Monday, May 2, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church Daily Readings For Monday, 18 April

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Monday, April 18, 2011



Strict Fast



Readings for today:



Matthew 21:18-43

Matthew 24:3-35



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Holy Monday

Holy Father John the Righteous, disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis

Euthemios the Enlightener of Karelia

Cosmas, Bishop of Calcydon

John the New Martyr of Epiros





Gospel Reading



The reading is from Matthew 21:18-43



At that time, Jesus was returning to the city, he was hungry. And

seeing a fig tree by the wayside he went to it, and found nothing on it

but leaves only. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you

again!" And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it they

marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" And Jesus answered

them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will

not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say

to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be

done. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have

faith. " And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the

elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By

what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this

authority?" Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you a question; and if you

tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do

these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from

men? " And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he

will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say,

'From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was

a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said

to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these

things. What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first

and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered,

'I will not'; but afterward he repented and went. And he went to the

second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go.

Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first."

Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the

harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in

the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax

collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did

not afterward repent and believe him.



"Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard

and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a

tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When

the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants,

to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one,

killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more

than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his

son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants

saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us

kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out

of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the

vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He

will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard

to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons."

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very

stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner;

this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore

I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and

given to a nation producing the fruits of it."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Matthew 24:3-35



At that time, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples

came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what

will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" And

Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many

will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead

many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that

you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not

yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,

and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this

is but the beginning of the sufferings.



Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death;

and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then

many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And

many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because

wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold. But he who endures

to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be

preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and

then the end will come.



So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet

Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let

those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the

housetop not go down to take what is in his house; and let him who is in

the field not turn back to take his mantle. And alas for those who

are with child and for those who give suck in those days! Pray that

your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For then there will

be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the

world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been

shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect

those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, 'Lo, here is

the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs

and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as

to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you

beforehand. So, if they say to you, 'Lo, he is in the wilderness,' do not go

out; if they say, 'Lo, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the

west, so will be the coming of the Son of man. Wherever the body is,

there the eagles will be gathered together. Immediately after the

tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not

give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of

the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of

man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and

they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power

and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet

call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end

of heaven to the other.



From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes

tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also,

when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very

gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all

these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words

will not pass away."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Holy Monday



Reading from the Synaxarion:



The holy Passion of our Saviour begins today, presenting Joseph the

all-comely as a prefiguring of Christ. He was the eleventh son of Jacob, and

his first son by Rachel; because he was so beloved of his father, his

own brethren came to envy him and cast him into a pit. Later they

sold him to foreigners for thirty pieces of silver, who later sold him

again in Egypt. Because of his virtue, his master gave him much

authority in governing his house; because he was fair of countenance, his

master's wife sought to draw him into sin with her; because of his

chastity, he refused her, and through her slanders was cast into prison.

Finally, he was led forth again with great glory and was honoured as a

king. He became lord over all Egypt and a provider of wheat for all the

people. Through all this, he typifies in himself the betrayal, Passion,

death, and glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ (see Gen., chapters

37, 39 41).



To the commemoration of Patriarch Joseph is added also the narration

concerning the fig tree, which on this day was cursed and subsequently dried

up because of its unfruitfulness. It portrayed the Jewish synagogue,

which had not produced the fruit demanded of it, that is, obedience to

God and faith in Him and which was stripped of all spiritual grace by

means of the curse (Matt. 21:18-20).



Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

See! The Bridegroom sets forth in the dead of night. And blessed is

that servant whom he shall find on watch; unworthy the one he shall

come upon lazing. See to it, soul, that sleep does not overtake you,

lest you be given up to death and be shut out of the kingdom. Bestir

yourself, then, and sing out: "Holy, holy, holy are You, our God; through

the protection of the bodiless powers, save us."



Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Jacob mourned the loss of Joseph, while the noble one rode in a

chariot, honored as royalty. For having spurned the enticements of the

Egyptian woman, he was in turn glorified by Him who knows the hearts of

men and bestows an incorruptible crown.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA

Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA





Holy Father John the Righteous, disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis



Reading from the Synaxarion:



This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth and became a

disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see Nov. 20). After his elder,

Saint Gregory, reposed (in the first half of the ninth century), he

came to Jerusalem and finally reposed in peace in the Monastery of

Saint Chariton.



Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Father. For you

took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us

to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about

the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy John, your soul

rejoices with the angels.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA



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