Epistle Reading: Ephesians 5:1-8
Therefore be followers of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given
Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
aroma.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it
not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting,
which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of
these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore do not be partakers with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the
Lord. Walk as children of light
Gospel Reading: Luke 14:1-11
Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers
of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.
And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy.
And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees,
saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let
him go.
Then He answered them, saying, "Which of you, having a donkey
or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on
the Sabbath day?"
And they could not answer Him regarding these things.
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted
how they chose the best places, saying to them:
"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit
down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;
"and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give
place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.
"But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest
place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go
up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at
the table with you.
"For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted."
Saints and Feasts
The Holy Prophet Aggaeus (Haggai); Modestos, Archbishop of Jerusalem; Our Righeous Mother Blessed Empress Theophania; Nicholas, Patriarch of Constantinople; Memnonus, Archbishop of Ephesus
