), the Holy Trinity/Hospitality of Abraham (Gen. 18), Melchisedek (Gen. 14) or The Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.  You will see similar images, or additionally the Nativity of Our Lord (commemorated during the proskomedia rite) over the Table of Oblation on the other side of the altar area.

 

“…Tonight your soul is demanded of you.” We are not our own, and this is equally true of the blessings in our lives. Jesus speaks sternly of the need to understand this so that we can be “rich toward God”. If you are blessed with the richness of a calling from God to be a priest, deacon, subdeacon, monk or nun, will you answer it with the same yes that we see in the saints? To learn more, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Nov. 19 The Holy Prophet Obadiah; The Holy Martyr Barlaam

The holy Prophet Obadiah is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the 9th century B.C. He gave food and shelter to all the prophets of the Lord who were being hunted because of the queen’s quarrel with the Prophet Elias. He was part of the 3 detachments of soldiers sent to arrest Elias, but, through the prayers of the prophet, 2 of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire. Obadiah and his detachment survived, he left military service, and received the gift of prophecy. he God-inspired work of the Prophet Obadiah is the fourth of the Books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Bible, and contains predictions about the future salvation of the Gentiles (Vs. 15) and that the Savior would come forth from Sion (Vs. 17).

The holy martyr Barlaam lived in Antioch of Syria. During Diocletian’s persecution against Christians, the aged saint confessed himself a Christian. The judge, wanting to compel the saint to renounce Christ, ordered St. Barlaam be brought before a pagan altar. His right hand was placed over it, and a red-hot censer burning with incense was put into his hand. The torturer thought that a weak old man could not endure the pain and would drop it on the altar. In this way Barlaam would involuntarily be offering sacrifice to the idol. However, the saint held onto the censer until his hand fell off. After this, the holy martyr Barlaam surrendered his soul to the Lord in the year 304. 

 

Troparion – Prophet

As we celebrate the memory of your prophet Obadiah, O Lord, we implore You to save our souls through his prayers. 

 

Troparion – Martyr

Your martyr Barlaam, O Lord our God, in his struggle received an incorruptible crown from You. With Your strength, he brought down the tyrants and broke the cowardly valor of demons. Through his prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls. 

 

Kontakion – Prophet

Receiving clarity of mind from divine illumination, the great Obadiah saw the future through the Holy Spirit. We piously and wisely keep his memory today, and venerate him to find light for our hearts. 

 

Kontakion – Martyr

You were revealed as a powerful fortress, for you offered a holocaust of yourself to Christ as an acceptable incense offering. You received a crown of honor, O Barlaam. Always pray for us, O sufferer.

 

Epistle

2 Corinthians 11: 1-6

 Brothers and sisters: You must endure a little of my folly. Put up with me, I beg you! I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God himself, since I have given you in marriage to one husband, presenting you as a chaste virgin to Christ. My fear is that, just as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may fall away from your sincere and complete devotion to Christ. I say this because, when someone comes preaching another Jesus than the one we preached, or when you receive a different spirit than the one you have received, or a gospel other than the gospel you accepted, you seem yo endure it quite well. I consider myself inferior to the “super-apostles” in nothing. I may be unskilled in speech but I know that I am not lacking in knowledge. We have made this evident to you in every conceivable way.

 

Gospel

Luke 9: 57-62

    At that time Jesus was journeying along, someone said to him, “I will be your follower wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have lairs, the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another Jesus said, “Come after me.” The man replied, “Let me bury my father first.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead; come away and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said to him, “I will be your follower, Lord, but first let me take leave of my people at home.” Jesus answered him, “Whoever puts his hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit for the reign of God.”

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

 

Nov. 18 The Holy Martyrs Plato and Romanus


Born in the town of Ancyra in Galatia, Plato showed early and great perfection in virtue. While still a youth he left home and went through the cities preaching the Word of God to pagans. He amazed his audience with the persuasiveness and beauty of his speech and his profound knowledge of Greek learning. Because he did not hide his faith, he was called before the governor for trial. After having been cruelly tortured, he was beheaded and died in 266.
Romanus was born in Palestine, and served as a deacon in Caesarea. At the time of the persecution against Christians, he was living in Antioch. Through his preaching, he encouraged the faithful to stand firm in their confession of Christ when the Eparch Asclypiades wanted to raze the church to its foundations. St. Romanus told the people that they must fight to prevent the destruction of the house of God, assuring them that even if they died in their efforts they would sing a hymn of victory in heaven. Boldly accusing the governor of idolatry, he was tortured and killed in 303.

Troparion

Your martyrs, O Lord our God, in their struggles received incorruptible crowns from You. With Your strength, they brought down the tyrants and broke the cowardly valor of demons. Through their prayers, O Christ our God, save their souls.

 

Kontakion

Your holy memory delights the universe and brings all the faithful together in your holy temple. Since we are now gathered together in our joy, we praise your great deeds with hymns, O Plato and Romanus, as we cry out to you with faith: O holy ones, deliver our nation and your city from its enemies.

 

Epistle

1 Thessalonians 5: 9-13; 24-28
Brothers and sisters: God has not destined us for wrath but for acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, that all of us, whether awake or asleep, together might live with him. Therefore, comfort and upbuild one another, as indeed you are doing.
We beg you, brethren, respect those among you whose task it is to exercise authority in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them with the greatest love because of their work. Remain at peace with one another.
He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it. Brethren, pray for us too. Greet all the brothers with a holy embrace. I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to them all. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

Gospel

Luke 16: 15-18; 17: 1-4
The Lord said to the Pharisees: “You justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God reads your hearts. What man thinks important, God holds in contempt. The law and the prophets were in force until John [the Baptizer]. From this time on, the good news of God’s kingdom has been proclaimed, and people of every sort are forcing their way in. It is easier for the heavens and the earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a letter of the law to pass. Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. The man who marries a woman divorced from her husband likewise commits adultery.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Scandals will inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come. He would be better off thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than giving scandal to one of these little ones. Be on your guard. If your brother does wrong, correct him; if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times a day turns back to you saying, ‘I am sorry,’ forgive him.”

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Nov. 17 Our Father among the saints Gregory the Wonder-worker, Bishop of Neocaesarea

Our holy father Gregory the Wonder-worker, bishop of Neocaesarea embraced the Christian faith as a youth. He progressed in both human and divine knowledge, and was ordained a bishop. He was famous for his teaching, virtue, and apostolic labors. Having received a fine education, from his youth he strove for Truth, but the philosophers of antiquity were not able to quench his thirst for knowledge. Truth was revealed to him only in the Holy Gospel, and the youth became a Christian. St. Gregory went to Alexandria to continue his studies. He attended the Alexandria Catechetical School, where the presbyter Origen taught. Origen was a famous teacher, possessing a great strength of mind and profound knowledge. St. Gregory became a student of Origen, studied with him for eight years, and was baptized by him. St. Gregory fell asleep in the Lord in the year 270, and because of the many marvels he performed, he is called Wonder-worker.

 

Troparion

You became worthy of your name through your way of life, through assiduous prayers and constant works of mercy. Therefore, Father Gregory, intercede with Christ God that He may enlighten our minds, lest we go to sleep in sin, which leads to death.

Kontakion

You received the power of performing many miracles and frightened the awful devils through your wonderworking and your healing of the sick. Therefore, O all-wise Gregory, your deeds entitled you to be called the Wonderworker. 

 

Epistle

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-8

    Brothers and sisters: As regards specific times and moments, we do not need to write you; you know very well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. Just when people are saying, “Peace and security,” ruin will fall on them with the suddenness of pains overtaking a woman in labor, and there will be no escape. You are not in the dark, brethren, that the day should catch you off guard, like a thief. No, all of you are children of light and of the day. We belong neither to darkness nor to night; therefore let us not be asleep like the rest, but awake and sober! Sleepers sleep by night and drunkards drink by night. We who live by day must be alert, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 

 

Gospel

Luke 16: 1-9

    The Lord told this parable: “A rich man had a manager who was reported to him for dissipating his property. The rich man summoned the servant and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give me an account of your service, for it is about to come to an end.’ The manager thought to himself, ‘What shall I do next? My employer is sure to dismiss me. I cannot dig ditches. I am ashamed to go begging. I have it! Here is a way to make sure that the people will take me into their homes when I am let go.’

    “So he called in each of his master’s debtors, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ The man replied, ‘A hundred jars of oil.’ The manager said, ‘Take your invoice, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he said to a second, ‘How much do you owe?’ The answer came, ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ and the manager said, ‘Take your invoice and make it eighty.’

    “The owner then gave his devious employee credit for being enterprising! Why? Because the worldly take more initiative than the other-worldly when it comes to dealing with their own kind. What I say to you is this: Make friends for yourselves through your use of this world’s goods, so that when they fail you, a lasting reception will be yours.”

 

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Nov. 16 The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

The holy apostle and evangelist Matthew who, named Levi, was called by Jesus to follow him and leave his job of publican or tax collector. Matthew, son of Alphaeus, was called by the Lord in Capernaum and said: “Follow Me.” After that, Matthew prepared a reception for the Lord in his home and thus provided the occasion for the Lord to express several great truths about His coming to earth. After receiving the Holy Spirit, Matthew preached the Gospel to the Parthians, Medes, and Ethiopians. In Ethiopia he appointed his follower Plato as bishop, and withdrew to prayerful solitude on a mountain. Matthew baptized the wife and son of the prince of Ethiopia, at which the prince became greatly enraged and dispatched a guard to bring Matthew to him for trial. The soldiers returned to the prince saying that they had heard Matthew’s voice, but could not see him with their eyes. The prince then sent a second guard. When this guard approached the apostle, he shone with a heavenly light so powerful that the soldiers could not look at him; filled with fear, they threw down their weapons and returned. Then the prince went himself. Matthew radiated such light that the prince was instantly blinded. However, the holy apostle had a compassionate heart. He prayed to God, and the prince was given back his sight. Unfortunately, he saw only with physical eyes and not spiritual eyes. Then the apostle prayed to God and gave up his spirit. 

 

Troparion

You rose from the tax collector’s booth and you followed Christ in all earnestness. He made you a blessing for all, a chosen apostle and evangelist for the world. Therefore, we honor your sacred memory and we ask you to beg God to forgive our sins.

 

Kontakion

You cast off the yoke of gathering taxes, and you put on the yoke of justice. You became a shrewd merchant, obtaining a wealth of wisdom from heaven itself. When you preached the word of truth, you lifted up depressed spirits. You wrote of the coming hour of judgment. 

 

Readings for the apostle

Epistle

1 Corinthians 4: 9-16

     Brothers and sisters: As I see it, God has put us apostles at the end of the line, like men doomed to die in the arena. We have become like a spectacle to the universe, to angels and men alike. We are fools on Christ’s account. Ah, but in Christ you are wise! We are the weak ones, you the strong! They honor you, while they sneer at us! Up to this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, poorly clad, roughly treated, wandering about homeless. We work hard at manual labor. When we are insulted we respond with a blessing. Persecution comes our way; we bear it patiently. We are slandered, and we try conciliation. We have become the world’s refuse, the scum of all; that is the present state of affairs. 

    I am writing you this way not to shame you but to admonish you as my beloved children. Granted you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you have only one father. It was I who begot you in Christ Jesus through my preachings of the gospel. I beg you, be imitators of me.

 

Gospel

John 21: 14-25

At that time Jesus appeared to the disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had rated their meal, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know I love you.” At which Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

A second time he put his question, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Tend my sheep.”

A third time Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked a third time, “Do you love me?” So Peter said to him: “Lord, you know everything. You know well that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. I tell you solemnly: as a young man you fastened your belt and went about as you pleased; but when you are older you will stretch out your hands, and another will tie you fast and carry you off against your will.”

What he said indicated the sort of death by which Peter was to glorify God. When Jesus had finished speaking he said to Peter, “Follow me.”

Peter turned around at that, and noticed that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following – the one who had leaned against Jesus‘s chest during the supper and said, “Lord, which one will hand you over?” – Seeing that disciple, Peter was prompted to ask Jesus, “But Lord, what about him?” Jesus replied, “Suppose I want him to stay until I come, how does that concern you? Your business is to follow me.” This is how the report spread among the Brothers that this disciple was not going to die. Jesus never told him, as a matter of fact, the disciple was not going to die; all he said was, “Suppose I want him to stay until I come. How does that concern you?”

It is this same disciple who is the witness to these things; it is he who wrote them down and is his testimony, we know, it’s true. There are still many other things that Jesus did, if they were written about in detail, I doubt there would be room enough in the entire world to hold the box to record them.

 

Readings for the day

Epistle

1 Thessalonians 4: 1-12

    Brothers and sisters, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, even as you learned from us how to conduct yourselves in a way pleasing to God–which you are indeed doing–so must you learn to make still greater progress. You know the instructions we gave you in the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you grow in holiness: that you abstain from immorality, each of you guarding his member in sanctity and honor, not in passionate desire as do the Gentiles who know not God; and that each refrain from overreaching or cheating his brother in the matter at hand; for the Lord is an avenger of all such things, as we once indicated to you by our testimony. God has not called us to immorality but to holiness; hence, whoever rejects these instructions rejects not man, but God who sends his Holy Spirit upon you.

    As regards brotherly love, there is no need for me to write you. God himself has taught you to love one another, and this you are doing with respect to all the brethren throughout Macedonia. Yet we exhort you to even greater progress, brethren. Make it a point of honor to remain at peace and attend to your own affairs. Work with your hands as we directed you to do, so that you will give good example to outsiders and want for nothing. 

 

Gospel

Luke 15: 1-10

    At that time the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus, at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus addressed this parable to them: “Who among you, if he has a hundred sheep loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wasteland and follow the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders in jubilation. Once arrived home, he invites friends and neighbors in and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.

    “What woman, if she has ten silver pieces and loses one, does not light a lamp and sweep the house in a diligent search until she has retrieved what she lost? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me! I have found the silver piece I lost.’ I tell you, there will be the same kind of joy before the angels of God over one repentant sinner.”

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

 

Nov. 15 The Holy Martyrs  and Confessors Gurias, Samonas, and Habibus

The holy martyrs and confessors Gurias, and ascetic, and Samonas suffered at Edessa in Osrhoene. They were condemned to death under Diocletian the emperor after a lengthy and savage torture, they were then beheaded by sword. Habibus was a deacon who suffered for the faith later. The martyrs endured everything with firmness and Samonas uttered a prayer to the Lord, which one of the witnesses to their death wrote down: “O Lord my God, against Whose will not a single sparrow falls into the snare. It was You Who made room for David in his sorrow (Ps. 4:1).” The martyrs were buried reverently by Christians after their death. After some years, the last pagan emperor, Licinius (311-324), began a persecution against Christians. Habibus, a deacon of the Church of Edessa whom the emperor ordered to be arrested for his zealous spreading of the True Faith, presented himself before the executioners when he learned they were searching for him. The saint confessed for Christ and was sentenced to be burned alive. The martyr went willingly into the fire and with a prayer surrendered his soul to the Lord. When the fire went out, the mother and relatives of the saint found his body unharmed. They buried the martyr next to Saints Gurias and Samonas. 

 

Troparion

You granted us the miracles of Your holy martyrs as an unshakable stronghold, O Christ God. Through their prayers, confound the snares of pagans, strengthen the scepters of the kingdom for You alone are good and love mankind.

 

Kontakion

Having received grace from on high O wise ones, you stood before those tempters, O all-praised ones. Therefore, like the three holy youths, you were delivered from bitter death, for in truth you are the glory of Edessa and the joy of the world. 

 

Epistle

1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13

    Brothers and sisters: What thanks can we give to God for all the joy we feel in his presence because of you, as we ask him fervently night and day that we may see you face to face and remedy any shortcomings in your faith? May God himself, who is our Father, and our Lord Jesus make our path a straight one! And may the Lord increase you and make you overflow with love for one another and for all, even as our love does for you. May he strengthen your hearts, making them blameless and holy before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. 

 

Gospel

Luke 14: 25-35

    At that time when a great crowd was with Jesus, he turned to them and said, “If anyone comes to me without turning his back on his father and mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and sisters, indeed his very self, he cannot be my follower. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. If one of you decides to build a tower, will he not first sit down and calculate the outlay to see if he has enough money to complete the project? He will do that for fear of laying the foundation and then not being able to complete the work; for all who saw it would jeer at him, saying, ‘That man began to build what he could not finish.’

    “Or is a king is about to march on another king to do battle with him, will he not sit down first and consider whether, with ten thousand men, he can withstand an enemy coming against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, he will send a delegation while the enemy is still at a distance, asking for terms of peace. In the same way, none of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his possessions. Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor what good is it for seasoning? It is fit for neither soil not the manure heap’ it has to be thrown away. Let him who hears it, heed it.”

 

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com