Readings for Tuesday 31 December 2024
22 Kiyahk 1741
Vespers Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 34 : 7 - 8
| 7 | The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. |
| 8 | Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! |
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 16 : 24 - 28
| 24 | Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. |
| 25 | For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. |
| 26 | For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? |
| 27 | For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. |
| 28 | Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." |
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 97 : 7 - 8
| 7 | Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods. |
| 8 | Zion hears and is glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments, O LORD. |
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 18 : 10 - 20
| 10 | "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. |
| 11 | For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. |
| 12 | "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? |
| 13 | And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. |
| 14 | Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. |
| 15 | "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. |
| 16 | But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' |
| 17 | And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. |
| 18 | "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. |
| 19 | "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. |
| 20 | For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." |
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 Hebrews.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.
Hebrews 2 : 5 - 18
| 5 | For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. |
| 6 | But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? |
| 7 | You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. |
| 8 | You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. |
| 9 | But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. |
| 10 | For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. |
| 11 | For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, |
| 12 | saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." |
| 13 | And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." |
| 14 | Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, |
| 15 | and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. |
| 16 | For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. |
| 17 | Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. |
| 18 | For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. Peter . May his blessings be upon us. Amen.
1 Peter 1 : 3 - 12
| 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.
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Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us. Amen.
Acts 10 : 21 - 33
| 21 | Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?" |
| 22 | And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." |
| 23 | Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. |
| 24 | And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. |
| 25 | As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. |
| 26 | But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." |
| 27 | And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. |
| 28 | Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. |
| 29 | Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" |
| 30 | So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, |
| 31 | and said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. |
| 32 | Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' |
| 33 | So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." |
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 22 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Kiyahk.
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-Second Day of the Blessed Month of Kiyahk
Commemoration of the Archangel Gabriel
This day marks the commemoration of the honorable
Archangel Gabriel, the announcer, the consecration of his church in Caesaria
and the appearance of many miracles in it. He was the angel who was sent
to the Virgin Mary to announce her with the glorious birth of our Lord
Jesus Christ. He came to her and said, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the
Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28) He also announced the birth of John the
Baptist to Zacharias. (Luke 1: 11-22) As much as this announcement has
of great joy and gladness, we should also rejoice in his feast and pray
intently with supplications, asking for his intercession before God, to
preserve us from being ensnared by the devil and to grant us salvation
from our sins.
May The intercession of this honored angel be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Anastasius, the Thirty-Sixth
Pope of Alexandria
On this day also of the
year 611 A.D., St. Anastasius, 36th Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was
one of the great noblemen of Alexandria. Before he became a Pope, he was
an overseer of the patriarchal court, then he became a priest for the church
of Alexandria. Shortly afterwards, he was chosen to be Pope. He devoted
much of his attention to the churches and he ordained bishops and priests
to fill the vacant posts. He built several churches and regained from the
"Melkites" (those who were appointed by the Roman Emperor) those that they
took over by force. Because he was loved by them for his knowledge, virtues
and righteousness, he brought many of them back to the Orthodox faith.
When the Emperor of Constantinople died, some wicked people spoke evil
of the Pope to his successor, that when the Pope was ordained he anathematized
(excommunicated) the Emperor and his belief. The Emperor was enraged and
sent to the Governor of Alexandria, commanding him to take the church of
"St. Cosmas and St. Damian" and all its properties by force and to give
it to the Roman Patriarch "Ologius". St. Anastasius was exceedingly sad,
but the Lord comforted him in another matter. Peter, the heretic, Bishop
of Antioch, died. A well informed saintly monk called Athanasius of the
Orthodox Faith was ordained in his place. As soon as Athanasius became
Patriarch, he renewed the union between the Church of Antioch and the Church
of Alexandria. He wrote an epistle, stating in it his Orthodox faith, and
sent it to St. Anastasius, who rejoiced and gathered the bishops and the
priests and read it to them. He wrote back to Abba Athanasius indicating
his desire to see him.
Abba Athanasius went to
Alexandria with his bishops and priests. When Abba Anastasius learned of
his arrival, as he was in "Scetis", he departed to Alexandria. He went
directly to the sea along with the bishops and priests to receive Abba
Athanasius and welcome him to Alexandria with great respect and honor.
They held a council in one of the monasteries that was at the sea coast,
which lasted one month, to discuss the doctrines of the church. Then, the
Antiochian Patriarch went back to his See in peace. St. Anastasius continued
to teach his flock in person and through his books. Because of his great
knowledge, he was able to write a book every year. He remained on his throne
for 12 years, 6 months and 10 days. During this period, he wrote twelve
books and gave them the Coptic alphabet as titles. His first book was Alpha
(&), his second was Beta (B) and so on, then he departed in peace.
May His prayers be with us and glory be to our God forever. Amen.
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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 1 : 26 - 38
| 26 | Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, |
| 27 | to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28 | And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" |
| 29 | But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. |
| 30 | Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31 | And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. |
| 32 | He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. |
| 33 | And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." |
| 34 | Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" |
| 35 | And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. |
| 36 | Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. |
| 37 | For with God nothing will be impossible." |
| 38 | Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. |
Glory be to God forever.
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