Baramhat 24, 1747 AM <-> April 2 2031 <->The Readings for today

Wednesday 2 April 2031
24 Baramhat 1747
Readings for Wednesday of of the Great Lent

Prophecy

From the Book of Proverbs , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen

Proverbs 10 : 32 - 32

³²	The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Proverbs 11 : 1 - 13

¹	Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.

²	When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

³	The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

⁴	Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

⁵	The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

⁶	The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

⁷	When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.

⁸	The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

⁹	The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

¹⁰	When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

¹¹	By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹²	He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

¹³	A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

From the Book of Isaiah , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen

Isaiah 58 : 1 - 11

¹	"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.

²	Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.

³	"Why have we fasted,' they say, "and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?'"In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.

⁴	Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.

⁵	Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?

⁶	"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

⁷	Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

⁸	Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

⁹	Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, "Here I am.'"If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

¹⁰	If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

¹¹	The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

From the Book of Job , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen

Job 40 : 1 - 24

¹	Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:

²	"Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it."

³	Then Job answered the LORD and said:

⁴	"Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.

⁵	Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."

⁶	Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

⁷	"Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

⁸	"Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?

⁹	Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?

¹⁰	Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.

¹¹	Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.

¹²	Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.

¹³	Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.

¹⁴	Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.

¹⁵	"Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.

¹⁶	See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles.

¹⁷	He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

¹⁸	His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.

¹⁹	He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword.

²⁰	Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there.

²¹	He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.

²²	The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.

²³	Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,

²⁴	Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare.

Job 41 : 1 - 34

¹	"Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?

²	Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?

³	Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?

⁴	Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?

⁵	Will you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?

⁶	Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?

⁷	Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?

⁸	Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle--Never do it again!

⁹	Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?

¹⁰	No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?

¹¹	Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

¹²	"I will not conceal his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.

¹³	Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?

¹⁴	Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?

¹⁵	His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;

¹⁶	One is so near another That no air can come between them;

¹⁷	They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.

¹⁸	His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

¹⁹	Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.

²⁰	Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

²¹	His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.

²²	Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.

²³	The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.

²⁴	His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone.

²⁵	When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves.

²⁶	Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.

²⁷	He regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood.

²⁸	The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.

²⁹	Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.

³⁰	His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire.

³¹	He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

³²	He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.

³³	On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.

³⁴	He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride."

Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

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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 57 : 1 - 1

¹	Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

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 Luke the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.

Luke 14 : 28 - 35

²⁸	For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--

²⁹	lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

³⁰	saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

³¹	Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

³²	Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

³³	So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

³⁴	"Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

³⁵	It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

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 10 : 4 - 13

⁴	For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

⁵	For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."

⁶	But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?"' (that is, to bring Christ down from above)

⁷	or, Who will descend into the abyss?"' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

⁸	But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

⁹	that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

¹⁰	For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

¹¹	For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

¹²	For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

¹³	For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

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 19 : 23 - 26

²³	And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

²⁴	For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.

²⁵	He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.

²⁶	Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.

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 24 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 Twenty-Fourth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat

Apparition of the Pure Lady the Virgin in the church of Zeitoun

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On the eve of this day of the year 1684 A.M. which coincide with tuesday the 2nd. of April 1968 A.D., during the papacy of Pope Kyrellos VI, the hundred sixteenth Pope of Alexandria, our Lady and the pride of our faith started to transfigure in luminous spiritual forms in and around the domes of the church dedicated to her immaculate name in Zeiton, a suburb of Cairo. This transfiguration continued in following nights in a manner that was never known in the East or the West. This transfiguration in some nights was as long as many hours, without stop, in front of tens of thousands of people from every race and religion, with every one seeing her, pointing at her and interceding to her with songs, hymns, tears, prayers and hails and She was looking to them in a compassionate way raising her hand at times to bless them in all directions. The first one to notice this transfiguration was the workmen at the garage of the Public Transit System which was across the street from the church. The watchman Abdel-Aziz Aly, who was in charge of guarding the garage at that night, saw a luminous body over the dome of the church. He started shouting: "light over the dome" and he called the other workers in the garage. They all came and saw the bright light over the large dome of the church. When they looked closely, they saw a young lady in white, kneeling by the cross at the top of the dome. Because the dome had a round, smooth, and very sloping surface, it held the men as though they were nailed in their places watching the fate of the lady. Few seconds passed then they saw the kneeling lady as she stood over the dome. They gave out a cry of fear that she might fall down. They thought she was a girl in despair trying to commit suicide and they cried warning that person not to jump down and some of them called the police. The pedestrians, men and women started to gather around. The view of the lady was getting more clear and she appeared as a beautiful girl in a bright gown of light and had branches of olive tree in her hand, and around her flew white doves. Then they realized that they were seeing a heavenly spiritual view. They directed flood light to the luminous picture to remove all doubt from their minds, but instead it became more clear and bright. They cut the electricity off all the area but the lady remained in her heavenly illumination and her bright gown of light became more clear. She started moving around in a circle of light radiating from her body to all the directions around her. All the people then realized that this lady in front of them, without no doubt is the Virgin Mary. They started to shout and cry saying: "She is the Virgin ... She is the Mother of Light ... " They prayed with songs, hymns and hails all the night until the next morning.

Since that night the pure Virgin had transfigured in different spiritual views in front of thousands and ten of thousands of masses, Egyptian and foreigners, Christians and non-christians, men, women and children. Spiritual beings formed like doves would appear before, during and after the transfiguration zooming through the sky in a way raising the human from a materialistic to a heavenly atmosphere. This transfiguration was in different forms. One of the most significant ways this apparition took place was that; the head of St. Mary under the vail looking down as in the picture of the sad Virgin and she was looking toward the Cross and that view would stay like this at times or slowly bow before the Cross at other times. The Cross itself will shine and illuminate although it was made of concrete. And some times an angel would appear standing behind her spreading his wings. That view might stay as long as many hours. Another view was the view of the Mother of Light standing as a great Queen in a beautiful spiritual portrait radiating dignity, elegance and beauty. On her head was a crown of a queen as if it were made of diamonds and some times there appeared on the top of the crown a small luminous cross. And some times she appeared in the same way but carrying Christ, to Him is the Glory, in the form of a child on her hand and on His head a crown. And on other times she raised her both hands as She was blessing the world moving to the right, to the front, and to the left in a dignified way.

Many spiritual signs appeared before, during, and after the apparition of the Virgin the mother of the Lord's transfiguration. The appearance of tongues of yellowish flame would flash over the church and then subside and that repeated several times. Another form of the signs were the spiritual beings formed like doves, larger than the doves that we know, appear about midnight or after, flying in the middle of darkness illuminating in a fast speed, appeared suddenly from no where, and also disappeared suddenly. These spiritual beings appeared in different formations and in varying numbers. A fact we should be aware of that pigeons do not fly during the night. Another sign was the shooting stars which were constantly falling and were seen very close to the apparition on many occasions as if coming down to glorify her from heaven. Another sign was the fragrance of incense. The smoke of the incense poured out of the domes in large quantities. Substance resembling clouds, thick fog or smoke would roll in toward the church and completely cover the church. Also the illuminated cloud that appeared over the domes of the church in large volume and often proceeded the transfiguration of the Virgin or at times the cloud slowly formed in the shape of the virgin. Sometimes the apparition of the Virgin would appear from the clouds. This transfiguration and all the spiritual signs were a forerunner and announcement for serious or important events to come in the near and far future. Or it might be a spiritual gesture from heaven to indicate the Lord's caring for His church and His people and our country.

May the mercy of God be upon us all. May the Lord keep His people and church in peace, with the intercession of Our Lady and the pride of our race the pure Virgin St. Mary. Amen.

Departure of Anba Macarius, the Fifty-Ninth Pope of Alexandria

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On this day also of the year 668 A.M. (May 20th. 952 A.D.) St. Macarius the fifty ninth Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was born in the city of Shoubra. He rejected the world since his youth and he desired the monastic life. He went to the monastery of St. Macarius at the wilderness of Sheahat (Scetis). He lived in virtues and good conduct made him worthy to be chosen a Patriarch, and a successor for Pope Cosma. He was enthroned on the first of Baramouda 648 A.M. (March 27th. 932 A.D.). When he went forth from Alexandria going to visit the monasteries in the desert of Scetis according to the custom of his predecessors, he passed by his home town to visit his mother who was a righteous woman. When his mother heard that he had arrived she did not go out to meet him. When he had come to the house, he found her sitting down weaving and she did not greet him or paid attention to him. He thought that she did not know him. He told her: "Don't you know that I am your son Macarius who was elevated to a great position and became a head for a great nation?" She answered him with tears in her eyes: "I did not ignore you and I know what became of you, but I would have rather seen you dead than seen you as a Patriarch. Before, you were responsible only for your own soul but now your are responsible about the souls of all your flock: Now remember you are in danger and it is difficult to escape it." She said that and went on weaving as she did before. The father the Patriarch left her sad, and attended to his office with delegant and care. He instructed his people with preaching and sermons. He did not touch any of the church revenue, and did not lay his hand on any one without people consent. He commanded the bishops and the priests to watch their flock and to protect them with homilies and admonitions. He sat on the throne of St. Mark twenty years in peace and tranquility, then departed in peace.

May His prayers be with us and Glory be to our 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 51 : 2 - 3

²	Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

³	For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

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 John the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.

John 6 : 35 - 45

³⁵	And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

³⁶	But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.

³⁷	All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

³⁸	For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

³⁹	This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

⁴⁰	And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

⁴¹	The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."

⁴²	And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, "I have come down from heaven'?"

⁴³	Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves.

⁴⁴	No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

⁴⁵	It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

Glory be to God forever.

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