Jesus is Always With You
“Listen my child…and don’t be sad! Were you forgotten about? They didn’t even give you a phone call? Never mind, and most of all don’t complain. Were you being mocked? Don’t reply. Were you insulted? Be silent and pray. Were you wronged? Forget it. Were you hated? Be glad. Were you slandered? Don’t take notice. They won’t listen to you ? Don’t be sad. They are bad mouthing you? Don’t fight back. They are getting mad at you? Remain calm. They stealing from you? Turn a blind eye. They are mocking you? Show forbearance. Your children are not listening to your advice? Get on your knees and pray to God. Are you at fault? Apologize. You are not at fault? Apologize again. Are you healthy? Praise God. Do you have illness? Are you suffering, tortured, in pain? Praise God. Is there whining, unemployment, poverty in the house? Fast. Make a vigil. Pray. For everyone and everything, pray and fast…because “these kind of passions and demons, does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Just remember to have faith, Jesus is always with you!”
Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona
#JesusChrist #prayer #fasting
Monday June 16, 2025 / June 3, 2025
2nd Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.
Apostles’ (Peter & Paul) Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Beginning of Apostles’ (Peter & Paul) Fast
Martyr Lucillian and those with him at Byzantium: four youths — Claudius, Hypatius, Paul, and Dionysius; and Virgin Paula (270).
New Hieromartyr Cyprian (1934).
New Hieromartyr Michael priest (1938).
Translation of the relics (1606) of the slain Crown Prince Demetrius of Moscow (1591).
Hieromartyr Lucian the bishop, Maxianus the presbyter, Julian the deacon and Martyrs Marcellinus and Saturninus in Belgium (96).
“Yougskaya” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1615).
Venerable Athanasius, the wonderworker of Cilicia.
The Meeting of Venerable Demetrius, monk of Priluki (Vologda) (1503).
St. Hieria, widow, of Mesopotamia (312).
St. Clotilde (Chlotilda), queen of France (545) (Gaul).
Venerable Kevin, hermit and abbot of Glendalough (618) (Celtic & British).
St. Meriasek, bishop of Camborne.
Venerable Pappus monk (Greek).
St. Achilles, patriarch of Alexandria (312).
Monk-martyr Barsabus, abbot of Ishtar, and ten companions in Persia (342).
New Hieromartyr Joseph, metropolitan of Thessalonica (1821).
The Scripture Readings
28
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
29
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
1
What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
2
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
3
For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:”That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
5
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
6
Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7
For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8
And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?-as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
9
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10
As it is written:”There is none righteous, no, not one;
11
There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12
They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13
Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; The poison of asps is under their lips;
14
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17
And the way of peace they have not known.”
18
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
31
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
9
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!