Coptic for GOD

Coptic Date

Gregorian Date

DAILY VERSE

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.Psalm 37:16-17

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

—Psalm 37:16-17

What is your most important capital; your money or your character? I can assure you, this question will be asked of you a myriad of ways; quite often at the worst of all possible times when you are most vulnerable. Martin Luther supposedly said that the last thing to get converted in a man was his wallet. So will you choose the little of the righteous over the wealth of many wicked? Hmmm! Tough question in a pinch. So let's make that decision now before the circumstances change. God, his Kingdom, his will, and his righteousness come first, right?

DAILY SYNEXARIUM

The synexarium of the 9th Day of the Blessed month of Abib 1739

Day 9 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Abib, 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 Ninth Day of the Blessed Month of Abib

Martyrdom of St.Simon Cleophas, the Apostle

On this day, St. Simon, the Apostle, was martyred. He was the son of Cleophas, brother of Joseph the Just, to whom the Virgin Mary was betrothed. He received the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room of Zion, and was ordained bishop for Jerusalem succeeding St. James the Apostle. He converted many of the Jews to the faith in the Lord Christ. The Lord wrought many wonders in his hands, and he urged the people for chastity and purity. When Emperor Trajan heard about him, he brought him, tortured him much, and then cut off his head. He was one hundred twenty years old.

May His prayers be with us all. Amen.

Departure of St.Cladianus (Celadion), the Ninth Pope of the See of St.Mark

On this day also, in the year 166 A.D. St. Cladianus (Celadion), the ninth Pope of the See of St. Mark, departed. He was a knowledgeable man, and righteous in his life. He was chosen Patriarch in the 8th of Tubah (January 16th, 152 A.D.), after the departure of his predecessor Pope Marcianus. He continued to teach, preach, and better his people, until he departed in peace after he had stayed on the Chair for fourteen years and six months.

May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever, Amen.

DAILY KATEMAROS

the second Sunday Abib 1739

Vespers

Vespers Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 128 : 1 - 5

Chapter 128

1	Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

2	When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3	Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.

4	Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.

5	The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your 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 Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

Luke 16 : 1 - 18

Chapter 16

1	He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

2	So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'

3	"Then the steward said within himself, "What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

4	I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'

5	"So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, "How much do you owe my master?'

6	And he said, "A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, "Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

7	Then he said to another, "And how much do you owe?' So he said, "A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, "Take your bill, and write eighty.'

8	So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

9	"And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

10	He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

11	Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12	And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

13	"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

14	Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

15	And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16	"The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

17	And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

18	"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

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 41 : 1 - 2

Chapter 41

1	Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

2	The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.

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 16 : 2 - 8

Chapter 16

2	Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

3	And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?"

4	But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large.

5	And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

6	But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

7	But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."

8	So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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 Galatians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.

Galatians 1 : 1 - 24

Chapter 1

1	Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),

2	and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

3	Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

4	who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

5	to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

6	I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,

7	which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

8	But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

9	As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

10	For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

11	But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

12	For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13	For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

14	And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15	But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,

16	to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

17	nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18	Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

19	But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

20	(Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21	Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

22	And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.

23	But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."

24	And they glorified God in me.

The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.

Catholic Epistle

A Reading from Epistle of St. Jude .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.

Jude 1 : 14 - 25

Chapter 1

14	Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,

15	to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

16	These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

17	But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:

18	how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.

19	These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

20	But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

21	keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22	And on some have compassion, making a distinction;

23	but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

24	Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

25	To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

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 5 : 19 - 23

Chapter 5

19	But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

20	"Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

21	And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22	But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported,

23	saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"

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 119 : 1 - 2

Chapter 119

1	Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!

2	Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

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.

Matthew 18 : 1 - 9

Chapter 18

1	At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2	Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

3	and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

4	Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5	Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

6	"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7	Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8	"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.

9	And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

And Glory be to God forever.

DAILY CONTEMPLATION

Christ Is Everywhere-

The twentieth-century English mystic Caryll Houselander (1901–1954) describes how an ordinary underground train journey in London transformed into a vision that changed her life. I share Houselander’s description of this startling experience because it poignantly demonstrates what I call the Christ Mystery, the indwelling of the Divine Presence in everyone and everything since the beginning of time as we know it:

All sorts of people jostled together, sitting and strap-hanging—workers of every description going home at the end of the day. Quite suddenly I saw with my mind, but as vividly as a wonderful picture, Christ in them all. But I saw more than that; not only was Christ in every one of them, living in them, dying in them, rejoicing in them, sorrowing in them—but because He was in them, and because they were here, the whole world was here too . . . all those people who had lived in the past, and all those yet to come.

I came out into the street and walked for a long time in the crowds. It was the same here, on every side, in every passer-by, everywhere—Christ.

I had long been haunted by the Russian conception of the humiliated Christ, the lame Christ limping through Russia, begging His bread; the Christ who, all through the ages, might return to the earth and come even to sinners to win their compassion by His need. Now, in the flash of a second, I knew that this dream is a fact . . . Christ in [humankind]. . . .

I saw too the reverence that everyone must have for a sinner; instead of condoning his [or her] sin, which is in reality [their] utmost sorrow, one must comfort Christ who is suffering in [them]. And this reverence must be paid even to those sinners whose souls seem to be dead, because it is Christ, who is the life of the soul, who is dead in them; they are His tombs, and Christ in the tomb is potentially the risen Christ. . . .

Christ is everywhere; in Him every kind of life has a meaning and has an influence on every other kind of life. . . . Realization of our oneness in Christ is the only cure for human loneliness. For me, too, it is the only ultimate meaning of life, the only thing that gives meaning and purpose to every life.

After a few days the “vision” faded. People looked the same again, there was no longer the same shock of insight for me each time I was face to face with another human being. Christ was hidden again; indeed, through the years to come I would have to seek for Him, and usually I would find Him in others—and still more in myself—only through a deliberate and blind act of faith. [1]

I (Richard) would say that my only real definition of a Christian is one who can see Christ everywhere else and even in oneself.

References:
[1] Caryll Houselander, A Rocking-Horse Catholic (Sheed and Ward: 1955), 137-140.