The holy martyr Polyeuctus: The Armenian city of Melitene was drenched with the blood of Christians, as was the entire country of Armenia. The first blood shed for Christ in this city was that of St. Polyeuctus in the year 259, during the reign of Valerian. In Melitene were two friends: Nearchus and Polyeuctus. Both were officers- Nearchus was baptized and Polyeuctus was unbaptized. When the command of the emperor was sent out concerning the persecution of Christians, Nearchus prepared for death; but he was in great sorrow because he had not succeeded in converting his friend Polyeuctus to the true Faith. When Polyeuctus learned of the reason for Nearchus’s sorrow, he promised to embrace the Faith. The following day Polyeuctus related this dream to Nearchus: the Lord Himself had appeared to him in light, removed Polyeuctus’s old clothes from him and dressed him in radiant new clothes – and sat him in the saddle of a winged horse. After this, Polyeuctus went to town, shredded the emperor’s decree concerning the torturing of Christians, and destroyed many statues of idols. He was tortured and condemned to death. When he was brought to the place of execution, he looked at Nearchus in the throng of people and joyfully cried out to him: “Save yourself, my dear friend! Remember the vow of love confirmed between the two of us!” later, St. Nearchus died by fire as a martyr for Christ.
Your martyr Polyuectus, 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.
When our Savior bowed His head in the Jordan River, the heads of the serpents were crushed, and when Polyeuctus was beheaded, he put demons to shame.
James 2: 1-13
Brothers and sisters, your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not allow of favoritism. Suppose there should come into your assembly a man fashionably dressed, with gold rings on his fingers, and at the same time a poor man in shabby clothes. Suppose further that you were to take notice of the well-dressed man and say, “Sit right here, please,” whereas you were to say to the poor man, “You can stand!” or “Sit over there by my footrest.” Have you not in a case like this discriminated in your hearts? Have you not set yourself up as judges handing down corrupt decisions?
Listen, dear brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom he promised to those who love him? Yet you treated the poor man shamefully. Are not the rich exploiting you? They are the ones who hale you into the courts and who blaspheme that noble name which has made you God’s own.
You are acting rightly, however, if you fulfill the law of the kingdom. Scripture has it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Whoever falls into sin on one point of the law, even though he keeps the entire remainder, has become guilty on all counts. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” If therefore you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Always speak and act as men destined for judgment under the law of freedom. Merciless is the judgment on the man who has not shown mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgment.
Mark 10: 24-32a
The Lord said to his disciples: “My sons, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were completely overwhelmed at this, and exclaimed to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus fixed his gaze on them and said, “For man it is impossible but not for God. With God all things are possible.”
Peter was moved to say to Jesus, “ We have put aside everything to follow you!” Jesus answered, “I give you my word, there is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or property, for me and for the gospel who will not receive in this present age a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property– and persecution besides– and in the age to come, everlasting life. Many who are first shall come last, and the last shall come first,”
The disciples were on the road going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus walking in the lead. Their mood was one of wonderment, while that of those who followed was fear.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Thursday, January 8 –
