Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25
Brethren, do not be children in understanding;
however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues
and other lips I will speak to this people; and yet, for all that, they
will not hear Me," says the Lord.
Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who
believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for
those who believe.
Therefore if the whole church comes together in one
place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are
uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an
uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all.
And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and
so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is
truly among you.
Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-9
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature,
yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are
coming to nothing.
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden
wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they
known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared
for those who love Him."
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
"Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
"Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil
with them,
"but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
"But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered
and slept.
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom
is coming; go out to meet him!'
"Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
"And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your
oil, for our lamps are going out.'
"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.'
"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.
"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord,
Lord, open to us!'
"But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do
not know you.'
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the
hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:37-11:1
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy
of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is
not worthy of Me.
"He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his
life for My sake will find it.
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me
receives Him who sent Me.
"He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall
receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name
of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
"And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of
cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by
no means lose his reward."
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His
twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in
their cities.
Saints and Feasts
The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; Severian the Martyr of Sebastia; Theophanes the Confessor; Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos; Memory of the Third Holy Ecumenical Council in Ephesus
