Monday 11th December 2023
Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed
Today we commemorate:
St. Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople (490). St. Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon (980). St. Nikon the Dry of the Kievan Caves (12th C). Monk-martyr Barsabas, abbot of Ishtar and 10 companions in Persia (342). St. Leontius, Monk, of Monembasia in the Peloponnese (1450). Holy martyrs Acepsius and Aeithalas at Arbelus (534).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Cian the Hermit (6th C). St. Peris of Llanberis (c.6th C).
2 Timothy 2:20-26; Mark 8:11-21
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 Timothy 2:20-26
In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earthenware. The former are valuable; the latter are not valuable. Those then who purge themselves from these things will be vessels of value, set apart and suitable for the Master’s use, ready for every good work. Flee from the lusts of youth; pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Avoid foolish and ignorant questions, for you know that they generate conflict. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, long-suffering, correcting with humility those who oppose, for God may give them a change of heart so that they acknowledge the truth and recover their senses from the devil’s snare after being a prisoner to his will.
Mark 8:11-21
The Pharisees came up and began to debate with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing him. He sighed deeply within himself, saying, ‘Why does this generation look for a sign? Truly I tell you that no sign will be given to this generation.’ Then he left them and went back to the boat again. They forgot to take bread, and apart from one loaf they had nothing with them in the boat. He was warning them, saying, ‘Watch out. Beware the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ Talking it over among themselves, they were saying, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ Jesus was aware of this and asked them, ‘What makes you think it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Is your heart still hardened? You have eyes, do you not look? You have ears, do you not listen? Do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They told him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And after the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They replied, ‘Seven.’ And he said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’