from antiochan.org and dynamispublications.org:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (12/9-12/22) Third Vesperal Reading: Spyridon, Wonderworker of Trimythus
Pleasing God: Wisdom 4:7-15 SAAS, especially vs. 12: “For envy arising from lack of judgment obscures what is good, and a whirling of desire undermines an innocent heart.” Heed the wise Solomon’s warning so that your will, heart and soul shall not be undermined; for, in this life, the desires of men and nations whirl like tornadoes obscuring truth, justice, and honesty. Even when we recognize our limits and seek God’s highest and best, we can be drained of truth, justice, and honesty by the nihilism of the age, for we are bombarded with cliches, opinions, and the fads on the street. We are crushed by an avalanche of words empty of truth, words that sweep away goodness, alluring and bewitching us. Worst of all, concupiscence within us stealthily lurks to undermine our reason should we set out to find truth on our own. Making that mistake, we will defeat our own simple minds. Within and without, are we doomed? Not necessarily!
Do not despair: what God teaches in this brief passage is the better way to find truth and perform it through ourselves by embracing honesty and retaining a pure outlook. It is possible to attain to old age with ‘unspotted life’ (vs. 9) by living righteously (vss. 8,7). The answer is available; yet, because sustained effort is required, there remains the real temptation to fall into hopelessness. Why? Our conscience recalls how much we have soiled our lives. Worst of all, most of us are not fully certain of everything that we have thought and done that fouled and disfigured us. Our uneasiness is blurred by the flippancy and irreverence of the present world. This makes it difficult to know with certainty what our stain is, and what needs cleansing.
But listen to Solomon. The key is to strive to be “...pleasing to God...” (vs. 10). Since He loves you, He will reveal truth, justice, and honesty even if we are “...living among sinners...” (vs. 10), so that ‘evil’ (vs. 11) will not “...change [our] understanding or deceit deceive [our] soul”(vs. 11). There is hope in that possibility. Think of it! Should you see and glimpse the truth, embrace it and practice it. Thus you will fend off all the assaults of mindless change upon your understanding and of a host of lies that would deceive your soul (vs. 12).
Wait, you ask, How can I please God in thought, word, and deed, given my frailty? The Lord gave Solomon great wisdom in this matter. Listen to him: the righteous man was “...made perfect...in a short time...” (vs. 13). The word made perfect in the original is teleiotheis. It means to be completed. Being completed as a human person is a labor of restoration, a process of putting thoughts, inclinations, desires, and actions back into their rightful place and function. And Who does this? God, of course, for He can make perfect “...in a short time...” (vs. 13). He can complete us quite rapidly, if we will work with Him.
In the last verse (14), Solomon provides the essential components in the perfecting or completing process - ‘grace and mercy’ from God (vs. 14). The wise Prophet of God assures us that “...the Lord’s grace and mercy are with His elect...” (vs. 14). Are we among the elect of God? Saint Paul teaches that “...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Christ appeals to us in this: Brethren: “...you believe in God, believe also in Me” (Jn. 14:1). He begs us to trust Him, surrender our wills to Him, and submit to Him. Would you know what is true, just, and honest? Hear Saint Paul again: “...those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Rom. 8:8,9). Cry out for the Spirit, confess uncertainty, and He will heal and complete!
O Master, Who couldst not endure to behold mankind oppressed by the Devil, but didst come and save us: we proclaim Thy mercy. We conceal not Thy grace. Save us and help us!
Galatians 4:22-31
Galatians 4:22-3122For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. 23One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. 24Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written, “Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birthpangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married.” 28Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. 29But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.” 31So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.
Luke 8:16-21
Luke 8:16-2116“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. 18Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” 19Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
The Synaxarion:
December 9
The Conception of Saint Ann, Mother of the Theotokos.
According to the teaching of many of the Church Fathers, Our Lord, wishing to prepare as His dwelling a living temple and a holy habitation, sent His angel to Saints Joachim and Ann to whom would be born, according to His design, His Mother according to the flesh. The angel announced to them that she who was sterile would conceive, wishing to signify to them in that way the birth of the Holy Virgin. Mary was then conceived more honorable than the Cherubim and more holy than any other creature, spiritual or corporeal.
Second Class Feast. Typika and Beatitudes. Troparion of the Feast (three times). Kondakion of the Feast. Epistle and Gospel of the Feast. Ordinary Hirmos. Kinonikon: "Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting. Alleluia."
In occurrence with a Sunday: Typika and Beatitudes. Isodikon of the Sunday. Troparia: of the Resurrection, of the Feast (twice), and of the Church Patron. Kondakion of the Feast. Epistle of the Feast and Gospel of the Sunday. Ordinary Hirmos. Kinonikon of the Sunday and of the Feast.
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