Daily Reading:

Wednesday

LITURGY

2 Corinthians 9:12-10:7

     For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

Mark 3:20-27

     And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

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HOLY PROPHET SAMUEL
ST OSWIN, KING AND MARTYR

Troparion of the Feast    Tone 1

In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity;/ in falling asleep thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos./ Thou wast translated to life, O Mother of Life,/ and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Troparion of the Prophet Samuel    Tone 4

Thou didst blossom as a scion of righteousness from a barren mother, O great Prophet Samuel./ Thou didst reveal beforehand the blessings we should receive;/ from childhood thou didst serve the Lord in the priestly office./ As a prophet thou anointedst kings;/ ever remember those who acclaim thee.

Troparion of St Oswin    Tone 1

Courtesy and humility shone from thee,/ O radiant Martyr Oswin./ Trained by St Aidan as a Christian ruler,/ thou didst illumine northern Britian./ Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Kontakion of the Feast    Tone 2

Neither the tomb nor death could hold the Theotokos,/ who is sleepless in her intercessions and an unchanging hope in her mediations./ For as the Mother of Life she was transferred to life/ by Him Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Kontakion of the Prophet Samuel    Tone 8

Thou wast a precious gift to God before thy conception;/ thou didst serve Him from infancy like an angel/ and wast granted to foretell future events, wherefore we cry to thee: / Rejoice, O Samuel, thou Prophet of God and great high priest.