From dynamispublications.org, antiochan.org, rongolini.com and biblegateway.com:
Daily and Commemmorative Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Great Lent, Lent, Memory of the holy Apostles Aristarchos, Pudens, and Trophimos of the Seventy Disciples (First century)
Scriptural Readings:
Isaiah 65:8-16
Isaiah 65:8-16 (King James Version)
8Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
9And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
10And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
11But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
12Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
14Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
15And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
16That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Genesis 46:1-7
Genesis 46:1-7 (King James Version)
Genesis 46
1And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
2And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
3And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
4I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
5And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:
7His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
Proverbs 23:15-24:5
Proverbs 23:15-24:5 (King James Version)
15My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
25Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs 24
1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Saint Matthew 26:1-20 (4/21-5/4) First Portion, Gospel, Vesperal Liturgy Holy Thursday
The Spirit of Sacrifice: Saint Matthew 26:1-20, especially vs. 15: “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.” The opening verses of this passage portend the violence of the imminent, final conflict between the Lord Jesus and “...the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people...” (vss. 2,3). As chapters 22 and 23 of Matthew’s Gospel substantiate, and, as Christ knew well (Mt. 26:2), He had bearded ‘the lion in his den.’ For as the Gospel plainly says, the authorities were scheming to arrest and execute Him (vss. 3,4). The image we meet, to borrow Milton’s phrase, is the final moment “fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell.” Still, our Savior moves ahead, embodying the Spirit of sacrifice on behalf of everyone.
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos reveals a significant element in Christ’s self-sacrificing: He discloses the spiritual state of all who meet Him, plot against Him, welcome Him, anoint Him, object to His actions, betray or provide for Him. “Whoever has faith in God and a sacrificial spirit does not consider himself. When someone does not cultivate the spirit of sacrifice, he thinks only of himself and wants everybody else to sacrifice themselves for him. But whoever thinks only of himself is isolated from others as well as from God - a double isolation - in which case he cannot receive divine Grace. He becomes a useless person.”
This passage shows that the plotting of the authorities harbored a spirit opposed to self-sacrifice. As Saint John states: “...the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation” (Jn. 11:47).
While reading, it may be easy to skim past the hospitality of Simon the leper (Mt. 26:6). He welcomed the Lord into his home, undoubtedly giving Him food and shelter - a simple, genuine self-sacrifice. Perhaps his kindness is overshadowed by the dramatic tenderness and love offered by “...a woman [who] came to [Christ] having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and...poured it on His head as He sat at the table” (vs. 7). Both these persons evince a healthy, human response to the self-giving of Christ. They return what they obviously received in “...good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over...” (Lk. 6:38).
In the woman’s case, “...when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste?’” (Mt. 26:8). We should remember that the disciples, at this point, were still growing in faith. We ought to acknowledge that they did consider the poor even if missing her response of love in the pouring of the fragrant oil. Only as we discover our deep poverty of spirit and self-concern are we able to love with abandon without self-consideration. The universal forgiveness of Christ on the Cross and the subsequent change in the disciples after His resurrection make it obvious why, as Apostles, they treasured the woman’s act as love - they understood at last!
The truly tragic figure in this passage is Judas Iscariot. Like the other disciples, he had every opportunity to touch, handle and see the Spirit of self-sacrifice writ large. His betrayal was forgiven, but he could not forgive himself, nor accept the cost of self-sacrifice, so he gave himself to futility and the ‘furies terrible as hell.’ None of us is beyond the grace of Christ’s Self-sacrifice if we will. The Lord gives the Spirit of sacrifice, but we must embrace it.
Opportunities to grow in the Spirit of sacrifice come to us every day. A “...certain man...” was approached that the Teacher might use his house to keep the Passover with His disciples (vs. 18). As with all true disciples, the man did what was asked of him without adulation or reward.
Lord and Master of my life, grant your servant a spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother, for blessed are You.
Saint Matthew 26:21-39 (4/21-5/4) Third Portion, Gospel, Vesperal Liturgy Holy Thursday
Saint John Chrysostom on the Last Supper: Saint Matthew 26:21-39, especially vss. 26-29: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’” (above is the NKJ text).
[Below are direct excerpts from Saint John Chrysostom, “Homilies on Saint Matthew’s Gospel,” Homily 82, Nicene & Post Nicene Fathers, First Series, Volume 10, pp. 491-493.]
“And as they were eating, He took bread, and brake it.” Why can it have been that He ordained this Sacrament then, at the time of the Passover? That thou mightest learn from everything, both that He is the lawgiver of the Old Testament, and that the things therein are foreshadowed because of these things. Therefore, I say, where the type is, there He puts the truth. But the evening is a sure sign of the fullness of times, and that the things were now come to the very end. And He gives thanks, to teach us how we ought to celebrate this Sacrament, and to show that not unwillingly doth He come to the Passion, and to teach us whatever we may suffer to bear it thankfully, thence also suggesting good hopes. For if the type was a deliverance from such bondage, how much more will the truth set free the world, and will He be delivered up for the benefit of our race....
“Take, eat, This is my Body, Which is broken for many.” ....He speaks of the cause of His Passion, namely, the taking away of sins....And like as the Old Testament had sheep and bullocks, so this has the Lord’s blood. Hence also He shows that He is soon to die, wherefore also He made mention of a Testament, and He reminds them also of the former Testament, for that also was dedicated with blood. And again He tells the cause of His death,
“Which is shed for many for the remission of sins:” and He saith, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Seest thou how He removes and draws them off from Jewish customs....But this He said, indicating thereby, that His passion and His cross are a mystery, by this too again comforting His disciples. And like as Moses saith, “This shall be to you for an everlasting memorial” (Ex. 12:14), so He too, “in remembrance of Me,” until I come. Therefore also He saith, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover” (Lk. 22:15), that is to deliver you this new rite, and to give a Passover, by which I Am to make you spiritual.
And He Himself drank of it. For lest on hearing this, they should say, What then? do we drink blood, and eat flesh? and then be perplexed (for when He began to discourse concerning these things, even at the very saying many were offended - Jn. 6:60,61,66), therefore lest they should be troubled then likewise, He first did this Himself, leading them to the calm participation of the mysteries....For on this account He said, “Do this,” that He might withdraw them from the other. For if this worketh remission of sins...the other is now superfluous....
....Then, when He had delivered it, He saith “I will not drink of the fruit of this wine [sic], until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” For because He had discoursed with them concerning Passion and Cross, He again introduces what He has to say of His Resurrection, having made mention of a Kingdom before them, and so calling His own Resurrection. And wherefore did He drink after He was risen again? Lest the grosser sort might suppose the Resurrection was an appearance. For the common sort made this an infallible test of His having risen again. Wherefore also the Apostles...say, “We who did eat and drink with Him” (Acts 10:41)....It was not for want that He ate...but for the full assurance of His Resurrection.
Receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Thy sacramental Supper; for I shall not divulge Thy mystery to Thine enemies, nor give Thee a kiss like Judas. [Hymn of Holy Thursday]
Saint Matthew 26:40-27:2 (4/21-5/4) Fifth Portion, Gospel, Vesperal Liturgy Holy Thursday
Five Indictments: Saint Matthew 26:40-27:2, especially vs. 41: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The unstated but stunning truth in this portion of Matthew’s Gospel is the confession of weakness on the part of the future leadership of the Church. Twelve men, chosen by Christ Himself, individuals who spent three years in close association with the Lord, show no hesitation in owning weakness, panicking in crisis, and putting personal safety first. Their willingness to be forthright about their failures should not be overlooked, especially in this day and age where every effort is made by public figures to explain, modify, and cast their words and acts in the best of light. There is something extraordinary about this that bears examination.
Who among us can fail to find these weaknesses in his or her own life story? The Evangelist’s record in these verses is replete with common human foibles: inattention, feigned friendship, resorting under pressure to fight or flight, or denying that which we say we hold dear. We talk these days about ‘having our covers pulled,’ and this Gospel certainly does that! What is it about the Christian Faith that not only condones such admissions, but effectively encourages them? In these verses we find Christ our God Himself nearing these weaknesses, but choosing to put them before God when He prays, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (vs. 42). We do have a God Who understands!
All my life I have had to struggle with sleepiness at the wrong times. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (vs. 42). Counseling after lunch was a sure pitfall in my work. Better was the recognition that lunch was the gateway to drowsiness. A kind reminder came from one who sought me for help and before whom I fell asleep as her troubles poured out. She later said, “When I saw you fall asleep, it actually helped me realize that my troubles were not all that important.” What grace for my disgrace! We are bombarded by so much information from the media and life around us that falling into drowsiness is quite the easy solution. How often I determine that I will heed the Lord’s admonition, “Could you not watch with Me one hour? (vs. 40), only to fail. Jesus’ caution is vital: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (vs. 41).
It is drilled into us to be polite and not to insult others. So, we put on a mask of social respectability, pleasantness, and friendliness. This can be useful as a learned behavior required in public. However, in moments when essential moral issues and values of the heart and soul are at stake, what is worse than the ‘Judas kiss’ (vs. 49)? ‘Social dishonesty’ can put ‘icing on the cake’ for the thousand of little interactions that we have in society, but must be guarded against as deadly if it becomes our ‘modus vivendi,’ so that we never really are present when it counts.
We are told that when life becomes plainly threatening there are two basic responses that we choose: fight or flight. Both of these appear in this passage: “And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear” (vs. 51). At this point, Saint Luke adds that Jesus “...touched his ear and healed him” (Lk. 22:51). The Lord took the ‘fight’ out of the crisis, but ‘flight’ became the way for the disciples (Mt. 26:56). We are reminded to look for the healing way between the two!
Peter’s triple denial dominates the rest of the account. He could not quite flee, but followed “...and sat with the servants to see the end” (vs. 58). Only the Incarnate God-Man could drink the Passion cup for our salvation (vs. 42). Before His accusers Jesus remained silent until put under oath (vs. 63). Then He confessed, Yes, “It is as you said” (vs. 64). What else can we do? Let Peter teach us: “...he went out and wept bitterly” (vs. 75). Repentance begins with tears.
Receive me today, O Son of God, for I shall not divulge Thy mystery to Thine enemies, nor give Thee a kiss like Judas, but like the thief shall I confess Thee. Remember me, O Lord.
The Synaxarion:
April 14
Memory of the holy Apostles Aristarchos, Pudens,
and Trophimos of the Seventy Disciples (First century)
A native of Thessalonica, Saint Aristarchos accompanied Saint Paul on his voyages to Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, and Judea, until his first captivity in Rome. Saint Pudens was a simple layman of the Roman Church. Toward the end of his second epistle to Timothy (II Timothy 4:21) the Apostle greets Timothy in behalf of Pudens. Tradition relates regarding him that he lodged Saint Peter and was baptized by him. As for Trophimos, we know that he was a Greek and a native of Ephesus. He accompanied Saint Paul to Jerusalem. After his first captivity in Rome, the Apostle Paul traveled through Asia with him, and left him sick at Miletus.
Fifth Class Feast.
Daily and Commemmorative Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Great Lent, Lent, Memory of the holy Apostles Aristarchos, Pudens, and Trophimos of the Seventy Disciples (First century)
Scriptural Readings:
Isaiah 65:8-16
Isaiah 65:8-16 (King James Version)
8Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
9And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
10And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
11But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
12Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
14Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
15And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
16That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Genesis 46:1-7
Genesis 46:1-7 (King James Version)
Genesis 46
1And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
2And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
3And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
4I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
5And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:
7His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
Proverbs 23:15-24:5
Proverbs 23:15-24:5 (King James Version)
15My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
25Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs 24
1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Saint Matthew 26:1-20 (4/21-5/4) First Portion, Gospel, Vesperal Liturgy Holy Thursday
The Spirit of Sacrifice: Saint Matthew 26:1-20, especially vs. 15: “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.” The opening verses of this passage portend the violence of the imminent, final conflict between the Lord Jesus and “...the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people...” (vss. 2,3). As chapters 22 and 23 of Matthew’s Gospel substantiate, and, as Christ knew well (Mt. 26:2), He had bearded ‘the lion in his den.’ For as the Gospel plainly says, the authorities were scheming to arrest and execute Him (vss. 3,4). The image we meet, to borrow Milton’s phrase, is the final moment “fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell.” Still, our Savior moves ahead, embodying the Spirit of sacrifice on behalf of everyone.
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos reveals a significant element in Christ’s self-sacrificing: He discloses the spiritual state of all who meet Him, plot against Him, welcome Him, anoint Him, object to His actions, betray or provide for Him. “Whoever has faith in God and a sacrificial spirit does not consider himself. When someone does not cultivate the spirit of sacrifice, he thinks only of himself and wants everybody else to sacrifice themselves for him. But whoever thinks only of himself is isolated from others as well as from God - a double isolation - in which case he cannot receive divine Grace. He becomes a useless person.”
This passage shows that the plotting of the authorities harbored a spirit opposed to self-sacrifice. As Saint John states: “...the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation” (Jn. 11:47).
While reading, it may be easy to skim past the hospitality of Simon the leper (Mt. 26:6). He welcomed the Lord into his home, undoubtedly giving Him food and shelter - a simple, genuine self-sacrifice. Perhaps his kindness is overshadowed by the dramatic tenderness and love offered by “...a woman [who] came to [Christ] having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and...poured it on His head as He sat at the table” (vs. 7). Both these persons evince a healthy, human response to the self-giving of Christ. They return what they obviously received in “...good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over...” (Lk. 6:38).
In the woman’s case, “...when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste?’” (Mt. 26:8). We should remember that the disciples, at this point, were still growing in faith. We ought to acknowledge that they did consider the poor even if missing her response of love in the pouring of the fragrant oil. Only as we discover our deep poverty of spirit and self-concern are we able to love with abandon without self-consideration. The universal forgiveness of Christ on the Cross and the subsequent change in the disciples after His resurrection make it obvious why, as Apostles, they treasured the woman’s act as love - they understood at last!
The truly tragic figure in this passage is Judas Iscariot. Like the other disciples, he had every opportunity to touch, handle and see the Spirit of self-sacrifice writ large. His betrayal was forgiven, but he could not forgive himself, nor accept the cost of self-sacrifice, so he gave himself to futility and the ‘furies terrible as hell.’ None of us is beyond the grace of Christ’s Self-sacrifice if we will. The Lord gives the Spirit of sacrifice, but we must embrace it.
Opportunities to grow in the Spirit of sacrifice come to us every day. A “...certain man...” was approached that the Teacher might use his house to keep the Passover with His disciples (vs. 18). As with all true disciples, the man did what was asked of him without adulation or reward.
Lord and Master of my life, grant your servant a spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother, for blessed are You.
Saint Matthew 26:21-39 (4/21-5/4) Third Portion, Gospel, Vesperal Liturgy Holy Thursday
Saint John Chrysostom on the Last Supper: Saint Matthew 26:21-39, especially vss. 26-29: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’” (above is the NKJ text).
[Below are direct excerpts from Saint John Chrysostom, “Homilies on Saint Matthew’s Gospel,” Homily 82, Nicene & Post Nicene Fathers, First Series, Volume 10, pp. 491-493.]
“And as they were eating, He took bread, and brake it.” Why can it have been that He ordained this Sacrament then, at the time of the Passover? That thou mightest learn from everything, both that He is the lawgiver of the Old Testament, and that the things therein are foreshadowed because of these things. Therefore, I say, where the type is, there He puts the truth. But the evening is a sure sign of the fullness of times, and that the things were now come to the very end. And He gives thanks, to teach us how we ought to celebrate this Sacrament, and to show that not unwillingly doth He come to the Passion, and to teach us whatever we may suffer to bear it thankfully, thence also suggesting good hopes. For if the type was a deliverance from such bondage, how much more will the truth set free the world, and will He be delivered up for the benefit of our race....
“Take, eat, This is my Body, Which is broken for many.” ....He speaks of the cause of His Passion, namely, the taking away of sins....And like as the Old Testament had sheep and bullocks, so this has the Lord’s blood. Hence also He shows that He is soon to die, wherefore also He made mention of a Testament, and He reminds them also of the former Testament, for that also was dedicated with blood. And again He tells the cause of His death,
“Which is shed for many for the remission of sins:” and He saith, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Seest thou how He removes and draws them off from Jewish customs....But this He said, indicating thereby, that His passion and His cross are a mystery, by this too again comforting His disciples. And like as Moses saith, “This shall be to you for an everlasting memorial” (Ex. 12:14), so He too, “in remembrance of Me,” until I come. Therefore also He saith, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover” (Lk. 22:15), that is to deliver you this new rite, and to give a Passover, by which I Am to make you spiritual.
And He Himself drank of it. For lest on hearing this, they should say, What then? do we drink blood, and eat flesh? and then be perplexed (for when He began to discourse concerning these things, even at the very saying many were offended - Jn. 6:60,61,66), therefore lest they should be troubled then likewise, He first did this Himself, leading them to the calm participation of the mysteries....For on this account He said, “Do this,” that He might withdraw them from the other. For if this worketh remission of sins...the other is now superfluous....
....Then, when He had delivered it, He saith “I will not drink of the fruit of this wine [sic], until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” For because He had discoursed with them concerning Passion and Cross, He again introduces what He has to say of His Resurrection, having made mention of a Kingdom before them, and so calling His own Resurrection. And wherefore did He drink after He was risen again? Lest the grosser sort might suppose the Resurrection was an appearance. For the common sort made this an infallible test of His having risen again. Wherefore also the Apostles...say, “We who did eat and drink with Him” (Acts 10:41)....It was not for want that He ate...but for the full assurance of His Resurrection.
Receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Thy sacramental Supper; for I shall not divulge Thy mystery to Thine enemies, nor give Thee a kiss like Judas. [Hymn of Holy Thursday]
Saint Matthew 26:40-27:2 (4/21-5/4) Fifth Portion, Gospel, Vesperal Liturgy Holy Thursday
Five Indictments: Saint Matthew 26:40-27:2, especially vs. 41: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The unstated but stunning truth in this portion of Matthew’s Gospel is the confession of weakness on the part of the future leadership of the Church. Twelve men, chosen by Christ Himself, individuals who spent three years in close association with the Lord, show no hesitation in owning weakness, panicking in crisis, and putting personal safety first. Their willingness to be forthright about their failures should not be overlooked, especially in this day and age where every effort is made by public figures to explain, modify, and cast their words and acts in the best of light. There is something extraordinary about this that bears examination.
Who among us can fail to find these weaknesses in his or her own life story? The Evangelist’s record in these verses is replete with common human foibles: inattention, feigned friendship, resorting under pressure to fight or flight, or denying that which we say we hold dear. We talk these days about ‘having our covers pulled,’ and this Gospel certainly does that! What is it about the Christian Faith that not only condones such admissions, but effectively encourages them? In these verses we find Christ our God Himself nearing these weaknesses, but choosing to put them before God when He prays, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (vs. 42). We do have a God Who understands!
All my life I have had to struggle with sleepiness at the wrong times. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (vs. 42). Counseling after lunch was a sure pitfall in my work. Better was the recognition that lunch was the gateway to drowsiness. A kind reminder came from one who sought me for help and before whom I fell asleep as her troubles poured out. She later said, “When I saw you fall asleep, it actually helped me realize that my troubles were not all that important.” What grace for my disgrace! We are bombarded by so much information from the media and life around us that falling into drowsiness is quite the easy solution. How often I determine that I will heed the Lord’s admonition, “Could you not watch with Me one hour? (vs. 40), only to fail. Jesus’ caution is vital: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (vs. 41).
It is drilled into us to be polite and not to insult others. So, we put on a mask of social respectability, pleasantness, and friendliness. This can be useful as a learned behavior required in public. However, in moments when essential moral issues and values of the heart and soul are at stake, what is worse than the ‘Judas kiss’ (vs. 49)? ‘Social dishonesty’ can put ‘icing on the cake’ for the thousand of little interactions that we have in society, but must be guarded against as deadly if it becomes our ‘modus vivendi,’ so that we never really are present when it counts.
We are told that when life becomes plainly threatening there are two basic responses that we choose: fight or flight. Both of these appear in this passage: “And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear” (vs. 51). At this point, Saint Luke adds that Jesus “...touched his ear and healed him” (Lk. 22:51). The Lord took the ‘fight’ out of the crisis, but ‘flight’ became the way for the disciples (Mt. 26:56). We are reminded to look for the healing way between the two!
Peter’s triple denial dominates the rest of the account. He could not quite flee, but followed “...and sat with the servants to see the end” (vs. 58). Only the Incarnate God-Man could drink the Passion cup for our salvation (vs. 42). Before His accusers Jesus remained silent until put under oath (vs. 63). Then He confessed, Yes, “It is as you said” (vs. 64). What else can we do? Let Peter teach us: “...he went out and wept bitterly” (vs. 75). Repentance begins with tears.
Receive me today, O Son of God, for I shall not divulge Thy mystery to Thine enemies, nor give Thee a kiss like Judas, but like the thief shall I confess Thee. Remember me, O Lord.
The Synaxarion:
April 14
Memory of the holy Apostles Aristarchos, Pudens,
and Trophimos of the Seventy Disciples (First century)
A native of Thessalonica, Saint Aristarchos accompanied Saint Paul on his voyages to Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, and Judea, until his first captivity in Rome. Saint Pudens was a simple layman of the Roman Church. Toward the end of his second epistle to Timothy (II Timothy 4:21) the Apostle greets Timothy in behalf of Pudens. Tradition relates regarding him that he lodged Saint Peter and was baptized by him. As for Trophimos, we know that he was a Greek and a native of Ephesus. He accompanied Saint Paul to Jerusalem. After his first captivity in Rome, the Apostle Paul traveled through Asia with him, and left him sick at Miletus.
Fifth Class Feast.
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