Sunday 17 March 2024
8 Baramhat 1740
Readings for Sunday of of the Great Lent
Vespers Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 17 : 1 - 2
| 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 and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Matthew 6 : 34 - 7 : 12
| 34 | Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. |
| 1 | "Judge not, that you be not judged. |
| 2 | For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. |
| 3 | And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? |
| 4 | Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? |
| 5 | Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. |
| 6 | "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. |
| 7 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. |
| 8 | For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. |
| 9 | Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? |
| 10 | Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? |
| 11 | If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! |
| 12 | Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. |
Glory be to God forever.
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Matins Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 18 : 1 - 2
| 1 | I will love You, O LORD, my strength. |
| 2 | The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. |
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Matthew 7 : 22 - 29
| 22 | Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' |
| 23 | And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' |
| 24 | "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: |
| 25 | and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. |
| 26 | "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: |
| 27 | and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." |
| 28 | And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, |
| 29 | for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. |
Glory be to God forever.
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Divine Liturgy
Pauline 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 Romans.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.
Romans 13 : 1 - 14
| 1 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. |
| 2 | Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. |
| 3 | For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. |
| 4 | For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. |
| 5 | Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. |
| 6 | For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. |
| 7 | Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. |
| 8 | Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. |
| 9 | For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery,You shall not murder,You shall not steal,You shall not bear false witness,You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." |
| 10 | Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. |
| 11 | And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. |
| 12 | The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. |
| 13 | Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. |
| 14 | But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. |
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 blessings be upon us. Amen.
James 1 : 13 - 21
| 13 | Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. |
| 14 | But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. |
| 15 | Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. |
| 16 | Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. |
| 17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. |
| 18 | Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. |
| 19 | So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; |
| 20 | for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. |
| 21 | Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. |
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. Amen.
Acts 21 : 40 - 22 : 16
| 40 | So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, |
| 1 | "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now." |
| 2 | And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: |
| 3 | "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. |
| 4 | I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, |
| 5 | as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. |
| 6 | "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. |
| 7 | And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' |
| 8 | So I answered, "Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' |
| 9 | "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. |
| 10 | So I said, "What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, "Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.' |
| 11 | And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. |
| 12 | "Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, |
| 13 | came to me; and he stood and said to me, "Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. |
| 14 | Then he said, "The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. |
| 15 | For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. |
| 16 | And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' |
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 8 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat.
May God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins are forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers. Amen.
The Eighth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Martyrdom of St.Matthias, the Apostle
On this day St. Matthias, the
apostle was martyred about 63 A.D. He was born in Bethlehem, followed the
apostles and was chosen in place of Judas Iscariot in the upper room on
the mount of Zion. Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether
the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, "Men and
brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke
before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those
who arrested Jesus; "for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in
this ministry." (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity;
and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails
gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so
that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of
Blood.) "For it is written in the book of Psalms: 'Let his habitation be
desolate, and let no one live in it'; and, 'Let another take his office.'
"Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the
Lord Jesus went in and out among us, "beginning from the baptism of John
to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness
with us of His resurrection." And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas,
who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "You,
O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen
"to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression
fell, that he might go to his own place." And they cast their lots, and
the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
(Acts 1:15-26)
Afterwards he was filled with
the Holy Spirit, and went to preach the Gospel until he came to the country
of cannibals. The custom of those people was whenever they seized a stranger,
they put him in prison for thirty days feeding him grass, then they bring
him out and eat him. When St.Matthias came to them and preached among them
the massage of love they seized him, plucked out his eyes and put him in
prison. Before the thirty days were over God sent to him Andrew the apostle
and his disciple. They came to the prison and saw the prisoners and what
abominable things the people of the city did to them. Satan inspired the
people of the city to seize them also and kill them. When they were about
to seize them, the two Saints prayed to the Lord, and a stream of water
flowed from under one of the pillar of the prison. The water flowed out
into the city, and rose up until it reached the necks of the people. When
the people of the city gave up all hope of saving their lives, they came
to the apostles, and wept before them confessing their sins. The apostles
told them "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." They
all believed and they released St. Matthias. St. Matthias, along with St.
Andrew and his disciple taught them the mystery of the Incarnation of the
Lord Christ. The Apostles prayed and entreated God Who made the water to
cease then they baptized them in the Name of the Holy Trinity. They also
prayed to The Lord Christ Who removed from them their barbaric nature.
The Apostles appointed over them bishops and priests.
They tarried with them for a while
during which they instructed them and confirmed them in the faith, then
they left. The people of the city entreated them to come back to them speedily.
St. Matthias went to the city of Damascus and preached there in the Name
of the Lord Christ. The people of the city became angry so they took him
and laid him upon an iron bed, they lighted a fire under it which did not
harm him but his face was shining with light like the sun. They marvelled
exceedingly and they all believed on the Lord Christ through St. Matthias
the apostle who baptized them, and appointed priests for them. He tarried
many days with them confirming them in the faith. Afterward he departed
in peace in one of the city of the jews called Falawon (Pilawon) where
his body was laid.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Julian, the Eleventh
Pope of Alexandria
On this day also of the
year 188 A.D. (3rd of march) the holy father Pope Julian the Eleventh Pope
of Alexandria departed. This father was a student in the seminary established
by St. Mark, and was ordained priest in the city of Alexandria. He surpassed
many in knowledge, righteousness, and purity so he was ordained Patriarch
on the 9th of Baramhat (Year 178 A.D.) After his enthronement he saw that
the pagans did not allow the bishops to leave the city of Alexandria, so
he used to leave the city in secret to ordain priests everywhere. Before
his departure the angel of the lord announced to him that the one who will
bring him a cluster of grapes, is the one to succeed him on the Patriarchal
Chair. One day, while Demetrius the vine dresser was trimming his trees,
he found a cluster of grapes and was not in season. He took the cluster
and gave it to the Patriarch Abba Julian who was pleased with the present.
He gathered the bishops and told them about the vision and commanded them
to enthrone him Patriarch after him. This father composed many homilies
and discourses, he taught the people continually, preached and visited
them. He stayed on the Apostolic Chair for ten years then departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Arianus, the Governor
of Ansena
On this day also St. Arianus,
the governor of Ansena was martyred. When he ordered to shoot St. Apollonius
with arrows, and one of the arrows glanced back and struck his eye and
destroyed it, as it is mentioned in the Seventh day of Baramhat, one of
the believers told him: "If you take some of his blood and smear your eye
with it, you will receive your sight." The Governor took some of his blood,
smeared his eye, and immediately he was able to see. Arianus believed on
the Lord Christ, with great sorrow for all the evil things which he had
done to the holy martyrs and the severity with which he tortured them.
Then he rose up, destroyed his idols, and he refrained from torturing any
of the believers. When Diocletian heard the report of Arianus, he brought
him, and asked him why he had forsaken the worship of his idols. Arianus
began to tell him about the signs and wonders which God was working by
the hands of the holy martyrs, and how, in spite of the tortures which
he had inflicted upon them, and the cutting of their bodies, they rose
up again whole. The Emperor became furious with him because of what he
said and ordered him to be tortured severely, and to cast him into a pit
and to cover it until he dies.
The Lord Christ sent His
angel, who brought him out from the pit, and took him by the bed of the
Emperor. The Emperor woke up from his sleep, and when he saw and recognized
that he was Arianus, he was amazed and terrified. Diocletian again ordered
him to be placed into a hair sack, and to cast him into the sea, so they
did. Arianus the martyr delivered up his soul while he was in the hair
sack. The Saint had told his kinsfolk when he bid them farewell that the
Lord had told him in a vision of the night that He would take care of his
body, return it to his town, and they could find it on the shore of Alexandria.
The Lord ordered a sea creature who carried the Saint, and brought him
to the city of Alexandria, where it casted him on the shore. His men took
his body, brought it to Ansena, and laid it with the bodies of the Saints
Philemon and Apollonius. Thus, he finished his good fight and received
the heavenly crown.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
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Divine Liturgy Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 25 : 1,2,4
| 1 | To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. |
| 2 | O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. |
| 4 | Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. |
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Matthew 6 : 19 - 33
| 19 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; |
| 20 | but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. |
| 21 | For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. |
| 22 | "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. |
| 23 | But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! |
| 24 | "No one 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. |
| 25 | "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? |
| 26 | Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? |
| 27 | Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? |
| 28 | "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; |
| 29 | and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. |
| 30 | Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? |
| 31 | "Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?' |
| 32 | For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. |
| 33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. |
Glory be to God forever.
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