Burn With Desire
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“The Lord loves all people, but He loves those who seek Him even more. To his chosen ones the Lord gives such great grace that for love they forsake the whole earth, the whole world, and their souls burn with desire that all people might be saved and see the glory of the Lord.”
Saint Silouan the Athonite
#chosen #love #jesuschrist
Friday May 2, 2025 / April 19, 2025
Second Week of Pascha. Tone one.
Fast. Wine and Oil Allowed.
Venerable John of the Ancient Caves in Palestine (8th c.).
St. Matrona the Blind of Moscow (1952).
New Hieromartyr Victor, bishop of Glazov (1934).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1942).
Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Antoninus in Nicomedia (303).
Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Jerusalem.
St. George the Confessor, bishop of Antioch in Pisidia (813-820).
St. Tryphon, patriarch of Constantinople (933).
Venerable Nicephorus, abbot of Katabad.
Venerable Symeon the Barefoot of Philotheou Monastery, Mt. Athos.
Finding of the relics (1621) of Venerable Joachim, abbot of Opochka (Pskov) (1515).
Venerable Joasaph (Bolotov) of Alaska.
Hieromartyr Alphege, archbishop of Canterbury (1012) (Celtic & British).
New Martyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou Monastery, Mt. Athos (1819) (Greek).
Martyrs Theodore, his mother Philippa and two soldiers, Socrates and Dionysius at Perge in Pamphylia (2nd c.).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 25:1-13 Matins Gospel
1
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3
Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6
And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
7
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9
But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
12
But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
1
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
2
And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
4
While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.
5
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
6
And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8
And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9
Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10
Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
11
So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
30
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
31
If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
32
There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
33
You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34
Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
35
He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
36
But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish-the very works that I do-bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37
And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38
But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
39
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40
But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
41
I do not receive honor from men.
42
But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.
43
I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
44
How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
45
Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you-Moses, in whom you trust.
46
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
47
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?
1
After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2
Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
Galatians 3:23-29 St. Matrona
23
But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25
But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Luke 7:36-50 St. Matrona
36
Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.
37
And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
38
and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
39
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41
There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42
And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?
43
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”
44
Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45
You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.
46
You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
47
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
48
Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49
And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50
Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”