Epistle Reading: Hebrews 5:11-6:8
of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you
have become dull of hearing.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and
you have come to need milk and not solid food.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the
word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is,
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good
and evil.
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary
principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
And this we will do if God permits.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and
have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the
age to come,
if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since
they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open
shame.
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon
it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives
blessing from God;
but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to
being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Gospel Reading: Mark 12:28-37
Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning
together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is
the first commandment of all?"
Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: '
Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This
is the first commandment.
"And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have
spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.
"And to love Him with all the heart, with all the
understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love
one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices."
So when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "
You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared
question Him.
Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "
How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?
"For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The LORD said to
my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '
"Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his
Son?" And the common people heard Him gladly.
Saints and Feasts
Malachi the Prophet; Gordios the Martyr of Caesarea; Forefeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; Righteous Genevieve of Paris; Righteous Peter of Atroas; Righteous Akakios the Wonderworker; Righteous Thomais of Lesbos
