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 5:15-6:3 (12/8-12/21) Second Vesperal Reading: Sabbas the Sanctified
Grace for the Saints: Wisdom 5:15-6:3 SAAS, especially vss. 15, 16: “But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious Kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand.” Leonid Ouspensky teaches “...that an icon is an external expression of the transfigured state of man, of his sanctification by the uncreated Divine light,” to which he adds, “Therefore, all the visible world represented in the icon changes, becomes the image of the future unity of the whole creation - the Kingdom of the Holy Spirit. In accordance with this, all that is depicted in the icon reflects not the disorder of our sinful world, but the Divine order, peace, a realm governed not by earthly logic...but by Divine Grace.” The present reading from the Book of Wisdom reveals that the Saints are known, manifest, and fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. Its message reminds us that “...their care is by the Most High” (vs. 15), through His outpouring of grace and favor upon His Church, a gift offered to all mankind, including each of us who are Orthodox Christians.
What does the writer of Wisdom convey in calling the Saints ‘the righteous’ (vs. 15)? He evokes our memory of Saint Peter’s love for the Lord (Jn. 21:17), of the joy of the Myrrh-bearing women (Lk. 24:1-12), and of the peace of heart in Thomas when he cried, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn. 20:28). Indeed, the fruits of the Spirit are manifest in the Saints: “...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22). Thus, all the visible work of God the Holy Spirit points beyond the witness of the Saints to the grace working beautifully within them - that God discloses so all men may see and believe. This is the message flowing from Solomon’s wisdom - God cares for everyone; acts with zeal on behalf of everyone, and reminds everyone that whatever powers we enjoy derive from Him.
God cares for you and me with the same grace that He showered upon the most exemplary Saints. We ought to have no hesitation in praying for “...a kingly dwelling of dignity and a crown of beauty” (WSol 5:16), else why say, “Thy Kingdom come!” Yes, we fall away from the Lord our God, but He raises us up again. He even took our flesh upon Himself, embraced our death, and revealed that death is ultimately destroyed. In short, He did not “...cease to do all things until [He had] brought us back to heaven, and...endowed us with [His] Kingdom which is to come.” The Lord extends a beautiful crown of beauty to all (vs. 16).
The central portion of this passage, concerning the grace of God for His Saints, describes the zeal with which God pursues His loving ministry showered on His People. Our Saint Athanasius Academy Septuagint [SAAS] translation of verse seventeen captures the original meaning in the word, ‘zalos’ or ‘zeal’: God “...will take His zeal as His full armor and will turn His creation into weapons against His enemies.” As a warrior, God arms Himself and enlists all creatures as allies “...against His enemies” (vs. 17). He unleashes His righteousness, impartial judgment, and holiness with “...relentless wrath...against the senseless” (vss. 18-20).
The entire world of human endeavor - all nations, organizations, and coalitions - are put on notice to cease trusting in their power, rule, glory, and sovereignty, as if they existed through their own efforts (vss. 6:1-3). God loves the entire world and all men, and gives grace to all. Earthly abilities, capacities to control, and management skills come from God: “...power [is] given...from the Lord, and...lordship from the Most High...” (vs. 3). The grace given to the Saints is available to all. God tries, tests and examines the works and counsels of everyone (vs. 3), our talents, capacities, and abilities. Let us humbly offer them to God, submitting to His will.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: Praise becometh the upright. Alleluia!
Hebrews 5:11-6:8
Hebrews 5:11-6:811About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food; 13for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.
6Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, 2instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And we will do this, if God permits. 4For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. 7Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.
Luke 21:5-7, 10-11, 20-24
Luke 21:5-7, 10-11, 20-24
5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” 7They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
20“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; 22for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. 23Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; 24they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Synaxarion:
December 8
Pre-festive Day of the Conception of Saint Ann, Mother of the Theotokos.
Memory of our venerable Father Patapios (Seventh century).
Saint Patapios was born in Thebes, Egypt. He embraced monastic life and spent many years in the desert. He went to Constantinople and committed his soul to God in the course of the Seventh century.
Fifth Class Feast.
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