Epistle Reading: Galatians 2:16-20
"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus,
that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the
law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
"But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we
ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin?
Certainly not!
"For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I
make myself a transgressor.
"For I through the law died to the law that I might live
to God.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Gospel Reading: Luke 8:5-15
"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell
by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured
it.
"Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered
away because it lacked moisture.
"And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it
and choked it.
"But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop
a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to
hear, let him hear!"
Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable
mean?"
And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of
the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing
they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
"Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil
comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe
and be saved.
"But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while
and in time of temptation fall away.
"And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they
have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life,
and bring no fruit to maturity.
"But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who,
having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit
with patience.
Epistle Reading: Hebrews 13:7-16
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word
of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines.
For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which
have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle
have no right to eat.
For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into
the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people
with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing
His reproach.
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to
come.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of
praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased.
Gospel Reading: John 17:1-13
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "
Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify
You,
"as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He
should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
"I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do.
"And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with
the glory which I had with You before the world was.
"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me
out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept
Your word.
"Now they have known that all things which You have given Me
are from You.
"For I have given to them the words which You have given Me;
and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from
You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those
whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
"And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am
glorified in them.
"Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world,
and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have
given Me, that they may be one as We are.
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name.
Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son
of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
"But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world,
that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
Saints and Feasts
Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council; Lucian the Martyr of Antioch; Savinos the Bishop of Catania; Barsus the Confessor; Euthymios the New
