Epistle Reading: Philippians 1:20-27
according to my earnest expectation and hope that in
nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now
also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from
my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire
to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for
you.
And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain
and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus
Christ by my coming to you again.
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs,
that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the
faith of the gospel,
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:12-29
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
And when it was day, He called His disciples to Him; and from
them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James
and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called
the Zealot;
Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a
traitor.
And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a
crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and
Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him
and be healed of their diseases,
as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And
they were healed.
And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out
from Him and healed them all.
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "
Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you,
and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! for indeed your reward is
great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
"But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your
consolation.
Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who
laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their
fathers to the false prophets.
"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you,
"bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully
use you.
"To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.
And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
Saints and Feasts
Chariton the Confessor; Our Righteous Father Alkeisonus, Metropolitan of Nicopolis; Old Epirus; Baruch the Prophet; Neophytos & Auxentios the Martyrs of Cyprus; Wenceslaus the Martyr, Prince of the Czechs
