Thursday, February 24, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church In America Daily Readings For Thursday, 24 February

From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Thursday, February 24, 2011



Readings for today:



Luke 7:17-30

St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15

Matthew 11:2-15



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist

Romanos, Prince of Uglich





Orthros Gospel Reading



The reading is from Luke 7:17-30



At that time, a report concerning Jesus spread through the whole of

Judea and all the surrounding country. The disciples of John told him

of all these things. And John, calling to him two of his disciples,

sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we

look for another?" And when the men had come to him, they said, "John

the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you he who is to come,

or shall we look for another?'" In that hour he cured many of

diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he

bestowed sight. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen

and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are

cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good

news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."



When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds

concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed

shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in

soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in

luxury are in kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet?

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is

written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare

your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women none is

greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater

than he." When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors

justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John; but the

Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not

having been baptized by him.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15



Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who

has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the

glory of God in the face of Christ.



But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the

transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every

way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying

in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also

be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being

given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be

manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.



Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I

believed, and so I spoke," we too believed, and so we speak, knowing that

He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring

us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that

as grace extends to more and more people it may increase

thanksgiving, to the glory of God.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Matthew 11:2-15



At that time, when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve

disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now

when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word

by his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or

shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John

what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame

walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised

up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he

who takes no offense at me." As they went away, Jesus began to speak

to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the

wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to

see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft

raiment are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet?

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is

written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare

your way before you.' Truly, I say to you, among those born of women

there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is

least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of

John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been coming

violently and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets and

the law prophesied until John; and if you are willing to accept it,

he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist



Reading from the Synaxarion:



The first finding came to pass during the middle years of the fourth

century, through a revelation of the holy Forerunner to two monks, who

came to Jerusalem to worship our Saviour's Tomb. One of them took the

venerable head in a clay jar to Emesa in Syria. After his death it went

from the hands of one person to another, until it came into the

possession of a certain priest-monk named Eustathius, an Arian. Because he

ascribed to his own false belief the miracles wrought through the relic of

the holy Baptist, he was driven from the cave in which he dwelt, and

by dispensation forsook the holy head, which was again made known

through a revelation of Saint John, and was found in a water jar, about

the year 430, in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, when

Uranius was Bishop of Emesa.



Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

The Forerunner's sacred head, having dawned forth from the earth,

doth send incorruption's rays unto the faithful, whereby they find

healings of their ills. From on high he gathereth the choirs of the

Angels and on earth he summoneth the whole race of mankind, that they

with one voice might send up glory to Christ our God.



Kontakion in the Second Tone

Since we have obtained thy head as a most sacred rose from out of the

earth, O Forerunner of grace divine, we receive sure healing in every

hour, O Prophet of God the Lord; for again, now as formerly, thou

preachest repentance unto all the world.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA



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