Daily Reading

Monday

LITURGY

Romans 9:18-33

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Matthew 11:2-15

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

+ + +

HOLY MARTYR JUSTIN THE PHILOSOPHER

ST AGAPETI OF THE KIEVAN CAVES

ST HERVE THE BLIND ABBOT

Troparion of St Justin Tone 4

O Justin, teacher of divine knowledge,/ thou didst shine with the rays of true philosophy/ and wast wisely armed against the enemy./ Confessing the truth thou didst contend with the martyrs:/ with them ever entreat Christ our God to save our souls.

Troparion of St Agapeti of the Kievan Caves Tone 5

O righteous Agapeti,/ thou didst heal the sick with edible herbs,/ with humility like Anthony the Great./ And so thou didst bring the unbelieving physician to the Faith,/ and didst guide him on the path of salvation./ Heal our sicknesses also,/ and pray to Christ our God for those who sing to thee.

Troparion of St Herve Tone l

O Herve, thou minstrel and teacher of the Faith,/ thy sweet voice enlightened the darkness though thou wast born without the gift of sight./ Pray that the light of Christ may ever dispel pagan darkness from our lands,/ that God may be glorified.

Kontakion of St Agapeti of the Kievan Caves Tone 5

Thou didst proclaim thy faith as a good physician,/ thou didst rebuke the Armenian and bring him to piety;/ when dying thou didst ask God for life/ and by this miracle bring him to Christ./ Now thou dost stand rejoicing before the Lord:/ pray for us, O righteous one.