Saturday 27th July 2024
Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon (305)
Today we commemorate:
The blind man who confessed Christ and was martyred with St. Panteleimon. Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Clement of Ochrid, bishop of Greater Macedonia (916). New-martyr Christodoulos. SS Angelar, Gorazd, Nahum and Sabbas, disciples of Cyril and Methodios.
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Congall of Iabnallivin (c.5th C).
Romans 8:14-21; Matthew 9:9-13
For the Commemoration: 2 Timothy 2:1-10; Luke 21:12-19
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Romans 8:14-21
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God because you did not receive a spirit of servitude leading back into fear, but you received the Spirit of Adoption with whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ It is the Spirit who testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs. We are truly heirs of God, heirs together with Christ in that we suffer together so that we may be glorified together. I conclude that the sufferings of the present time are therefore not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed in us, for creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the children of God. It is true that creation became subject to futility, not willingly, but through him who subjected it against the hope that creation itself should also be set free from the bondage of decay for the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office. He said to him, ‘Follow me,’ and he got up and followed him. He was dining at the house, and many tax collectors and sinners came to join Jesus and his disciples at the table. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus heard, and he told them, ‘The healthy do not need a physician, but those who are ill do. Now go away and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’
2 Timothy 2:1-10
You, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Entrust these things that you have heard from me through many witnesses to faithful people, to those who will also be competent to teach others. As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, you are to put up with hardship; no one on active service entangles himself in the affairs of life if he is to please the one who enlisted him. Then there are those who compete; they cannot be crowned unless they compete by the rules. The labouring farmer should be the first to take a share of the crops. Think about what I am saying, and may the Lord give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, of the seed of David. That is my Gospel for which I am suffering hardship to the extent of being chained like a criminal, though the word of God is not chained. The reason I am enduring all this is for the sake of the chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with everlasting glory.
Luke 21:12-19
The Lord said to his disciples … ‘You will be seized and persecuted, delivered up to the synagogues and prisons, brought before kings and governors on account of my name. You will be called upon to testify, but make up your minds not to rehearse your defence in advance because I shall give you a voice and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to refute or resist. You will be betrayed, even by parents and relatives and friends and brothers and sisters, and they will put some of you to death. Yes, you will be hated by everyone because of my name, but not a hair on your head will perish. Through your endurance you will take possession of your souls.’