Saturday 21st December 2024
Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed
Saturday before the Nativity of Our Lord
Forefeast of The Nativity of Christ
Today we commemorate:
Virgin-Martyr Juliana of Nicomedia, and with her 500 men and 130 women (304). Repose of St. Peter, metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia (1326). Holy martyr Theomistocles of Myra in Lycia (251)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Bernwald of Bampton (8th C).
Galatians 3:8-12; Luke 13:18-29
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Galatians 3:8-12
Scripture foresaw that God justifies the Gentiles by faith, for he announced the Gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘In you all the nations will be blessed.’ Therefore those ‘of faith’ are blessed with faithful Abraham, but whoever is ‘of the works of the law’ is under a curse, for it is written, ‘Cursed are all who do not abide by everything that is written in the book of the law by practising them.’ It is clear that before God no one is made righteous by the law, because ‘the righteous will live by faith.’ The law is therefore not about faith, but rather ‘whoever practises them shall live by them.’
Luke 13:18-29
Jesus said, ‘What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.’ Again he said, ‘To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like the yeast that a woman took and blended into three tubs of flour until it was all leavened.’ He was travelling through towns and villages, teaching and making his way towards Jerusalem. Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are those who are saved, few?’ He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for I say to you that many will try to enter but will not be able. Once the master of the house has got up and shut the door you will be standing outside, knocking on the door and saying, “Lord, Lord, open up for us.” But he will say to you in reply, “I do not know where you are from.” Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank in your company, and you taught in our marketplaces.” But he will reply, “I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Leave me, all you workers of unrighteousness.” In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrust outside. They will then come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and sit down in the Kingdom of God.’