Sunday 28th April 2024
Lenten Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed
Tone of the feast - Eothinon of the feast
Palm Sunday
Today we commemorate:
Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus: Theognes, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius, and Philemon (3rd C). St. Memnon the Wonderworker of Corfu. Holy martyr John of Romania.
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Cronan, abbot of Roscrea (7th C). St. Gerard the Pilgrim (639). SS. Probe and Germaine (4th C).
Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord at all times. I say again, rejoice. Let your goodness be known to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is reputable, if it has virtue, if it is praiseworthy, contemplate these things. What you have learnt and received and heard and observed through me, put these things into practice and the God of peace will be with you.
John 12:1-18
Six days before the Passover Jesus arrived at Bethany where Lazarus was, he who had died and whom he had raised from the dead, and they provided supper for him there. Martha was serving and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of very expensive perfumed oil of pure spikenard. She anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son who was going to betray him, said, ‘Why was this oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief; he had the money bag and was taking out what was put in. Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’ Now a great number of the Jews knew that he was there and they came, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. The chief priests had resolved to kill Lazarus as well, for on his account many of the Jews were drawn away and believed in Jesus. On the following day a great crowd of those who had come to the feast, hearing that Jesus was arriving in Jerusalem, took palm branches and went out to meet him. They were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel.’ They found a young donkey, and Jesus sat on it. As it is written, ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Sion. Behold your King is coming, sitting on a foal of a donkey.’ His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified they then remembered that this had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. The crowds with him were witnessing that he had called Lazarus from the tomb and had raised him from the dead, Indeed, it was because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowds had come to meet him.