Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-2,10-12,2:6-10
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the
Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in
sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ
who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings
of Christ and the glories that would follow.
To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us
they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you
through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent
from heaven; things which angels desire to look into.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I
lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on
Him will by no means be put to shame."
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those
who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the
chief cornerstone,"
and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They
stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
who once were not a people but are now the people of God,
who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Gospel Reading: Mark 12:1-12
Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a
vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built
a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
"Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers,
that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the
vinedressers.
"And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
"Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw
stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
"And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many
others, beating some and killing some.
"Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him
to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
"But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the
heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
"And they took him and killed him and cast him out of the
vineyard.
"Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will
come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.
"Have you not read this Scripture: 'The stone which the
builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
And they sought to lay hold of Him, but feared the multitude,
for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and
went away.
Saints and Feasts
14,000 infants (Holy Innocents) slain by Herod in Bethlehem; Our Righteous Father Marcellus, Abbot of the Monastery of the Unsleeping Ones; Our Righteous Father Thaddeus the Confessor; Afterfeast of the Nativity
