From armenianchurch-ed.net, biblegateway.com and biblicalproportions.com:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity (Hisnag)
Daily Prayer:
1st Prayer: December 26,2010
For she is an ark of purity,
a second cause of rejoicing
who saves us from drowning
in the tumult of our worldly lives.
She does not gather all sorts of beasts and just a few humans, but rather gathers the heavenly host together with us mortals.
She is not tossed about on waves of agitation,
but rises above it to the heavenly heights.
As a disciple under the command of the
Holy Spirit of God
she avoids iniquity.
She does not demand a death blow to the flesh
but rather guides those in her care to the
good news of life.
She is not built by the hand of Noah,
but is built by the command of the creator.
She is not adorned by Moses with the craftsman Bezaleel, but by the only begotten Son of God
with the Holy Spirit.
She is not in perpetual motion, constantly changing
but is established permanently upon an
unshakable foundation.
Like the ark made of wooden planks,
lacking the ability to speak and the sense of sight,
still she guides us anew.
In the image of the creator’s infinite plenitude
she goes ahead to prepare for us a place in
the light of life.
She strikes one dead on the spot, like Uzzah,
if she is not shouldered like the cross in the soul.
She kills without pause or trace
if she is carried off like some man-made vessel
on a cart harnessed to beasts in earthly desires.
She speaks not with the tongues of men,
but with the language of angels.
She does not listen with physical ears
but comprehends directly with her mind.
She does not proclaim with articulated sounds
but tells the message of Jesus’ works to all nations.
She does not have vocal cords but expresses
herself with the breath of the living God.
She does not have joints of bones and nerves
but just as the armed throngs of Israelites
though the chosen army of God on high,
were made to stand two thousand cubits from the ark of the covenant because of their impiety, she still keeps her distance from those infected with sin
even though they were delivered from the toil
of brick-making in Egypt.
Even the essence of God incarnate was
called the “rock,”
for the thirst of the many was quenched by
the piercing of his side.
It is not the flow of blood through veins
but the rays of light from on high
penetrating and becoming one with it
that give the Church life and renewal.
It is not masterful art of Solomon or Zurababel,
but the wisdom of God who holds all in his hands
that designs the Church.
It is not with the unconsecrated and common oil of Jacob
that is applied to it, but with the awesome
blood and glory of the great God that it is anointed.
It is not a house made with the things of earth,
but rather the body of the heavenly light of God
where he baptizes and ordains its children.
The Church nurtures not those born to the
ways of the world,
but rather those who are heirs to the
heavenly kingdom,
so that she might offer to the bosom of Abraham
those raised in her care.
The bridegroom of her wedding day is the
Son of the living God.
And the rejoicing entourage of bride’s maids are the
assembly of patriarchs.
She makes us forget the high places of pagan
worship where demons dwell, so that only God in heaven might be worshiped.
She is the complete refutation of the images
of pagan gods for in her every stone Christ is exalted.
Scriptural Readings:
Isaiah 41:4-14.
Isaiah 41:4-14 (King James Version)
4Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
5The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
6They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
7So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
9Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
13For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Hebrews 7:11-25.
Hebrews 7:11-25 (King James Version)
11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Luke 19:12-28
Luke 19:12-28 (King James Version)
12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
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