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: Colossians 3:17-4:1
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the
Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward
them.
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is
well pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become
discouraged.
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to
the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart,
fearing God.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and
not to men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of
the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong which
he has done, and there is no partiality.
Masters, give your servants what is just and fair, knowing
that you also have a Master in heaven.
Gospel Reading: Luke 11:42-46
"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all
manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought
to have done, without leaving the others undone.
"Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the
synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are
like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not
aware of them."
Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, "Teacher, by
saying these things You reproach us also."
And He said, "Woe to you also, you lawyers! For you load men
with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with
one of your fingers.
Saints and Feasts
Amplias, Apelles, Stachys, Urban, Aristobulus & Narcissus of the 70; The Holy Martyr Epimachus of Egypt; Nicholas the New Martyr of Chios
