From antiochan.org, rongolini.com and dynamispublications.org:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (12/5-12/18) First Vesperal Reading: Sabbas the Sanctified
The Saints’ Appearance: Wisdom 3:1-9 SAAS, especially vs. 7: “In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and they will run about like sparks through straw.” At their repose, the glorified Saints who ‘shine forth’ from the Kingdom of Heaven were visited by the Lord. He judged their lives, “...tested them and found them worthy of Himself” (vs. 5). The Church confidently recognizes what God has made apparent by glorifying His Holy Ones - His Saints - in the Body of Christ. The faithful recognize their glory, for we cease to pray for them in the way we do for our beloved dead. Instead, we glorify them and seek their intercessions because we know that the Saints are worthy in God’s eyes, having been glorified by Him. We are prompted to turn to them in our necessities, as to those having privilege with Him. Thus, we seek their prayers before the Lord that the fiery grace of God may run like sparks and ignite the straw of our lives, especially when all may appear hopeless for us to the superficial gaze of the people of this world.
To torturers and scoffers, the words and actions of the Saints sometimes seemed wasted and foolish, but their hearts and souls remained firmly “...in the hand of God...” (vs. 1). As a result, torment was unable to touch them. It was only in the “...eyes of the undiscerning [that] they seemed to have died, and their departure...to be misfortune...and...their destruction” (vss. 2-3). The Church understands that the Saints, being aflame with the Lord’s love, consumed the dried grass of arrogant error, “...bridled the mouths of beasts...” with holy supplications, and, even being beheaded, struck down the hosts of the enemy. In truth, their lives reveal how this present existence is more smoke and vapor, although it seems solid to the earthly-minded. “For though in man’s view [the Saints] were punished, their hope is full of immortality”(vs. 4). Do not be deceived, but praise these great victors of Christ who stand with us!
Of eternal moment is the manner in which the Saints appear in God’s eyes. He sees them as His sons and daughters. Like a good Father, He “...chastened [them] in a few things...” but showed them “...great kindness...” (vs. 5). Having taken this path with the Eternal Son and Word of God Who “Himself has suffered” and struggled with temptation as a man (Heb. 2:18), they became pillars “...of the Church and the fulfillment of the Gospel.” Remember, ore first dug from the earth appears to have little worth. Despite that first, unattractive appearance, when the dross is refined away, as with gold, the pure metal appears gleaming - thus it is with the Saints, as the Scriptures teach us (WSol. 3:6). God is a keen, observant craftsman. He works with precious hearts. He knows which is ‘fool’s gold’ and which is ore acceptable for refining.
To the faithful, the appearance of the Saints is revealed in stages. First, we read accounts of their lives and marvel at their endurance. Then, we read and study their feats of bravery, asceticism, martyrdom and diligence that nourishes “the perfection of believers.” Some of the Saints, in their struggles, have even ‘dazzled the incorporals.’ Further, after their departure from this life, their miracles continue to aid us, their brethren on earth, providing a glow like corpuscular light after sunset; but at the dawn of the age to come, they will blaze in eternal brilliance (vs. 8).
Consider Nicholas of Myra, Protector of Russia and Britain, Sabbas, the Monastic Striver, Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of America, or Innocent of Moscow, Enlightener of North America. Truly these “...judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall reign over them unto the ages.” And “...those who trust in Him will understand truth, in their own lives” (vss. 8,9), for the Saints evoke the desire that the “...grace and mercy...” they received may be ours.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous, praise is meet for the upright. Alleluia!
Galatians 5:22-25, 6:1-2
Galatians 5:22-25, 6:1-222By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
6My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Luke 13:10-17
Luke 13:10-17
10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” 13When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” 15But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” 17When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
The Synaxarion:
December 5
Memory of our venerable and God-bearing Father Sabbas the Sanctified (439-532).
Saint Sabbas was born in 439 in Mutalascus in Cappadocia. While still very young, he embraced religious life in the monastery of Flvinia in Cappadocia. In 457, at the age of eighteen, he went to the monastery of Passarion in Jerusalem. Saint Euthymius, who had remarked about him for his eminent virtue and called him the "young old man," directed him to Saint Theoktistos in 458. After Saint Euthymius' unexpected death in 473, he spent five years in solitude. He then went to take up his abode in 478 in a grotto on the left bank of the Cedron River opposite the monastery which today bears his name. As several monks came to place themselves under his direction, he erected a tower on the right bank of the torrent and made the water gush forth over this arid land by his prayer. A vast grotto transformed into a church was blessed in 491 by Sallustos, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who conferred priestly ordination upon Saint Sabbas at the same time and named him the archimandrite of all the hermits of Palestine. The Saint undertook upon the request of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem two ambassadorships to Emperors Anastasius I, in 512, and Justinian, in 531. Reaching a great old age, he died on December 5, 532, at the age of ninety-three. The Typikon of Ecclesiastical Offices and the Typikon of Monastic Life which were preserved in his name still come from his famous laura. Pope Paul VI returned Saint Sabbas' relics to the monastery of Massaba in Jordan on October 24, 1965.
Third Class Feast, follow the general order of a Third Class Feast.
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