From dynamispublications.org, antiochan.org, biblegateway.com, rongolini.com:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Second Pre-Festive Day of the Holy Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Prophet Malachi
Scriptural Readings:
Saint Luke 19:37-44 (1/3-1/16) Gospel for Monday, Twenty-eighth Week after Pentecost
To Weep and To Laugh: Saint Luke 19:37-44, especially vss. 37, 41: “Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God....as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.” What a contrast between the Lord Jesus and His disciples: they rejoice with overflowing praise to be with Him. They are entering the holy city of Jerusalem in the presence of the One they believe to be the Messiah, but He weeps. How far the ways of the Infinite lie beyond us, even though we have received the privilege of walking in close company with Him!
In his Gospel, Saint Luke guides us ever deeper into the Mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:4), showing us Light Himself illumining the ways of God. The Evangelist starts with the Lord Jesus’ birth in the flesh “...of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary....” He moves through the days of Christ’s early ministry, and brings us to the moment when the Savior knew within Himself that it was the time to be received up, the moment in the tumble of events when He needed to “...steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk. 9:51). From that point forward, Saint Luke records the Lord Jesus’ persistent predictions of His Passion, the increasing opposition mounting against Him, and His solemn warnings concerning the cost of being a disciple.
The transition passage is brief, but herein Saint Luke initiates the account of the last days of the Lord Jesus’ Judean ministry, the season immediately prior to His arrest, the penultimate days during which God shared the course of our daily life prior to embracing “...that Passion which was for the salvation of the whole world, to free the inhabitants of the earth from the tyranny of the enemy, and abolish death, and destroy the sin of the world.” In Solomon’s words it was both “...a time to weep and a time to laugh...” (Ecc. 3:4). But let blessed Luke teach us to appreciate those days in full, including the praise of men and the divine weeping (Lk. 19:37,41).
After seeing Jesus, Who isTruth Incarnate, heal incurable diseases, overcome demons, feed crowds, and subdue natural forces, the disciples quite naturally “...began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice...” (vs. 37) for they were now witnessing Him coming into Jerusalem. They had seen His ‘mighty works’ (vs. 37) first hand, which gave them solid reasons, well-supported by clear, tangible evidence, to believe in Jesus as the long-awaited, God-anointed King Who, in the popular view of the day, would inaugurate God’s Kingdom (vs. 38).
Since the days of King David, God’s People had seen only brief good times and far too many bad times. Current political, economic, and social realities cried out for someone blessed and empowered of God to usher in genuine freedom and true independence. The Lord Jesus obviously possessed Divine power and every spiritual resource. The people were in expectation: “O my Strength, I will keep watch for Thee, for Thou, O God, art my helper” (Ps. 58:9). It all came into focus on the Lord Jesus: people saw a reason for joy and praise and a time of laughter.
Ironically, as the Lord drew near the city, He “...wept over it” (Lk. 19:41). He scanned deep beneath the surface of politics and economics, down into the things of heart and soul, “...that make for your peace” (vs. 42). He saw how sin was blinding people - keeping truth “...hidden from your eyes” (vs. 42). He knew the Romans and the Herods were mere symptoms, and that the people’s “...foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom. 1:21). The people would not repent nor cleanse their hearts, even though their city would soon be destroyed (Lk. 19:43,44). In wrath they would crucify Him and fight the Romans. They would lose. It would be a time to weep.
O Thou Who are inapprehensible, Who of Thine Own compassion didst bear all things, saving all from the curse, O long-suffering Lord, glory to Thee.
2 Timothy 2:20-26
2 Timothy 2:20-26 (King James Version)
20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Luke 19:37-44
Luke 19:37-44 (King James Version)
37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation
The Synaxarion:
January 3
Second Pre-festive Day of the Feast of the Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
Memory of the holy Prophet Malachia (Fifth century B.C.)
The holy martyr Gordios (+under Licinius, 313-323).
The holy prophet Malachia prophesied in the times of Nehemia and Artaxerxes the Long-handed, the King of Persia, without doubt prior to the year 444 B.C.
Saint Gordios, concerning whom Saint Basil the Great made a panegyric, was a native of Caesarea of Cappadocia and a centurion under Emperor Licinius (313-323). Not being able to endure the insolence of the pagans and the blasphemies which they unceasingly uttered against Christ, he fled from the world and lived in the mountains in the company of wild beasts. Before long reviving his love for Christ and his courage against error, he entered the town, rushed into the theater overflowing with people, and publicly confessed his faith. Having attracted the attention of the whole crowd on himself, the Saint amazed the governor, who presided at the assembly, by his presence and urged him on to the extreme limit of his rage. After many tortures, he died by the sword.
Fifth Class Feast.
Troparia: of the Pre-festive Period of Theophany, of Saint Gordios, and of the Church Patron. Kondakion of the Pre-festive Period of Theophany.
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