Prayer Before Reading Holy Scripture
O Master Who loves mankind, illuminate our hearts with the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our mind to understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, that we may overcome all carnal desires, entering upon a spiritual life and understanding and acting in all things according to Your holy will. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ God, and to You we give glory together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Epistle Reading: Colossians 3:12-16
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on
tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you
also must do.
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond
of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which
also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Gospel Reading: Luke 18:18-27
Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what
shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good
but One, that is, God.
"You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do
not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your
father and your mother.' "
And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth."
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still
lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was
very rich.
And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "
How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
"For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?"
But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are
possible with God."
Saints and Feasts
Leavetaking of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; Agnes the Virgin-martyr; Sabbas (Sava), Archbishop of Serbia; The Holy Fathers slain at Sinai and Raitho
