Day 1 (Monday)

Isaiah 53:1-12

We have been reading about the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, and last time we saw Joshua prepare to finally lead them in. After they entered the land, they eventually fell into sin once again, and God sent them many prophets to call them to repent, and also to tell them of how He was going to save them (and all the world) in the future, even if they failed to repent then. One of these prophets, named Isaiah, prophesied in remarkable detail what would happen to the Lord when He came, and how He would save us through His suffering.

Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by others;
a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him of no account.

4 Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people.
9 They made his grave with the wicked
and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
11 Out of his anguish he shall see light;
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note some of the specific portions of this that clearly connect with the Lord’s Passion, especially verse 3, verses 5-6, verses 7-9, & verses 11-12. The Leader can also mention that verses 7 and 8 are read at every Liturgy when the Priest cuts out the Amnos, the Lamb, from the Prosfora bread. A link to this can be found here, starting at about the 10 minute mark: https://youtu.be/EvWpnPDkIEw?t=600.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Antiphon 15 from the Matins of Holy Friday

During Holy Week, we read the Gospel accounts of the Lord’s Crucifixion at the Matins or Orthros of Holy Friday, which is celebrated Thursday evening, at what is often called the Twelve Gospels service. Our CT (Church Tradition) reading this week is the hymn that is sung while the Cross is processed through the Church that evening.

Today, He who suspended the earth in the waters is suspended on a cross. Today, He who suspended the earth in the waters is suspended on a cross. Today, He who suspended the earth in the waters is suspended on a cross. The King of the Angels wears a crown of thorns. He who wraps the sky in clouds is wrapped in a fake purple robe. He who freed Adam in the Jordan accepts to be slapped. The Bridegroom of the Church is fixed with nails to the cross. The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. Show us also Your glorious Resurrection.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note how this hymn reflects on the divinity of the Lord present on the Cross, accepting suffering, humiliation, and death. This is the same point, in many ways, as is made in the day 1 reading. There is a clear point to the hymn: the one who is crucified is God Most High, and He is not there as a victim, but with a clear purpose and intent to save us and raise us up through His own suffering and death.)

2) What do we learn about God in this story?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this story?

4) What do you find difficult about this story? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 23:26-56

We have been reading St. Luke’s account of how Jesus came to His Passion; this week, Day 3 falls on Great and Holy Friday, the day of the Lord’s Crucifixion, so we are blessed to read this account on the same day that we commemorate it in the Church.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that Jesus is crucified on the day of the preparation for the Sabbath, on Friday, so that He is dead, with His body resting in the tomb, on Saturday, the Sabbath day, the great day of rest. In this way, He fulfills the commandment about honoring the Sabbath Day, but more than that, He shows the purpose for that commandment, as a prophecy of how God rests from His work in this world on the seventh day, once He has completed all that He came to do, and united Himself with us even in the depths of our brokenness. Other points to note include the Lord’s prayer of forgiveness for those crucifying Him in verse 34, the repentant thief in verses 39-43, and the tearing of the veil in the Temple, which as we have discussed previously, separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.)

2) What do we learn about God in this story?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this story?

4) What do you find difficult about this story? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always.).

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 1 (Monday)

Joshua 1:1-18

Last time we read about God’s judgment of the people that He had brought out of Egypt, when they rebelled against Him and doubted Him when they arrived at the Promised Land. As God said to them, every adult who had left Egypt died in the desert over the next 40 years, even including Moses and Aaron. As the 40 years came to an end, God gave them victory against the Nephilim, the demonized giant clans on the east side of the Jordan River, ruled by Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh received their inheritance there, but they were commanded to still go with the rest of Israel, to cross the Jordan and to take possession of the Promised Land. When Moses died, his assistant, Joshua, who was one of the two faithful spies from our last reading, became the new leader of the Israelites. We will only read the very beginning of the book of Joshua, as God commands Joshua what to do, so that we can see how God fulfilled His promise to Moses and to the Children of Israel. Even after all their doubt and disobedience and faithlessness, He is bringing their children into the Promised Land, just as He had said that He would.

God’s Commission to Joshua

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. 5 No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

6 Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. 9 I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Preparations for the Invasion

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the camp, and command the people: ‘Prepare your provisions; for in three days you are to cross over the Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess.’”

12 To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest, and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But all the warriors among you shall cross over armed before your kindred and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives rest to your kindred as well as to you, and they too take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land and take possession of it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan to the east.”

16 They answered Joshua: “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your orders and disobeys your words, whatever you command, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Joshua is one of two people who was an adult when they left Egypt, who still is able to enter the Promised Land. This is because, besides being Moses’ right-hand man through the whole journey, he was one of the spies who explored the Promised Land 40 years earlier, and one of two who was faithful and who trusted that God would give it to them, even though the people in the land were giants, and very strong. It should also be noted that the people in the Promised Land are more Amorites, which is to say, Rephaim, giants, demonized humans who are dead set against God and against everything good. So Israel is here not just being given the gift of a Promised Land by God, but they are getting a job too, the job of destroying God’s enemies, those who are leading humankind into rebellion against God. Joshua, we should note, has the same name, with the same meaning, as Jesus, although they are transliterated differently, and should be understood as a type of Jesus. He leads the people into the Promised Land, defeating the demonized giants, as a prophecy of the Lord’s leading all of humanity out of death and into everlasting life, overthrowing every spiritual power that has oppressed and enslaved us.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) – 6

The last several weeks we have been reading from the Didache, the earliest text from the life of the Church outside of the New Testament. It began by telling us that there are two ways, one of life and one of death. Up to now we have been reading about what the way of life looks like, how we are to live in obedience to God, loving our neighbor, giving freely to those in need, and devoting our entire lives to God. Today we see what the Didache has to say about the way of death, what it is that we must avoid if we are to follow the Lord.

The Way of Death

But the way of death is this: first of all, it is evil and completely cursed; murders, adulteries, lusts, sexual immoralities, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, sorceries, robberies, false testimonies, hypocrisies, duplicity, deceit, pride, malice, stubbornness, greed, abusive language, jealousy, audacity, arrogance, boastfulness. It is the way of persecutors of good people, of those who hate truth, love a lie, do not know the reward of righteousness, do not adhere to what is good or to righteous judgment, who are vigilant not for what is good but for what is evil, from whom gentleness and patience are far removed, who love worthless things, pursue a reward, have no mercy for the poor, do not work on behalf of the oppressed, do not know the one who made them, are murderers of children, corrupters of God’s creation, who turn away from someone in need, who oppress the afflicted, are advocates of the wealthy, lawless judges of the poor, utterly sinful. May you be delivered, children from all these things.

The Right Choice

See that no one leads you astray from this way of the teachings, for such a person teaches you without regard for God. For if you are able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect. But if you are not able, then do what you can.

Concerning Food

Now concerning food, bear what you are able, but in any case keep strictly away from meat sacrificed to idols, for it involves the worship of dead gods.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note how the “way of death” can be summed up as sins against God and sins against our neighbor. We could add as well a sin against ourselves, but in truth every sin, whether against God or against our neighbor, also harms us, working toward destruction in our souls and our bodies. It can be good to think about all of the sins listed and to consider who they hurt, and connect the dots, how whether a sin hurts others or hurts us ourselves, it works against what God has created us for, and is a sin against Him. It is not by accident, either, that strictly avoiding food sacrificed to idols is mentioned at this point, since all sin is demonic, whether it is initiated through the direct temptation of the demons or not. For all sin is a participation in the rebellion of the angels, an invitation to them to come and be active in our lives. So setting ourselves apart in how we eat is an essential first step in setting ourselves apart in how we live, giving ourselves in service and obedience to God. This is a good thing to remember as we continue to fast this final week of Lent.)

2) What do we learn about God in this story?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this story?

4) What do you find difficult about this story? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 19:28-48

We have been reading Luke’s account of Jesus’ arrest and trial, leading up to His crucifixion, from chapter 22. This week, though, we will go back in time to Chapter 19, and see Jesus enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, as we prepare to celebrate Palm Sunday ourselves.

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king
    who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
    and glory in the highest heaven!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

45 Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; 46 and he said, “It is written,

‘My house shall be a house of prayer’;
    but you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out how, even though the people greet Jesus saying: “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord,” they clearly don’t understand who He is and what He comes to do. This is why He says that they “did not recognize the time of [their] visitation from God.” They were excited to welcome Him as a miracle-worker, or even as a potential Messiah, a king of the Jews to lead a rebellion against the Romans…but they didn’t realize that He was God Himself come to visit and save them. We need to be careful that we don’t miss the point of the Lord’s coming to us; it’s very easy to do.)

2) What do we learn about God in this story?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this story?

4) What do you find difficult about this story? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always.).

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 1 (Monday)

Deuteronomy 2:1-37

Last time we read in Numbers 14 about God’s response to the rebellion of the Israelites, and their doubt and faithlessness when He brought them to the Promised Land. He sent them back into the wilderness, to wander there for 40 years until all the adults who had doubted Him had died there. The full account of their wandering is given in the rest of the book of Numbers, but this week we will read Moses’ summary of what happened next, from the second chapter of the last of the five Books of Moses, Deuteronomy (the Second Law, which is to say, the repetition and summary of the Law). Deuteronomy contains Moses’ final words to the people before his death, at the end of the 40 years in the wilderness, and the first few chapters of the book are his summary of what had happened to them up to the point in time that he was speaking to them.

Back Into the Wilderness

2 We journeyed back into the wilderness, in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord had told me and skirted Mount Seir for many days. 2 Then the Lord said to me: 3 “You have been skirting this hill country long enough. Head north, 4 and charge the people as follows: You are about to pass through the territory of your kindred, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so, be very careful 5 not to engage in battle with them, for I will not give you even so much as a foot’s length of their land, since I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 6 You shall purchase food from them for money, so that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them for money, so that you may drink. 7 Surely the Lord your God has blessed you in all your undertakings; he knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.” 8 So we passed by our kin, the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, leaving behind the route of the Arabah, and leaving behind Elath and Ezion-geber.

When we had headed out along the route of the wilderness of Moab, 9 the Lord said to me: “Do not harass Moab or engage them in battle, for I will not give you any of its land as a possession, since I have given Ar as a possession to the descendants of Lot.” 10 (The Emim—a large and numerous people, as tall as the Anakim—had formerly inhabited it. 11 Like the Anakim, they are usually reckoned as Rephaim, though the Moabites call them Emim. 12 Moreover, the Horim had formerly inhabited Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them, destroying them and settling in their place, as Israel has done in the land that the Lord gave them as a possession.) 13 “Now then, proceed to cross over the Wadi Zered.”

So we crossed over the Wadi Zered. 14 And the length of time we had traveled from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Wadi Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation of warriors had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn concerning them. 15 Indeed, the Lord’s own hand was against them, to root them out from the camp, until all had perished.

16 Just as soon as all the warriors had died off from among the people, 17 the Lord spoke to me, saying, 18 “Today you are going to cross the boundary of Moab at Ar. 19 When you approach the frontier of the Ammonites, do not harass them or engage them in battle, for I will not give the land of the Ammonites to you as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot.” 20 (It also is usually reckoned as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly inhabited it, though the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21 a strong and numerous people, as tall as the Anakim. But the Lord destroyed them from before the Ammonites so that they could dispossess them and settle in their place. 22 He did the same for the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, by destroying the Horim before them so that they could dispossess them and settle in their place even to this day. 23 As for the Avvim, who had lived in settlements in the vicinity of Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Crete, destroyed them and settled in their place.) 24 “Proceed on your journey and cross the Wadi Arnon. See, I have handed over to you King Sihon the Amorite of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession by engaging him in battle. 25 This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under heaven; when they hear report of you, they will tremble and be in anguish because of you.”

Defeat of King Sihon

26 So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to King Sihon of Heshbon with the following terms of peace: 27 “If you let me pass through your land, I will travel only along the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left. 28 You shall sell me food for money, so that I may eat, and supply me water for money, so that I may drink. Only allow me to pass through on foot— 29 just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir have done for me and likewise the Moabites who live in Ar—until I cross the Jordan into the land that the Lord our God is giving us.” 30 But King Sihon of Heshbon was not willing to let us pass through, for the Lord your God had hardened his spirit and made his heart defiant in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done.

31 The Lord said to me, “See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin now to take possession of his land.” 32 So when Sihon came out against us, he and all his people for battle at Jahaz, 33 the Lord our God gave him over to us; and we struck him down, along with his offspring and all his people. 34 At that time we captured all his towns, and in each town we utterly destroyed men, women, and children. We left not a single survivor. 35 Only the livestock we kept as spoil for ourselves, as well as the plunder of the towns that we had captured. 36 From Aroer on the edge of the Wadi Arnon (including the town that is in the wadi itself) as far as Gilead, there was no citadel too high for us. The Lord our God gave everything to us. 37 You did not encroach, however, on the land of the Ammonites, avoiding the whole upper region of the Wadi Jabbok as well as the towns of the hill country, just as the Lord our God had charged.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note two points. First, that the Israelites were forbidden from taking anything from the other nations that God had given an inheritance to, their distant relatives descended from Esau or from Lot. Second, we should note that all the enemies that God disinherited, giving their land to the Israelites and these other nations, are identified as giants, called variously Rephaim, Anakim, or Amorites. Identifying them as giants is Scriptural shorthand for connecting them to intensely and pervasively evil worship of and cooperation with demons, such that their entire society was utterly corrupt. This is why the Israelites were commanded to destroy them completely, to utterly root out those practices and to destroy the power of these demons in the world. We should note, as well, that this passage also gives us the first appearance of Greeks in the Bible, the Caphtorim from Crete, who had also been given an inheritance where giants had been before.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. It is, however, important to deal with the question of why God commands them to completely destroy these giant clans. The basic point is what is being destroyed is not a nation or people or culture, but the domination of demonic powers over these clans, and their foothold in the world through these clans. This is an exorcism, on a giant scale. For more information on this, I urge you all to read the following blog post from Fr. Stephen DeYoung: https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/wholecounsel/2018/10/09/here-there-be-giants/)

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) -5

Last time we read what the Didache says about life in the Church, and how important it is to remain in communion with the community of the Faithful, with a reminder of the importance of giving generously, of not thinking that what God has given us to belongs to us. This time we will talk more about how we live in our family life, and what our life in the Church should look like.

Family Life & Church Life

You shall not withhold your hand from your son or your daughter, but from their youth you shall teach them the fear of God. You shall not give orders to your male slave or female servant (who hope in the same God as you) when you are angry, lest they cease to fear the God who is over you both. For he comes to call not with regard to reputation but those whom the Spirit has prepared. And you slaves shall be submissive to your masters in respect and fear, as to a symbol of God.

You shall hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord. You must not forsake the Lord’s commandments but must guard what you have received, neither adding nor subtracting anything. In church you shall confess your transgressions, and you shall not approach your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note these references to the discipline of children and the treatment of slaves. There are two important points here – the reference to “withholding your hand” should not be thought to refer to a physical striking of the children, but a teaching and and moral discipline of children. We might gloss it in the modern day as: “do not let your children run riot, but teach them to fear and honor the Lord in the same way as you do yourself, in obedience to all that we have said before.” As for the treatment of slaves, this should not be taken as a Christian “approval” of slavery as an institution, but rather as instructions for how Christians should approach a normal reality of life in the 1st/2nd centuries. In telling masters to treat their slaves with a consciousness that they are fellow Christians, servants of the same God, the seeds of the ultimate abolition of slavery are laid. This is the normal Christian approach to brokenness in the world; like Christ going to the Cross, evil is not opposed with violence or political action, but with a bearing of the burden one’s self, and a transformation of the brokenness from within.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 23:1-25

Last time we saw Jesus betrayed and brought to trial by the high priests and the elders of the people, and we saw Peter deny the Lord while he was waiting to see what would happen. Having gotten Jesus to “admit” that He claimed to be the Son of God, the assembly will now bring Him to Pilate, seeking the death penalty for Him.

Jesus before Pilate

23 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3 Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5 But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

Jesus before Herod

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

Jesus Sentenced to Death

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”

18 Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” 19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” 23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that the basic accusation against Jesus is that He was claiming to be the Messiah, which was understood by both the Jewish people and by the Romans as a political statement, an act of rebellion and sedition against Roman rule, and cause for death by crucifixion.)

2) What do we learn about God in this story? 

3) What do we learn about human beings in this story?

4) What do you find difficult about this story? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always.)

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life? 

Day 1 (Monday)

Numbers 14:10b – 45

Last time we saw God direct Moses to send twelve spies to explore the Promised Land, and how when they came back, ten of the twelve gave a bad report and urged the people to return to Egypt, because the people in the land were too strong for them to defeat. Only Moses & Aaron, and the two faithful spies, Caleb & Joshua, remained faithful; all the other people rebelled. This week we will see God’s response to their rebellion.

God Responds to Unbelief

14:10b Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

Moses Intercedes for the People

13 But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them, 14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people; for you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, 16 ‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying,

18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
forgiving iniquity and transgression,
but by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
to the third and the fourth generation.’

19 Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.”

20 Then the Lord said, “I do forgive, just as you have asked; 21 nevertheless—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— 22 none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”

An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed

26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: 27 How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they complain against me. 28 Say to them, “As I live,” says the Lord, “I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this very wilderness; and of all your number, included in the census, from twenty years old and upward, who have complained against me, 30 not one of you shall come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become booty, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have despised. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.” 35 I the Lord have spoken; surely I will do thus to all this wicked congregation gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.

36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought an unfavorable report about the land died by a plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh alone remained alive, of those men who went to spy out the land.

39 When Moses told these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly. 40 They rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why do you continue to transgress the command of the Lord? That will not succeed. 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not with you; do not let yourselves be struck down before your enemies. 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will confront you there, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, even though the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, had not left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them, pursuing them as far as Hormah.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that even in this reading that shows God’s judgment on the people, there is still a great mercy that God shows to them. He forgives them when Moses asks Him to be merciful, and does not forsake the people, but He gives judgment to those who have rejected Him “ten times,” despite having seen all His wonders in the wilderness. So the children of those who were adults when they left Egypt will grow up in the desert and enter into the Promised Land to receive it, but all those who, being adults when they left Egypt, who rejected God and rebelled against Him, will die in the desert. This is a hard reading, to see God’s judgment finally come on the people we have been reading about, but we should notice too that, in the end, God gives them exactly the judgment they had chosen when they doubted Him, “the very things He heard them say.” For all of us, this is how it works. If we reject God and choose the things of this world, the very things we choose instead of God will become the means by which we are judged.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) -4

Last time we read from the Didache some details of what “minor” sins lead to the great sins, and began to consider what is the right way to live in terms of what we DO do, and not just what we DON'T do. We will continue with more consideration of how we should live, with a focus on our life in the Church and our relationship with those who lead the Church, and with everyone else within the Church.

To Do and Not Do (continued)
My child, remember night and day the one who preaches God’s word to you, and honor him as though he were the Lord. For wherever the Lord’s nature is preached, there the Lord is. Moreover, you shall seek out daily the presence of the saints, so that you may find support in their words. You shall not cause division, but shall make peace between those who quarrel. You shall judge righteously; you shall not show partiality when reproving transgressions. You shall not waver with regard to your decisions.

Do not be one who stretches out the hands to receive but withdraws them when it comes to giving. If you earn something by working with your hands, you shall give a ransom for your sins. You shall not hesitate to give, nor shall you grumble when giving, for you will know who is the good paymaster of the reward. You shall not turn away from someone in need, but shall share everything with your brother or sister, and do not claim that anything is your own. For if you are sharers in what is imperishable, how much more so in perishable things!

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that the Christian life isn’t just about what we do and don’t do, but WHO we do it with. This reading emphasizes the importance of the community of the Faithful, and reminds us that we need to pray for and honor those who lead the Church, and that we need to love “the saints,” which is to say, those that God has made holy, our brothers and sisters in the Church, and spend our time with them. Who we keep company with is a huge part of what it means to be a Christian, so it’s very important that we make a point of spending time with other faithful Christians.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 22:31-71

Last time, we began to read the account of what happened leading up to the Last Supper, and saw Jesus institute the celebration of the Eucharist, of Holy Communion, and begin to speak to the apostles about how they were called not to rule over one another, but to serve, in imitation of Him. In this chapter, we will see Him continue to speak to them, and then they will go out to the Mount of Olives, where He will be betrayed and arrested by the soldiers of the high priest.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”

Purse, Bag, and Sword

35 He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”

Peter Denies Jesus

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

The Mocking and Beating of Jesus

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 They kept heaping many other insults on him.

Jesus before the Council

66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68 and if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (There are many things to note here, but one thing the Leader can point out if there is a need to spark discussion is that one of the themes throughout this reading is given at the very beginning, when Jesus tells Peter that “Satan has demanded to sift them all like wheat,” that is, to test them all. As Jesus goes to His death, the trust and the faithfulness of His disciples is put to the test. Instead of leading them into a Promised Land, He is leading them to His own death, and still urging them to trust Him and to remain faithful to Him. It is important to note that all of them fail and run away or deny Him at some point, but from the very beginning, Jesus talks about their repentance and restoration, telling Peter to comfort the others once He has repented. Also, even though all of them are going to fail, Jesus still encourages them to struggle, and shows them how to do so, with prayer, and by urging them to repent after they fall. The point, in the end, is that only Judas actually falls for good; all the others repent and are restored and saved.)

2) What do we learn about God in this story?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this story?

4) What do you find difficult about this story? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike?

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life?