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Daily Readings
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Saturday, 29th March 2014 --- 20 Baramhat 1730
Readings for Saturday of fifth week of Great Lent
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 65 : 2 - 3
Chapter 65
| 2 | O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come.
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| 3 | Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.
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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 Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Luke 15 : 3 - 10
Chapter 15
| 3 | So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
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| 4 | "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
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| 5 | And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
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| 6 | And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
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| 7 | I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
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| 8 | "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
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| 9 | And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!'
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| 10 | Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
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And Glory be to God forever.
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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 5 : 16 - end
Chapter 5
| 16 | I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
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| 17 | For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
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| 18 | But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
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| 19 | Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
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| 20 | idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
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| 21 | envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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| 22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
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| 23 | gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
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| 24 | And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
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| 25 | If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
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| 26 | Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
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Galatians 6 : 1 - 2
Chapter 6
| 1 | Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
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| 2 | Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
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The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. James .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
James 5 : 7 - 11
Chapter 5
| 7 | Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
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| 8 | You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
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| 9 | Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
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| 10 | My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
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| 11 | Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
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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.
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Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.
Acts 26 : 1 - 18
Chapter 26
| 1 | Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
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| 2 | "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
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| 3 | especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
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| 4 | "My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
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| 5 | They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
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| 6 | And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.
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| 7 | To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
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| 8 | Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
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| 9 | "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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| 10 | This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
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| 11 | And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
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| 12 | "While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
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| 13 | at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
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| 14 | And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
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| 15 | So I said, "Who are You, Lord?' And He said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
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| 16 | But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
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| 17 | I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
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| 18 | to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
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The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
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Synaxarium
Day 20 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat, 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 Twentieth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Departure of the Saint Anba Khail (Mikhail)
the Fifty Sixth Pope of the See of St.Mark
On this day of the year 623 A.M. (March 16th.,
907 A.D.) the holy father Anba Khail (Mikhail), the fifty six Pope of Alexandria,
departed. He was enthroned Patriarch on the 30th. of Baramouda 5296 A.M.
(April 25th., year 880 A.D.). This father had nobel qualities, nevertheless
a great sorrow came upon him. Pope Cosma the Second, built a church on
the name of St. Ebtelmaos in the city of Danousher which was under the
jurisdiction of the bishop of Sakha. The people of Danousher desired to
invite the father the Patriarch Anba Mikhail and some of the neighboring
bishops to consecrate this church but the Bishop of Sakha was not pleased
with this idea. When they did against his wish and the father the Patriarch
along with the bishops came, this bishop refused to stay and he left the
church pretending that he was going to check on their meal. When the Bishop
did not come back, and the time to start the service had passed, the bishops
and the elders asked the father the Patriarch to begin the service. Having
urged the Patriarch and pointed out that he was the father of them all
and having authority over them, with difficulty he rose up and prayed the
prayer of thanks giving and the offering of the Lamb. When the Bishop heard
of this, and for his wickedness and his love for the glory of the world,
he became enraged with the excuse that the Patriarch had violated the cannons
of the church and celebrated the divine Liturgy in a parish without the
permission of its bishop. He returned to the church in hast and Satan entered
his heart, he transgressed against the holy and pure altar and the offering
that was on it, then left the church full of wrath. The father the Patriarch
completed the Divine Liturgy with calmness and maturity. On the following
day the Patriarch held a council from the bishops who were with him, the
priests, and the scholars and they excommunicated this bishop and appointed
another in his stead. That Bishop became furious, Satan entered his heart
and he went to the Governor of Egypt Ahmad Ebn-Tolon and told him: "The
Patriarch is very wealthy, and his churches are filled with vessels, in
gold and silver."
This Governor was preparing to go to war and needed
funds to finance these preparations. He called the Patriarch and demanded
the church funds and its vessels, but the Patriarch refused. He shut him
up in prison with a deacon whose name was Ebn El-Monzer for a year during
which the Pope ate only bread, salt, and boiled beans. John and Moses,
two scribes of the Governor, agreed with the scribes of the Governor's
minister John and his son Macarius to free the father the Patriarch and
they asked for the minister's help who agreed to their request. He interceded
on their behalf before the Governor Ebn-Tolon who agreed on a condition
that the Patriarch pay him 20 thousand Dinar. The Patriarch wrote a promissory
note to pay the amount on two installments: the first after one month and
the second after four month and this way he was able to leave the prison.
When the time came to pay the first instalment those scribes paid two thousand
dinar, the minister contributed one thousand and Anba Michail paid seven
thousands, he collected from the bishops and the believers. The pope was
compelled to travel to collect the sum required for the second instalment.
When he was at the city of Belbays, a monk with ragged cloth passed by
the Pope's disciples and told them: "Go and tell your teacher that the
lord will relieve him from his fine after forty days." When the father
heard that he sent for that monk but they could not find him. Before that
period had passed Ebn-Tolon died and his son Khamarawaih, who forgave the
Patriarch of his debt, took his place year 875 A.M. He called the Patriarch,
comforted him and then tore up the promissory note as the monk had prophesied.
The wicked Bishop that caused all these troubles for the holy father Anba
Mikhail, the wrath of God came upon him in his life and his death to be
an example for others. This father spent twenty seven years on the chair
of St. Mark, then departed in peace.
May His prayers be with us. Amen.
Raising of Lazarus from the dead
On this day also the Lord
raised the righteous lazarus from the dead and many people believed because
of this great miracle.
Glory be to God forever. Amen.
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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 143 : 1 - 2
Chapter 143
| 1 | Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness.
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| 2 | Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
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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 23 : 14 - 39
Chapter 23
| 14 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
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| 15 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
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| 16 | "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, "Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.'
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| 17 | Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
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| 18 | And, "Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'
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| 19 | Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
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| 20 | Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it.
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| 21 | He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it.
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| 22 | And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
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| 23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
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| 24 | Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
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| 25 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
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| 26 | Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
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| 27 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
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| 28 | Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
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| 29 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
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| 30 | and say, "If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
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| 31 | "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
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| 32 | Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt.
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| 33 | Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
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| 34 | Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
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| 35 | that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
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| 36 | Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
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| 37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
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| 38 | See! Your house is left to you desolate;
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| 39 | for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!"'
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page