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: Philippians 1:8-14
For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all
with the affection of Jesus Christ.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and
more in knowledge and all discernment,
that you may approve the things that are excellent, that
you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are
by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which
happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard,
and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become
confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Gospel Reading: Luke 5:12-16
And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a
man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored
Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing;
be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him.
And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to
the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them,
just as Moses commanded."
Then the report went around concerning Him all the more; and
great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their
infirmities.
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Saints and Feasts
The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian
