Wednesday 22nd January 2025
Fast day: wine and oil allowed
Apostle Timothy of the Seventy
Today we commemorate:
St. Vincent the deacon, Protomartyr of Spain (4th C). Monk-Martyr Anastasius the Persian (628). St. Joseph Samakus the Sanctified of Crete.
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Brithwald of Ramsbury (1045).
2 Timothy 1:3-8; Matthew 10:32-33,37-38,19:27-30
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 Timothy 1:3-8
With a clear conscience I give thanks to God whom I worship as my ancestors did. Unceasingly night and day I make mention of you in my prayers, remembering your tears, longing to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I remember the sincere faith that is in you. It resided first in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice and, I am convinced, it is also in you. This is why I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-control. Do not be ashamed then of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in the hardships of the Gospel through the power of God.
Matthew 10:32-33,37-38,19:27-30
The Lord said … ‘Everyone who acknowledges me in the presence of others, I too will acknowledge in the presence of my Father who is in heaven. But whoever disowns me in the presence of others, I too will disown in the presence of my Father who is in heaven. … Anyone who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and anyone who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not accept the cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.’ … Then Peter spoke. He said to him, ‘You know that we have left everything and followed you. What will there be for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you that in the new beginning when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, you who followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name’s sake will be recompensed a hundred times over, and will inherit everlasting life. But many who are first will be last, and those who are last, first.’