Saturday 2nd December 2023
Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed
Today we commemorate:
Prophet Avakkum (Habakkuk) (7th C. BC). Holy Martyrs Abibus the New and Myrope of Chios (251). St. Ioannicius of Devich, monk (1430). St. Cyril of Phileus (1110). SS John, Heraclemon, Andrew, and Theophilus of Egypt (4th C). St. Stephen-Urosh V, King of Serbia (1371) and St. Helen of Serbia. St. Ise (Jesse), bishop of Tsilkani in Georgia (6th C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Trumwine of Abercorn, (late 7th C).
Galatians 3:8-12; Luke 12:32-40
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 has been written in the book of the law by doing 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 observes them shall live by them.’
Luke 12:32-40
The Lord told his disciples … ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in the heavens that no thief goes near, no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let your belts be fastened, the lamps be lit, and be like people waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding so that immediately he arrives and knocks they may open up for him. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds keeping watch when he comes. Truly I tell you that he will fasten his belt, give them a place at the table, and come forward to serve them. If he should arrive in the second watch, or it may be the third watch, and find it so, blessed are those servants. But be aware of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not allowed his house to be broken into. You too are to be prepared, for the Son of Man is coming at a time you do not expect.’