Byzantine Catholic Orthodox Daily Readings For Saturday, 18 December

From byzcath.org, oremus.org and rongolini.com:

Daily Readings:


Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated:  the Fast fo the Nativity


Scriptural Readings:

Ephesians 2:11-13


Ephesians 2:11-13


11So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision” —a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.



Luke 13:18-29

Luke 13:18-29


18He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” 22Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

23Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. 29Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.


 
 
The Synaxarion:
 
Saturday Before the Nativity According to the Flesh of His Companions (end of the Third century)




Saint Sebastian was a native of Milan, of senatorial rank, and very zealous for the Christian faith to which he had converted many pagans. He was seized during the persecution of Maximian and Diocletian. After having been pierced through by a shower of arrows, his body was broken by bludgeons and torn to shreds. He thus ended his martyrdom around 288. With him and also submitted to martyrdom, after various tortures, were Marcellinus and Marcus, his brothers; Tranquilinus and Marcia, their parents; Nicostratos and Zoe, his wife, as well as Tiburtios, Claudius, Castulus, and Castor.



Fifth Class Feast.