From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
Isaiah 58:1-11
Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16
Proverbs 21:23-22:4
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
Old Testament Reading
The reading is from Isaiah 58:1-11
Thus says the LORD: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a
trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob
their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as if
they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the
ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to
draw near to God. 'Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not? Why
have we humbled ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?'
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress
all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and
to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make
your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day
for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a
fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of
wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and
to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked,
to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then
shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall
spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of
the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD
will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, "Here I am."
"If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the
finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise
in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will
guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and
make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a
spring of water, whose waters fail not.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Old Testament Reading
The reading is from Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the
present which they had with them, and bowed down to him to the ground.
And he inquired about their welfare, and said, "Is your father well,
the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" They said, "Your
servant our father is well, he is still alive." And they bowed their
heads and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his
brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your youngest
brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!" Then
Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought
a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then
he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said,
"Let food be served."
(Chapter 45:1-16) Then Joseph could not control himself before all those
who stood by him; and he cried, "Make every one go out from me." So
no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his
brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the
household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am
Joseph; is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him,
for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his
brothers, "Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said,
"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do
not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me
here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has
been in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in
which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me
before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for
you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and
he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and
ruler over all the land of Egypt. Make haste and go up to my father
and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of
all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry; you shall dwell in the land
of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your
children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have; and
there I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to
come; lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to
poverty.' And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see,
that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of
all my splendor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Make haste
and bring my father down here." Then he fell upon his brother
Benjamin's neck and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed
all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers
talked with him. When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house,
"Joseph's brothers have come," it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Old Testament Reading
The reading is from Proverbs 21:23-22:4
He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
"Scoffer" is the name of the proud, haughty man who acts with arrogant
pride. The desire of the sluggard kills him for his hands refuse to
labor. All day long the wicked covets, but the righteous gives and does
not hold back. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how
much more when he brings it with evil intent. A false witness will
perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. A wicked man puts
on a bold face, but an upright man considers his ways. No wisdom,
no understanding, no counsel, can avail against the LORD. The horse
is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the
LORD. A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor
is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together;
the LORD is the maker of them all. A prudent man sees danger and
hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. The reward for
humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Martin was born in Tuscany. He had been the papal delegate at
Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his
successor. At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine
Pogonatus (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith
called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that
there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God. But the
newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran
Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximus the
Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the
Monothelite heresy. Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial
force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with
sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming
against the most holy Mother of God. Though innocent of these
accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many
sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous
confession in the year 655.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy
gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our
life in peace.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
Isaiah 58:1-11
Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16
Proverbs 21:23-22:4
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
Old Testament Reading
The reading is from Isaiah 58:1-11
Thus says the LORD: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a
trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob
their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as if
they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the
ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to
draw near to God. 'Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not? Why
have we humbled ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?'
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress
all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and
to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make
your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day
for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a
fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of
wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and
to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked,
to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then
shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall
spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of
the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD
will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, "Here I am."
"If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the
finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise
in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will
guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and
make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a
spring of water, whose waters fail not.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Old Testament Reading
The reading is from Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the
present which they had with them, and bowed down to him to the ground.
And he inquired about their welfare, and said, "Is your father well,
the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" They said, "Your
servant our father is well, he is still alive." And they bowed their
heads and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his
brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your youngest
brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!" Then
Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought
a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then
he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said,
"Let food be served."
(Chapter 45:1-16) Then Joseph could not control himself before all those
who stood by him; and he cried, "Make every one go out from me." So
no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his
brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the
household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am
Joseph; is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him,
for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his
brothers, "Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said,
"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do
not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me
here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has
been in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in
which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me
before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for
you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and
he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and
ruler over all the land of Egypt. Make haste and go up to my father
and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of
all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry; you shall dwell in the land
of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your
children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have; and
there I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to
come; lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to
poverty.' And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see,
that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of
all my splendor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Make haste
and bring my father down here." Then he fell upon his brother
Benjamin's neck and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed
all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers
talked with him. When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house,
"Joseph's brothers have come," it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Old Testament Reading
The reading is from Proverbs 21:23-22:4
He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
"Scoffer" is the name of the proud, haughty man who acts with arrogant
pride. The desire of the sluggard kills him for his hands refuse to
labor. All day long the wicked covets, but the righteous gives and does
not hold back. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how
much more when he brings it with evil intent. A false witness will
perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. A wicked man puts
on a bold face, but an upright man considers his ways. No wisdom,
no understanding, no counsel, can avail against the LORD. The horse
is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the
LORD. A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor
is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together;
the LORD is the maker of them all. A prudent man sees danger and
hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. The reward for
humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Martin was born in Tuscany. He had been the papal delegate at
Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his
successor. At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine
Pogonatus (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith
called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that
there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God. But the
newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran
Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximus the
Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the
Monothelite heresy. Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial
force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with
sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming
against the most holy Mother of God. Though innocent of these
accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many
sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous
confession in the year 655.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy
gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our
life in peace.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
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