Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!
Saints of the Day
November 25 / December 8. Apodosis of the Entry into the Temple (Epistle & Gospel of the Feast). Hieromartyr Clement, pope ofRome [Phil 3:20-4:3; Matt 5:14-19]. Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria. St. Peter Galata of Syria. St. Clement of Ochrida.(Greek Calendar: Martyr Porphyrius the soldier and 200 with him. Martyr Mercurius.)
Photo of the Day
I am venerating an Orthodox wooden cross I placed at the memorial site, for the four Lakewood police officers who were gunned down in a local coffee shop. Today is the memorial service, to be held in the Tacoma Dome, in Tacoma, Washington, where they are expecting 20 thousand police and fire department officers, from around the country, and the world. I am honored to serve as chaplain for the King County Police and Fire Departments, here on Vashon Island, and ask for your prayers, both for the fallen officers, their department, and their families. A total of nine children lost a parent!
Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day
“He who loves truth, and never utters a false word with his mouth, may say, ‘I have chosen the way of truth.’ Moreover, he who always sets the judgments of God before his eyes, and remembers them in every action , will say, ‘Thy judgments have I not forgotten.’ And how is our heart enlarged by trials and afflictions! For these pluck out the thorns of anxious thoughts within us, and enlarge the heart for the reception of the divine laws. For, says he, ‘in affliction Thou hast enlarged me.’ Then do we walk in the way of God’s commandments, well prepared for it by the endurance of trials.”
St. Hippolytus of Rome
Scripture Readings for the Day
1 Timothy 5:11-21
11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
Honor the Elders
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
Luke 17:26-37
26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
I thought of you, and them, when I saw the report on the evening news. Prayers continue.
Your blessing Father, <br /><br />What a terrible thing. I will certainly pray for them and I think it was a good thing to put a cross among the flowers. Christ is with us in death and despair like no other time. I will keep praying that He is with those women and children whose lives have been devastated.