Epistle Reading: 2 John 1:1-13
THE ELDER, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in
truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,
because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us
forever:
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children
walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.
And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new
commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we
love one another.
This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This
is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should
walk in it.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not
confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
antichrist.
Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked
for, but that we may receive a full reward.
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of
Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both
the Father and the Son.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do
not receive him into your house nor greet him;
for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so
with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that
our joy may be full.
The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
Gospel Reading: Mark 15:22-25,33-41
And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is
translated, Place of a Skull.
Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He
did not take it.
And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments,
casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the
whole land until the ninth hour.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My
God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, "Look,
He is calling for Elijah!"
Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it
on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us
see if Elijah will come to take Him down."
And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Now when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He
cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the
Son of God!"
There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,
who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in
Galilee; and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Saints and Feasts
Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna; Proterios, Archbishop of Alexandria; Gorgonia the Righteous, sister of Gregory the Theologian; Damian the New Martyr of Mount Athos
