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Daily Readings
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Saturday, 22nd February 2020 --- 14 Amshir 1736
Readings for Saturday, 22nd February 2020 --- 14 Amshir 1736
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.
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| 2 | Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.
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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.
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.
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| 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."
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| 5 | And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
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| 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.
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And Glory be to God forever.
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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.
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| 52 | I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, And have comforted myself.
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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 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.
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| 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.
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| 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--
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| 36 | lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
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| 37 | And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
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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 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?
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| 15 | And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
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| 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."
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| 17 | Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."
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| 18 | "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
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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.
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| 2 | Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 6 | Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 10 | For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 15 | And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
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| 16 | Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
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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 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,
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| 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.
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| 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,
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| 4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
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| 5 | who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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| 6 | In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
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| 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,
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| 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,
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| 9 | receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
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| 10 | Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
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| 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.
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| 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.
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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 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.
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| 2 | And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
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| 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.
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| 4 | And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
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| 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.
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| 6 | When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.
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| 7 | And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.
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| 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.
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| 9 | Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
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| 10 | And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
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| 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."'
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| 12 | Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
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| 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."
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| 14 | So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
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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 14 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Amshir, 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 Fourteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Amshir
Departure of St.Severus, the Patriarch
of Antioch
On this day of the year 538 A.D., the
holy father St. Severus, Patriarch of Antioch, departed. He was from Asia
Minor. His grandfather, whose name was also Severus, saw in a vision someone
telling him, "The child who is for your son will strengthen Orthodoxy,
and his name will be after your name." When his son had this saint, he
called him Severus. He was taught the Greek wisdom and church subjects.
Once, the saint was strolling outside the city, a shut-in saint came out
of his cave crying, "Welcome to you Severus, teacher of Orthodoxy, and
Patriarch of Antioch." Severus marvelled at how he called him by his name,
for he did not know him before, and how he foretold what would become of
him. Severus grew in virtue and became a monk in the monastery of St. Romanus.
The fame of his righteousness and his ascetic life spread out. When the
Patriarch of Antioch departed, the bishops had a consensus to ordain him
the Patriarch of the city in the year 512 A.D. The church was illuminated
by his teachings which spread to all the universe, and he was one of the
fathers who attended the Universal Council at Ephesus.
Shortly after, Emperor Anastasius died
and Justinian, who was Chalcedonian in faith, reigned after him. He called
upon this holy father and gave him great honors to persuade him to change
his stand and to follow the Emperor's belief, but the Saint refused. The
Emperor became angry, but the Saint did not fear his anger, and so the
Emperor ordered him to be killed. Theodora, the Emperor's wife who was
Orthodox in faith, knew about what the Emperor intended to do, so she told
the saint to flee from his face. St. Severus escaped to the land of Egypt
and traveled everywhere and visited monasteries disguised as a monk. He
strengthened the faith of the believers in the Orthodox doctrine. He dwelt
in the city of Sakha in the home of a holy lay leader called Doretheos.
God performed through him many miracles. He departed in the city of Sakha,
and his body was relocated to the monastery of El-Zugag.
May His prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.James, the Fiftieth Pope
of Alexandria (St.Yacobus)
On this day also of the
year 821 A.D., the great saint Abba James (St. Yacobus), 50th Pope of Alexandria,
departed. He was a monk in the monastery of St.Macarius. For his holiness
and righteousness, he was chosen by a consensus to become patriarch after
Pope Mark, 49th Pope, had departed. He was enthroned in the month of Bashans
in the year 810 A.D. St. James renovated the churches and populated the
monasteries, and God granted him the gift of performing miracles. One of
the deacons in Alexandria dared to say to him rudely, "Pay what you owe
to the churches, or else go to your monastery." The Pope replied to him,
"You will never see me again from now on." The deacon went home, immediately
became sick and died shortly after. Another miracle: There was a lay leader
(Archon) named Macarius from Nabarouh who was very well advanced in years
and had no children. After a while, God gave him a son. He made a feast
to celebrate this occasion, and invited Abba James. During the celebration,
the child died but his father did not panic. He carried the child in his
hands and placed him in faith before the Pope, trusting that God would
hear His chosen one, and give life to his child. The Pope took the child
and made the sign of the cross on his forehead, his heart and his chest,
while he prayed, "My Master, Jesus Christ, the Giver of Life, raise this
child alive again by Your mighty power." He breathed in his face, and the
soul of the child returned to him, and he gave him to his father. When
he finished his good strife, Abba James departed in peace, after he had
been on the throne of St. Mark for 10 years, 9 months and 28 days.
May His prayers be with us and Glory be to our 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 95 : 1 - 2
Chapter 95
| 1 | Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
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| 2 | Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
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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.
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.
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| 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?
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| 3 | I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
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| 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?
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| 5 | I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page