Intense Prayer
“Intensity, and not duration, is more important in prayer. Pray even for five minutes, but your prayer ought to be offered to the Lord lovingly and with longing. This five-minute prayer may be more valuable than prayer which lasts all night. This is certainly a mystery, but it happens.”
St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
#prayer #love #orthodoxy
Friday December 27, 2024 / December 14, 2024
27th Week after Pentecost. Tone one.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius, and Callinicus of Apollonia (250).
Martyrs Apollonius, Philemon, Arianus, and Theoctychus of Alexandria (ca. 305).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1937).
St. Bassian confessor, archbishop of Tambov (1940).
Sainted Ilarion, Metropolitan of Suzdal’ and Yur’ev (1707).
St. Venatius Fortunatus, bishop of Poitiers (7th c.) (Celtic & British).
Venerable Hygbald, abbot in Lincolnshire (7th c.) (Celtic & British).
Sts. Fingar and Phila, brother and sister, martyrs in Cornwall.
Venerable Daniel the Hesychast of Voronej (17th c.) (Romania).
Four guards converted by St. Arianus and martyred (Greek.).
St. Folciunus, bishop of Tervas (855) (Neth.).
The Scripture Readings
1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2
To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
8
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
10
but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11
to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
13
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
14
That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15
This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
16
The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
17
but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.
18
The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day-and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
33
Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”
34
But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
35
And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
36
Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,
37
Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.
38
Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39
But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40
For he who is not against us is on our side.
41
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.