Hold On To It
“Do not allow the wind to disperse what you have gained. You should not lose it but hold on to it deeply within your hearts. Make it a part of your life so you can come to know the goodness and taste the beauty of the Kingdom of God. When you acquire spiritual health, your joy and thanksgiving to God will have no bounds.”
Elder Ephraim of Arizona
#health #spiritual #God
Thursday January 2, 2025 / December 20, 2024
28th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil
Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ.
Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, bishop of Antioch (107).
Repose of Righteous John of Kronstadt (1908).
Venerable Ignatius, archimandrite of the Kiev Caves (1435).
St. Anthony, archbishop of Voronezh (1846).
St. Philogonius, bishop of Antioch (323).
St. Daniel II, archbishop of Serbia (1338).
“Novodvorskaya” and “Lenkovskaya” (Novgorod-Severny) named “Rescuer of the Drowning” Icons of the Mother of God.
New Martyr John of the isle of Thasos (1652) (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 6:1-13 Matins Gospel
1
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
5
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8
Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11
Give us this day our daily bread.
12
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
5
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you-
6
if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
7
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
8
but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
9
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
10
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11
whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12
One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14
not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
15
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
1
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
17
Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’
20
And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22
But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
24
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
26
And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Hebrews 4:14-5:6 St. John
14
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
3
Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
4
And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
5
So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:”You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”
6
As He also says in another place:”You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
Matthew 5:14-19 St. John
14
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Hieromartyr Ignatius
14
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
3
Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
4
And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
5
So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:”You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”
6
As He also says in another place:”You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
Mark 9:33-41 Hieromartyr Ignatius
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.
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