Prayer Before Reading Holy Scripture
O Master Who loves mankind, illuminate our hearts with the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our mind to understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, that we may overcome all carnal desires, entering upon a spiritual life and understanding and acting in all things according to Your holy will. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ God, and to You we give glory together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Epistle Reading: 1 Timothy 5:4-8,6
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them
first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is
good and acceptable before God.
Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in
God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
And these things command, that they may be blameless.
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially
for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever.
Gospel Reading: Luke 16:15-18,17:1-4
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves
before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among
men is an abomination in the sight of God.
"The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time
the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
"And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for
one tittle of the law to fail.
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits
adultery.
Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no
offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around
his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one
of these little ones.
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you,
rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
"And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven
times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
Saints and Feasts
Gregory the Wonderworker & Bishop of Neo-Caesarea; Gennadios I, Patriarch of Constantinople; Righteous Mother Hilda of Whitby
