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: Hebrews 9:1-7
Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine
service and the earthly sanctuary.
For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was
the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;
and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which
is called the Holiest of All,
which had the golden altar of incense and the ark of the
covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that
had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the
mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests
always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
But into the second part the high priest went alone once a
year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's
sins committed in ignorance;
Gospel Reading: Luke 10:38-42,11:27-28
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village;
and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet
and heard His word.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she
approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me
to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are
worried and troubled about many things.
"But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part,
which will not be taken away from her."
And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain
woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb
that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!"
But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the
word of God and keep it!"
Saints and Feasts
Entry of the Theotokos; The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple