To confess our sins means we do two things with our sin: 1) we recognize sin for what it is in God's eyes and 2) we get rid of our secrets and are honest with another Christian about our weakness, vulnerabilities, failures, and sins. James' language is powerful. He mentions that this confession doesn't just bring forgiveness, it also brings healing.
Day 28 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramoudah, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.
The Twenty-Eighth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
Martyrdom of St.Millius, the Ascetic
On this day, St. Milius, the ascetic, was martyred. This father was an ascetic and fighter all the days of his life. He dwelt in a cave with his two disciples in mount Khurasan. The two sons of the king of Khurasan went out to hunt wild animals and they set up their nets. This Saint fell in their net, and he was dressed in sackcloth made of hair, and his hair was exceedingly long. When they saw him they were afraid of him and asked him: "Are you a man or a demon?" He answered: "I am a sinful man and I dwell here in this mount to worship the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God." They told him: "There is no God except the sun and the fire, offer the sacrifices to them lest we kill you." He answered them: "These things have been created by God. You are not aware of the truth. It is preferable for you to worship the true God, the creator of all these things." They asked him: "Do you claim that he Whom the Jews crucified is God?" He said to them: "Yes, He Who was crucified for our sins, and Who was killed and died, is God indeed." The two princes were raged of him. They seized his two disciples, tortured, and then slew them. As for St. Milius, they continued to torture him for two weeks. Finally, they made him stand up between them and shot arrows at him until he departed in peace. On the following day they went on hunting, followed a wild beast, and shot arrows at him, and God turned their arrows into their own hearts killing them.
May The prayers of this Saint be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 119 : 49,50
Chapter 119
| 49 | Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. |
| 50 | This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. |
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Vespers Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Mark the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Mark 6 : 47 - 52
Chapter 6
| 47 | Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. |
| 48 | Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. |
| 49 | And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; |
| 50 | for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." |
| 51 | Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. |
| 52 | For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. |
And Glory be to God forever.
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 119 : 33 - 34
Chapter 119
| 33 | Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. |
| 34 | Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. |
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Matins Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Mark the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Mark 3 : 31 - 35
Chapter 3
| 31 | Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. |
| 32 | And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." |
| 33 | But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" |
| 34 | And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! |
| 35 | For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." |
And Glory be to God forever.
Liturgy Gospel
Paulines Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Ephesians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Ephesians 2 : 13 - 18
Chapter 2
| 13 | But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. |
| 14 | For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, |
| 15 | having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, |
| 16 | and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. |
| 17 | And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. |
| 18 | For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 Peter 4 : 8 - 13
Chapter 4
| 8 | And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." |
| 9 | Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. |
| 10 | As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. |
| 11 | If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. |
| 12 | Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; |
| 13 | but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. |
Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.
Acts 20 : 1 - 6
Chapter 20
| 1 | After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. |
| 2 | Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece |
| 3 | and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. |
| 4 | And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia--also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. |
| 5 | These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. |
| 6 | But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
Divine Psalm
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 74 : 12,13,22,23
Chapter 74
| 12 | For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth. |
| 13 | You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. |
| 22 | Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. |
| 23 | Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually. |
Hallelujah.
Divine Gospel
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
John 7 : 14 - 29
Chapter 7
| 14 | Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. |
| 15 | And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?" |
| 16 | Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. |
| 17 | If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. |
| 18 | He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. |
| 19 | Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" |
| 20 | The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?" |
| 21 | Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel. |
| 22 | Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. |
| 23 | If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? |
| 24 | Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." |
| 25 | Now some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill? |
| 26 | But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? |
| 27 | However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from." |
| 28 | Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. |
| 29 | But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me." |
And Glory be to God forever.
Not to be read in the Church during this time of the year.
Synaxarium
Day 28 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramoudah, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.
The Twenty-Eighth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
Martyrdom of St.Millius, the Ascetic
On this day, St. Milius, the ascetic, was martyred. This father was an ascetic and fighter all the days of his life. He dwelt in a cave with his two disciples in mount Khurasan. The two sons of the king of Khurasan went out to hunt wild animals and they set up their nets. This Saint fell in their net, and he was dressed in sackcloth made of hair, and his hair was exceedingly long. When they saw him they were afraid of him and asked him: "Are you a man or a demon?" He answered: "I am a sinful man and I dwell here in this mount to worship the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God." They told him: "There is no God except the sun and the fire, offer the sacrifices to them lest we kill you." He answered them: "These things have been created by God. You are not aware of the truth. It is preferable for you to worship the true God, the creator of all these things." They asked him: "Do you claim that he Whom the Jews crucified is God?" He said to them: "Yes, He Who was crucified for our sins, and Who was killed and died, is God indeed." The two princes were raged of him. They seized his two disciples, tortured, and then slew them. As for St. Milius, they continued to torture him for two weeks. Finally, they made him stand up between them and shot arrows at him until he departed in peace. On the following day they went on hunting, followed a wild beast, and shot arrows at him, and God turned their arrows into their own hearts killing them.
May The prayers of this Saint be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
In Genesis, we see the divine dance in an early enigmatic story (18:1-8). “The Lord” appears to Abraham as “three men” or “three angels,” and Abraham and Sarah seem to see the Holy One in the presence of these three; they bow before them and call them “lord” (18:2-3, Jerusalem Bible). Abraham and Sarah’s first instinct is one of invitation and hospitality—to create a space of food and drink for the guests. Here we have humanity feeding God; it will take a long time to turn that around in the human imagination, to believe that we, too, could be invited to the divine table.
This story inspired a piece of devotional religious art by iconographer Andrei Rublev (c. 1360–c. 1430): The Hospitality of Abraham, or simply The Trinity. As icons do, this painting attempts to point beyond itself, inviting a sense of both the beyond and the communion that exists in our midst.
There are three significant colors in Rublev’s icon, each illustrating a facet of the Holy One:
Gold: “the Father”—perfection, fullness, wholeness, the ultimate Source
Blue: “the Incarnate Christ”—both sea and sky mirroring one another (In the icon, Christ wears blue and holds up two fingers, telling us he has put spirit and matter, divinity and humanity, together within himself. The blue of creation is undergirded with the red of suffering.)
Green: “the Spirit”—the divine photosynthesis that grows everything from within by transforming light into itself (Hildegard of Bingen [1098–1179] called this viriditas, or the greening of all things.)
The icon shows the Holy One in the form of Three, eating and drinking, in infinite hospitality and utter enjoyment between themselves. If we take the depiction of God in The Trinity seriously, we have to say, “In the beginning was the Relationship.” The gaze between the Three shows the deep respect between them as they all share from a common bowl. Notice the Spirit’s hand points toward the open and fourth place at the table! Is the Holy Spirit inviting, offering, and clearing space? I think so! And if so, for what, and for whom?
At the front of the table there appears to be a little rectangular hole. Most people just pass right over it, but some art historians believe the residue of possible glue on the original icon indicates that there was perhaps once a mirror glued to the front of the table. It’s stunning when you think about it: There was room at this table for a fourth—the one in the mirror.
The observer.
You!
Yes, you—and all of creation—are invited to sit at the divine table, to participate in the divine dance of mutual friendship and love.
The mirror seems to have been lost over the centuries, both in the icon and in our on-the-ground understanding of who God is—and therefore who we are, too!
Reference:
Adapted from Richard Rohr with Mike Morrell, The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation (Whitaker House: 2016), 28-31.