Thoughts on Today's Verse...
What is there to fear since God sent his Son to die to redeem us? What is there to fear since we cannot be separated from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus? What is there to fear except ourselves, and God has poured his Spirit into our hearts to reassure us and strengthen us in our weakness! As we love God and his children, we are reminded of his love for us which is far better than our meager love for others. Rather than run from him in fear, we bow before him in thanks knowing that he who hears our prayers is also he who loves us and yearns to calm our fears.
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 17 : 1 - 2
Chapter 17
| 1 | Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. |
| 2 | Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. |
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 17 : 3 - 6
Chapter 17
| 3 | Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. |
| 4 | And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, "I repent,' you shall forgive him." |
| 5 | And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." |
| 6 | So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. |
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 : 49,52
Chapter 119
| 49 | Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. |
| 52 | I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, And have comforted myself. |
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 13 : 33 - 37
Chapter 13
| 33 | Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. |
| 34 | It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. |
| 35 | Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- |
| 36 | lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. |
| 37 | And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" |
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 Corinthians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
2 Corinthians 6 : 14 - 7 : 16
Chapter 6
| 14 | Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? |
| 15 | And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? |
| 16 | And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." |
| 17 | Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." |
| 18 | "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." |
Chapter 7
| 1 | Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. |
| 2 | Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. |
| 3 | I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. |
| 4 | Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. |
| 5 | For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. |
| 6 | Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, |
| 7 | and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. |
| 8 | For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. |
| 9 | Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. |
| 10 | For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. |
| 11 | For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. |
| 12 | Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. |
| 13 | Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. |
| 14 | For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. |
| 15 | And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. |
| 16 | Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything. |
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 1 : 1 - 12
Chapter 1
| 1 | Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, |
| 2 | elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. |
| 3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, |
| 4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, |
| 5 | who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. |
| 6 | In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, |
| 7 | that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, |
| 8 | whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, |
| 9 | receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. |
| 10 | Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, |
| 11 | searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. |
| 12 | To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. |
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 21 : 1 - 14
Chapter 21
| 1 | Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. |
| 2 | And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. |
| 3 | When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. |
| 4 | And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. |
| 5 | When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. |
| 6 | When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. |
| 7 | And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. |
| 8 | On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. |
| 9 | Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. |
| 10 | And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. |
| 11 | When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."' |
| 12 | Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. |
| 13 | Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." |
| 14 | So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." |
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 95 : 1 - 2
Chapter 95
| 1 | Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. |
| 2 | Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. |
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.
Luke 13 : 1 - 5
Chapter 13
| 1 | There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. |
| 2 | And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? |
| 3 | I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. |
| 4 | Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? |
| 5 | I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." |
And Glory be to God forever.
الأقتـداء بالمســـــــيح الفصل الاول في الاقتداء بالمسيح واحتقار أباطيل العالم كله 1- (( من يتبعني – يقول الرب – فلا يمشي في الظلام)). (يوحنا- 12:8) ذاك هو كلام المسيح، يحضنا به على التشبه بسيرته وأخلاقه، إن أردنا الاستنارة الحقة، والتحرر من كل عمى في القلب. فليكن إذن جل اهتمامنا، التأمل في حياة يسوع المسيح. 2- إن تعليم المسيح يفوق تعاليم القديسين كلها، ومن كان فيه روح المسيح، فإنه يجد في تعليمه المن المخفي. بيد أن كثيرين، في الواقع قلما يتأثرون بسماعهم المتواتر للإنجيل، إذ ليس فيهم روح المسيح. فمن أراد أن يتفهم جيدا ويتذوق أقوال المسيح، فعليه ان يجتهد في التوفيق بين حياته كلها وحياة المسيح . 3- ماذا يفيدك البحث العميق في الثالوث، إن خلوت من التواضع، بحيث تصبح غير مرضي لدي الثالوث. حقا ليست الأقوال السامية هي التي تجعل الأنسان قديساً وصديقاً، بل السيرة الفاضلة هي التي تجعله عزيزاً على الله. إني افضل الشعور بإنسحاق القلب ، على معرفة تحديده. لو عرفت على ظهر قلبك كل الكتاب المقدس ، واقوال الفلاسفة جميعا، فأي نفع لك في ذلك كله، إن خلوت من محبة الله ونعمته؟ (( باطل الاباطيل ، وكل شئ باطل)) ما خلا حب الله والتعبد له وحده. هذه هي الحكمة السامية: أن يسعى الانسان الى الملكوت السماوي، باحتقاره العالم. 4- فباطل إذن طلب الاموال الزائلة، والاتكال عليها. باطل ايضا الطمع في الكرامات، والتطاول الى المنزلة الرفيعة. باطل اتباع شهوات الجسد، وابتغاء ما يستوجب لنا اخيرا شديد العقاب. باطل تمني العمر الطويل، مع قلة الاكتراث لعيشة صالحة، باطل قصر النظر على الحياة الحاضرة، وعدم التبصر في الامور المستقبلة، باطل حب ما يزول بكل سرعة، وعدم الاسراع الى مقر الفرح الدائم. 5- ردد في ذهنك هذا القول: ((العين لا تشبع من النظر، والاذن لا تمتلئ من السماع)) فاجتهد إذن ان تصرف قلبك عن حب المنظورات وتنتقل به الى غير المنظورات. فإن الذين ينقادون للحواس، يدنسون ضمائرهم ويفقدون نعمة الله.