Thursday 25th April 2024
Lenten Fast: strict fast
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (1st C)
Today we commemorate:
St. Macedonius, patriarch of Constantinople (516). New martyrs Emmanuel, Theodore, Gregory, Michael and the other Gregory at Macre of Alexandropoulos.
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Macaille, bishop of Croghan (489). St. Mella, abbess of Doire-Melle (c.780). St. Keby of Cornwall (4th C).
Isaiah 65:8-16; Genesis 46:1-7; Proverbs 23:15-24:5
For the Commemoration: 1 Peter 5:6-14; Luke 10:16-21
Isaiah 65:8-16
The Lord says this, ‘As a grape is found in the cluster, and they say, “Do not destroy it for there is a blessing in it,” so I will do for the sake of the one who serves me; for the sake of that one I will not destroy the others. And I will lead out the descendants of Jacob and of Judah, and they will inherit my holy mountain. My chosen ones and my servants will inherit it and live there, and for my people who have searched for me there will be folds for the flocks in the forest and shelter for the herds in the valley of Achor. But you are those who have forsaken me and forgotten my holy mountain; you have prepared a table for the devil and filled cups of mixed wine to Fortune. I will deliver you to the sword and you will all be slaughtered. For I called you and you did not listen, I spoke and you took no notice, and you did evil in my sight chosing what did not please me.’ Therefore the Lord says this, ‘My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be shamed. My servants will exult with joy, but you will cry because of the sorrow in your heart and wail because your spirits are crushed. For you will leave a name that will disgust my chosen ones, and the Lord will destroy you. But my servants will be called by a new name which will be blessed throughout the earth, for they will bless the true God; and those who take oaths on the earth will swear by the true God, for they will forget their former suffering and remember it no more.’
Genesis 46:1-7
Israel set out, he and all he had; he arrived at the Well of the Oath and offered a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in a dream and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘What is it?’ He said, ‘I am the God of your fathers. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I shall make you a great nation. I myself shall go down with you to Egypt, and I shall eventually bring you up again; and it will be Joseph who closes your eyes.’ Then Jacob went up from the Well of the Oath, and the sons of Israel put their father and their baggage and their wives in the wagons that Joseph had sent to bring them. They packed up their goods and all the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they arrived in the land of Egypt, Jacob and all his family with him, his sons and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters and his daughter’s daughters; he brought all his offspring into Egypt.
Proverbs 23:15-24:5
Son, if your heart is wise, you will gladden my heart as well. And if your lips are true, then your lips and my lips will converse. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be in the fear of the Lord all day long. For if you keep hold of all these things, you will have posterity and your hope will not be taken away. Listen, my son, and become wise, and direct the thoughts of your heart. Do not be a winebibber, and do not prolong feasting or the buying of meat. For every drunkard and lecher will be poor, and every sluggard will clothe himself in rags and tatters. Listen, my son, to the father who sired you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. A righteous father brings his children up well, and his soul rejoices over a wise son. Let your father and mother rejoice over you, and let her who bore you be glad. My son, give me your heart and let your eyes follow my ways, for a stranger’s house is a wine jar full of holes, and a stranger’s well is narrow. It will suddenly be destroyed and everyone who flouts the law will be consumed. Who has sorrow? Who has trouble? Who has strife? Who suffers unpleasantness and gossip? Who is injured for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes? Are they not those who linger at the wine? Are they not those who track down the haunts of drinkers? Do not get drunk on wine, but associate with righteous people and commune in the open. For if you set your eyes upon the jug and cup, you will afterwards walk around more naked than a pestle, and you will end up stretched out like someone bitten by a snake as the poison spreads through you as from the fangs of a snake. When your eyes light upon someone else’s wife then your mouth will speak perversely. You will lie down as if in the midst of the sea and like a helmsman in a great surge, and you will say, “They hit me and I felt no pain! They mocked me and I took no notice! When will it be morning so that I may go and find someone with whom to keep company?” My son, do not be envious of evil men nor long to be with them, for their hearts dream up lies and their lips speak mischief. With wisdom a house is built, and with understanding it is established. With discernment the rooms are filled with precious and beautiful riches. The wise are better than the strong, and a thoughtful man is better than one with a great estate.
The text and chapter and verse references of the Old Testament readings are those of the Septuagint
1 Peter 5:6-14
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that he may exalt you at the proper time. Cast all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant. Your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are subject to the same sufferings. And when you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his everlasting glory in Christ Jesus will make you perfect. He will support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the glory and the dominion to the ages of ages. Amen. I have written to you briefly, I think, through the faithful brother Silvanus to encourage you and to testify that you stand in the true grace of God. The company of chosen ones in Babylon greets you, as does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Luke 10:16-21
The Lord told them … ‘Whoever listens to you, listens to me; and whoever rejects you, rejects me; and whoever rejects me, rejects him who sent me.’ The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are obedient to us in your name.’ And he told them, ‘I was watching Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Understand that I give you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy so that nothing may harm you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits obey you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ At that moment Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the clever and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this was your delight.’