Day 1 (Monday)

Isaiah 40:1-31

In this week between Christmas and the New Year, as we do not have Sunday School this coming Sunday, we will hold off one more week on continuing the story of Abraham and his family. Instead, we will read a passage from the prophecy of Isaiah, in which the prophet begins to speak of the coming Incarnation of the Lord, and of the prophet who will proclaim His Coming in the desert. This reading is the perfect bridge between Christmas and the Lord’s Theophany, and also provides words of comfort and encouragement as we leave behind one year and begin the next.

God’s People Are Comforted

40 Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!”

10 See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has directed the spirit of the Lord,
or as his counselor has instructed him?
14 Whom did he consult for his enlightenment,
and who taught him the path of justice?
Who taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?

15 Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as dust on the scales;
see, he takes up the isles like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not provide fuel enough,
nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him;
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

18 To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?
19 An idol? —A workman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold,
and casts for it silver chains.
20 As a gift one chooses mulberry wood
—wood that will not rot—
then seeks out a skilled artisan
to set up an image that will not topple.

21 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to live in;
23 Who brings princes to naught,
and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when He blows upon them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 To whom then will you compare me,
or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
mighty in power,
not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.

30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that this text is the source of the words of St. John the Baptist when he is asked who he is, and what he says about himself, that “he is the voice of one crying, ‘in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.’” With this, then, we begin immediately to prepare for the Feast of Theophany, but more than that, throughout the passage the Prophet is turning the priorities of the world upside-down, affirming the Lord’s care for His people, the foolishness of those who pursue power or wealth or give worship to idols, and concluding with the reminder that it is those who wait on the Lord, those who put their trust and their hope in Him, who will find fulfillment and joy in the end. This reading, then, is also perfect for the celebration of the New Year, as we reflect on what our priorities should be. Let us seek the Lord above all, that we may be counted among His Faithful, now and into eternity.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

Abba Poemen on New Year’s Resolutions

Abba Poemen was a monastic saint in the early days of monasticism, and lived out in the Egyptian desert. He was a contemporary with such figures as St. Anthony, St. Macarios, St. Moses the Ethiopian, and St. Pachomios. Their life and sayings were foundational to the lives of many of the most important saints of the Fourth Century, including St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom. Most of what we know of them is preserved in collections of brief sayings; the greatest number of sayings are attributed to this Abba Poemen. (Abba is a word that means “father”). The monastic rule that is still practiced in the Orthodox Church is built on the experience and wisdom of the Desert Fathers.

Abba Poemen

Abba Poemen heard of someone who had gone all week without eating and then had lost his temper. The old man said, “He could do without food for six days, but he could not cast out anger.”

Abba Poemen said about Abba Pior, “Everyday he makes a new beginning.”

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should mention that it is indeed easier to do “spiritual” feats than it is simply to keep our temper and walk in love toward one another. And that the right way to live is not to dwell on the past, whether we have done well or have done badly, but instead to begin each day fresh, looking to God for mercy, and walking in faithfulness, humility, and repentance.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

1 Peter 4:1-19

We will take one more week looking at the 1st Epistle of St. Peter to the Church at large, but will return to the Gospel of Mark next week. We saw St. Peter last week urge the Faithful to be prepared to suffer, even when they did good, even BECAUSE they did good, because the Lord Himself had suffered these same things. This is a general principle in the Christian life, but it also tells us that the Church in his time was actively experiencing persecution, and lets us know that one of his reasons for writing is to encourage them and guide them in this difficult time. We will see him continue this theme here.

Good Stewards of God’s Grace

4 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), 2 so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. 3 You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.

4 They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. 5 But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.

7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?”

19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that St. Peter expects the Christians to live in a different way from those around them, that their lives should be changed because of their Faith. It is not acceptable for Christians to continue to live ‘in drunkenness, carousing, passions, and idolatry.’ St. Peter, indeed, expects Christians to be hated by those around them precisely because they refuse to take part in these things any longer. He urges them to stand firm and remain faithful, even when they are hated and tortured and killed, remembering that God is Faithful, and will reveal them as victorious if they suffer with Christ in this world. He urges them, however, to be certain that they do not commit actual crimes, such as murder or theft, but to rejoice if they are punished for being Faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ. And so to should we live.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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 1 (Monday)

Galatians 3:6-9; 15-29, 4:1-7

This week of Christmas, in the place of our normal Old Testament reading, we will instead read what St. Paul has to say about the purpose of the Lord’s birth. He develops an argument based on Abraham’s relationship of faith with God, making clear that the Lord comes to perfect and fulfill that relationship that Abraham had, so that all of us in the Church are genuine children of Abraham, perfected for God’s purpose in our trust in the Lord, in exactly the same way that Abraham was justified and made perfect.

Law or Faith

6 Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” 7 so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.” 9 For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed…

The Promise to Abraham

15 Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many; but it says, “And to your offspring,” that is, to one person, who is Christ. 17 My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. 20 Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. 22 But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

4 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that St. Paul, beginning from Abraham and ending with Christ Himself, is assuring us that we are not just being invited to live in accordance with God’s rules and that if we do so, we will be safe from God’s anger. Rather, we are created and invited and called to do more than “barely” escape condemnation, but rather to become children of God, to be raised up to become like Christ, even as we were created in His image and likeness.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

Hymns from Christmas

Every year, on December 25th, we celebrate the Nativity, or Birth, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In this feast, we see our Creator and God become human, born of the Virgin Mary, present in our midst for our salvation. The themes of this celebration are nothing less than the wonder and awe of beholding Emmanuel, God With Us, but this marvel has manifold facets, which the Church meditates upon in the hymns that accompany the Feast. The feast-day celebrations last two full days, not just one, and begin with the Royal Hours the morning of Christmas Eve, continuing with the Vesperal Liturgy that evening, and finishing with the Orthros and Liturgy on Christmas Day itself.

Troparion of the Royal Hours

As she carried in her womb * what she conceived without seed, * Mary went to Bethlehem * with elder Joseph to enroll, * for they were of the house and the lineage of David. * The time arrived for her * to give birth to her Child; * but then there was no place * in the inn for them. * Therefore the grotto served as a luxurious * royal palace for the Queen. * And Christ the Lord is born, to raise the image * which was formerly fallen.

Idiomelon 2 of the 6th Hour

Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth. Let the foundations be shaken, and let trembling seize the netherworld. For God the Creator has entered the physical world; He who created creation with His mighty hand is a fetus of His own creature. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments, how unsearchable His ways!

Idiomelon 4 of the Vespers Kekragaria

What shall we offer you, O Christ, because you have appeared on earth as a man for our sakes? For each of the creatures made by you offers you its thanks: the Angels, their hymn; the heavens, the Star; the Shepherds, their wonder; the Magi, their gifts; the earth, the Cave; the desert, the Manger; and we, a Virgin Mother. God before the ages, have mercy on us.

Idiomelon 4 of the Liti

Beholding Him who was in God's image and likeness ⁄ fallen through transgression, ⁄ Jesus bowed the heavens and came down, ⁄ without change taking up His dwelling in a Virgin womb: ⁄ that He might refashion Adam fallen in corruption, and crying out: ⁄⁄ Glory to Your Epiphany, my Savior and my God!

Eirmos of Ode 1 of Canon 1 of the Feast

Christ is born; glorify Him! * Christ is come from heaven; go and meet Him. * Christ is on earth; arise to Him. * Sing to the Lord, all you who dwell on the earth; * and in merry spirits, O you peoples, praise His birth. * For He is glorified.

Troparion of Ode 1 of Canon 1 of the Feast

The Master Builder, seeing collapsed * the man whom He constructed with His own hands, * bowing the heavens now descends. * And through a pure and holy Virgin unites * wholly with his nature, having truly taken flesh. * For He is glorified.

Troparion of Ode 6 of Canon 2 of the Feast

God the Word, who was in the beginning with God, ⁄ seeing our nature powerless to guard unharmed its ancient fellowship with Him, ⁄ now grants it a new strength: ⁄ abasing Himself, in a second act of fellowship ⁄⁄ He makes it once again free from the passions.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that what is happening at Christmas is the birth of God the Word/Logos Himself, the Son of God, through Whom the Father created all things, enters into His Creation, in order to raise us up, to restore in us His image in which we are created, to free us from sin and slavery to the demons, to heal and re-fashion and restore us. God becomes human, which is marvel enough; but He does it for us, in order to save us.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

1 Peter 3:8-24

We have been reading through the Gospel of Mark, but this week of Christmas, we will take a break (since Mark doesn’t provide a narrative for the Lord’s birth, but rather starts the story with His baptism.) Instead, then, we’ll continue to read from the 1st Epistle of St. Peter. This reading does not talk directly about the birth of the Lord, but it does reflect on what He has done to save us, and what it is that His life and death and resurrection accomplishes for us.

Suffering for Doing Right

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For

“Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
11 let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out the basic thread of St. Peter’s thought: that people who follow Jesus Christ need to live differently, in a way that is worthy of the name of the Lord that we bear. He then points out that generally, those who do what is right will not be treated badly because of that, but then notes that sometimes Christians ARE treated badly precisely because they are faithful to God, and that, since the Lord Himself suffered for no reason, and by His suffering saved us. He concludes by reminding us that all of us who are baptized are saved by the Lord’s suffering, and that we are called to new life by the Lord’s Resurrection.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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 1 (Monday)

Isaiah 9:1-7

As we approach Christmas, we will read one of the prophecies of the birth of the Lord, from the prophecies of Isaiah. The prophet begins by talking about the region of the nation of Israel that is falling into darkness in his own time, the northern region of Galilee, which was first part of Israel conquered by other nations after they abandoned the worship of the Most High God. He is saying that a great light will dawn there, which of course is fulfilled when Jesus goes there with Joseph and Mary after they return from Egypt, and then he goes on to prophecy the Lord’s birth directly.

The Righteous Reign of the Coming King

9 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.

4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out, of course, that the birth of God Himself become human is very clear in verses 6 through 7, with the clear statement that the Lord’s birth is the beginning of the healing and transformation of the entire world. We should note, however, that the previous verses, and especially verses 4 and 5, about the Lord overthrowing the oppressors, is PRECISELY a prophecy of what we have seen Jesus doing in the Gospel of Mark so far, and especially with the driving out of the demons around the sea of Galilee. He is delivering His people, and establishing peace and justice and righteousness for them, and for the entire world.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

Life of St. Spyridon

On December 12th, the Church celebrates the feastday of St. Spyridon, who lived during the last days of persecution, and attended the Council of Nicaea. He is one of the most commemorated bishop saints in the Church, and is very much beloved, especially among the Greek Orthodox faithful throughout the world.

Life of St. Spyridon

The island of Cyprus was both the birthplace and the place where this glorious saint served the Church. Spyridon was born of simple parents, farmers, and he remained simple and humble until his death. He married in his youth and had children, but when his wife died he devoted himself completely to the service of God.

Because of his exceptional piety, he was chosen as bishop of the city of Trymithous. Yet even as a bishop he did not change his simple way of living, handling his livestock and cultivating his land himself. He used very little of the fruits of his labor for himself; instead, he distributed a greater share to the needy.

He manifested great miracles by God’s power: he brought down rain in time of drought, stopped the flow of a river, raised several people from the dead, healed Emperor Constantius of a grave illness, saw and heard angels of God, foresaw future events, discerned the secrets of men’s hearts, converted many to the true Faith, and did much else.

He took part in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325), and he brought many heretics back to Orthodoxy by his simple and clear expositions of the Faith as well as by his mighty miracles.

He was so simply dressed that once, when he wanted to enter the imperial court at the invitation of the emperor, a soldier, thinking that he was a beggar, struck him on the face. Meek and guileless, Spyridon turned the other cheek to him.

He glorified God through many miracles, and was of benefit, not only to many individuals but also to the whole Church of God. He entered into rest in the Lord in the year 348. His miracle-working relics rest on the island of Corfu, and even today they glorify God with many miracles.

Reflection From His Life

St. Spyridon once sold a hundred goats to a merchant at an agreed price, and the saint told the buyer to lay down the money. The buyer, knowing that Spyridon himself never counted money, handed over enough money for ninety-nine goats and hid the money for one. Spyridon then counted out a hundred goats for him. But when the merchant and his servants drove off the goats, one of them returned bleating. He drove it off, but it returned again. And so the goat continually returned to the enclosure, not wanting to go with the other goats. The saint then whispered into the merchant’s ear: “Observe, my son: this animal is not doing this in vain. Did you perhaps withhold her price?” The merchant became ashamed and acknowledged his sin. As soon as he paid the amount he had concealed, the goat immediately joined the other goats.

On another occasion, some thieves entered Spyridon’s sheepfold. .When they had seized as many sheep as they wanted, they tried to leave the sheepfold, but an invisible force nailed them to the ground, and they were unable to move. At dawn, the bishop came to his sheepfold. Seeing the thieves, he reproached them mildly and instructed them to strive in the future to live by their own labors and not by thievery. He then took a sheep and gave it to them, saying, “Take this for your trouble, so that your all-night vigil not be in vain,” and he dismissed them in peace.

From https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/12/saint-spyridon-wonderworker-of.html

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out both the extreme humility of St. Spyridon, as shown in his accepting the mockery and beating of the soldiers when visiting the emperor, but also his holiness and discernment, as shown in the two stories at the end, about the sale of the goats and the theft of the sheep. He knew exactly what was being done, and expressed a care for the soul of the cheating merchant and the thieves, urging and drawing them along to repentance.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

Mark 5:21-43

Last time, we saw Jesus and His disciples on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, in the country of the Gerasenes, where He delivered the man possessed by the legion of unclean spirits. This time, as He returns to the Judean side of the sea, we will see two people come to Him for help.

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him.

Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that, in both of these healings, Jesus doesn’t seek out the people, but they rather seek Him out. We have seen previously that sometimes Jesus seeks out those who need to be delivered, as He did with the demon-possessed man last week, but this time, the people who need help seek Him out. What He says to the woman who touched the hem of His garment, that her faith has made her well, is a way of pointing out that she has been saved because she came to Him with purpose and intent, entrusting herself to Him. The same holds for the little girl, although in this case it is the faith, the purpose and intent of the father, that entrusts her to Jesus. We need to understand that in our lives, if we wish to receive the blessings of God, we also need to approach Him with purpose and intent, entrusting ourselves to Him with steadfast faithfulness.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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 1 (Monday)

Genesis 12:10-20

Last time, we saw Abram leave his father’s house and go where God called him, and arrive in the land of Canaan, which God promised to give to his descendants. He was moving from north to south through the land, together with his wife and nephew and those with him, but as we will see, there will be a famine, a severe food shortage, and this will result in Abram going somewhere that God did NOT command him to go.

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know well that you are a woman beautiful in appearance; 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared on your account.”

14 When Abram entered Egypt the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 When the officials of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys, and camels.

17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone.” 20 And Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning him; and they set him on the way, with his wife and all that he had.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that this story of Abram contains a foreshadowing of the time that his descendants, the Israelites, will spend in Egypt, including the famine as the reason they went there, the fact that the Egyptians wanted to take the Hebrew women as their own and kill all the males, God delivers both the women and the men by means of plagues, and in the end they leave with great possessions from Egypt. This should also be understood as showing an early fulfillment of the tension set up with Ham and Noah, and Noah’s prophecy about how Ham’s descendants would try to dominate Shem’s descendants, but it wouldn’t work. We should also note that Abram’s attempt to take care of himself results in problems; he followed God’s instructions to go into Canaan, but then doubted and went astray into Egypt, where problems resulted, until God brought him out again and back to the Promised Land.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

St. Paisios about Water

This is a story told by St. Paisios, who was a much beloved elder in the mid-to-late 20th century. He fell asleep in the Lord in 1994, and was canonized as a saint in 2015. This is a simple story, but it conveys an essential observation about human nature, and how we relate to God.

St. Paisios about Water and Gratitude

Elsewhere he said:

"In Sinai, there in the Hermitage of Saint Episteme where I lived, the water was minimal. A drop ran from a rock into a cave, about twenty meters away from the hermitage. I had made a cistern and I was collecting three kilos of water twenty-four hours a day.

When I went to get water, I put the can to fill and said the Salutations to the Panagia. I just wet my forehead a little with my hand, because that helped me – a doctor told me to do it – I took some water to drink, and I collected a little in a tin for the birds and mice of the hermitage. This water was also for washing clothes, etc. What joy, what gratitude I felt for this little water I had! Doxology, because I had water!

When I came to Mount Athos and stayed for a while in the Skete of Iveron, because the place is sunny there, it had a lot of water. It had an overflowing cistern and water was running outside. Oh, I washed both my legs and my head…, but I had forgotten.

In Sinai my eyes were watering with gratitude for the little water, while in the Skete I had forgotten because of the abundance of water. So then I went and stayed about eighty meters away and I had a small cistern. How we get lost, how we forget with abundance!

https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2021/11/saint-paisios-and-hermitage-of-saints.html?m=1

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that St. Paisios, who was very pious and always praying, is still observing that his own response to plenty, to having enough water that he didn’t need to worry about it, was to take it for granted, and the result was that he had less occasion to pray, to give thanks to God, to draw near to the Lord in thanksgiving. His solution, to move further away from the water, to make sure that he didn’t drift farther away from God due to the ease of life that came from easy water, is one that we should all remember. Both the principle of the thing, that comfort is NOT good for us spiritually, and the method, to deprive ourselves of easy comforts for the sake of prayer, are worth attending to and internalizing, and even worth putting into practice. This is, in fact, exactly what we are doing when we fast, and as we prepare enter upon the final two weeks of the Nativity Fast before Christmas, it is good to be reminded of the purpose of our fasting.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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)

Mark 5:1-20

Last time, we saw Jesus and His disciples start across the sea, and encounter a severe storm, which the Lord calmed with a word. We noted, however, last week, that it was at Jesus’ urging that they had started across the sea in the first place, and that, unless His entire purpose for this was to show His authority over the wind and the sea, that there might have been another purpose for the voyage, and we should pay attention to see where they ended up after the storm was calmed. Today we will see where Jesus was going.

Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac

5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him.

5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood.

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that Jesus encounters the demon-possessed man AS SOON AS He steps off the boat. Everything about how St. Mark talks about this makes clear that driving these demons out of this man was the sole purpose for Jesus’ voyage across the sea here. As we have noted before, this is one of the primary things that Jesus is doing; He is seeking out places where demons are dominating and oppressing and enslaving human beings, and is abolishing their power and freeing His people. We should see in this a clear connection to His death and descent into Hades, where He abolishes the authority that the Devil had over those who were dead, and delivers them from that oppression and leads them, and all of humankind, into freedom and new life.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

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?