Day 1 (Monday)

Genesis 17:15-27 (Abraham's Household is Circumcised)

Last week, we saw the Lord come to Abram when he was 99 years old, and renew once more His promise that Abram would become the father of many nations, changing his name to Abraham, and commanding him to circumcise himself and all his household, to dedicate his descendants forever as God’s particular people. This time we will see the Lord continue by changing Abraham’s wife Sarai’s name as well, and promising to bless her with children too. We will see what Abraham’s response to this promise is.

The Sign of the Covenant (continued)

15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

18 And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live in your sight!” 19 God said, “No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.” 22 And when he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.

23 Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised; 27 and all the men of his house, slaves born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with 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 how insistent the Lord is that Abraham will have descendants with his lawful wife Sarah. He does not reject Ishmael, but this son of Abraham’s own effort and design is not the fulfillment of God’s promise to grant him many descendants as a miraculous gift from Himself. It is therefore not Ishmael, but Sarah and Abraham’s son Isaac who will be the son of the Promise, and the Messiah will come into the world through Isaac’s descendants. This is, of course, to show the power and glory of God, and to make clear to all that God’s people are not born of the natural order, but through the synergy of God’s will and power with human faithfulness and obedience. It also shows, however, the honor and dignity of Sarah, that God does not accept Abraham and Sarah’s shared devaluing of her once her potential fertility was past, nor does He accept her being cast aside, but rather honors her patience and faithfulness along with Abraham. This is a good example of the truth that we see revealed far more clearly in the New Covenant, that “in Christ there is neither male nor female, slave nor free, Jew nor Greek, but all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). It is also a place where we see that, even when human beings fail to truly honor marriage, God always does so.)

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)

3rd & 4th Vespers Prayers at the Lighting of the Lamps

At sunset each day, the Church celebrates the service of Vespers, which simply means sunset, or evening. This is built around the very ancient custom of lighting the lamps inside the Church, while Psalms are read that reflect on the coming of the night, the rest that God gives to us, and our expectation of the new day that is to come, and of the enlightenment that we are given by the Lord as He illumines our hearts and our minds. As the service begins, there are seven prayers that are read by the Priest; we will read today the third and fourth of those seven prayers.

3rd Prayer of the Lighting of the Lamps

O Lord our God, be mindful of us sinners, Your unprofitable servants, when we call upon Your holy Name, and put none of us to shame in our expectation of Your mercy; but grant us, O Lord, all petitions unto salvation; and deign that we may love, and fear You with our whole heart, and do in all things Your will. For a good God, and lover of mankind are You, and to You we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

4th Prayer of the Lighting of the Lamps

You Who with never-silent hymns, and unceasing doxologies are hymned by the holy Powers; fill our mouth with Your praise, that we may ascribe majesty to Your holy Name; and grant us a portion and lot with all that fear You in truth, and keep Your commandments; at the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, and of all Your saints. For to You is due all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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 how, in the 3rd Prayer, we ask the Lord to listen to and respond to us “unprofitable servants,” and then ask Him to give us whatever we ask that is “unto salvation.” We may sometimes view this as being very critical of ourselves, but if we view this in light of how God interacts with Abraham, we may see that our “unprofitable” or “unfruitful” nature is not a bad thing on our part, but rather a necessary thing for us to confess and acknowledge about ourselves; when we do so, the Lord is able to work wonders in us as well. As for the other piece; we need to remember that God does answer our prayers, but only if they are actually for our salvation.)

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)

Matthew 5:33-48 (About Oaths and Enemies)

Last time we saw Jesus continue from the Beatitudes to presenting a new way of approaching and understanding human relationships, in a discussion of anger, adultery, and divorce. This time, we will see Him continue in the same vein, as He addresses promises, retaliation for wrongs received, and more generally how we must treat our enemies.

Concerning Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Concerning Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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 Jesus, in all these things, is upending what is natural and instinctive for us, and giving a new commandment, a transformed way of living to us, showing us in several examples what it means to take up the Cross and to follow Him as He leads us out of death and vanity and into the New Creation. The Leader should also invite reflection on what this might look like in practical examples of daily life, or perhaps draw examples from popular movies, to discuss what a Christian way of responding might be.)

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 17:1-14 (Sign of the Covenant, Abram Gets a New Name)

Last week, we saw Abram try to take the matter of his offspring into his own hands, and father a son with Hagar, the slave of his wife, Sarai. We saw this lead to tension between Hagar and Sarai, and to Hagar fleeing with her young son Ishmael, until the Angel of the Lord appeared to her and promised that He would be with her and her son, and that Ishmael would also become the father of a great people. So she returned to the tents of Abram and his household, and Ishmael was raised in Abram’s house. This time, we will see God come to Abram several years (13) later and renew His promises to him.

The Sign of the Covenant

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,

4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.”

9 God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

12 Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. 13 Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

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, when Abram first questioned how God’s promise to him would be fulfilled, two weeks ago, God guaranteed His promise by passing visibly between the divided animals, in the form of the torch and the pot full of coals. Up to this point, Abram has not been asked to do anything specific to seal the covenant with God, apart from the obvious matter of leaving his father’s house and his homeland and going where God directed him to go. This time, after a long time of waiting, as Abram is about to turn 100 years old, God comes to him and gives him a new name, which means “father of many nations,” and commands him to take a genuinely drastic action, sealing the covenant in his own flesh, and in that of all his household, not just for that time and place, but in perpetuity. The point of this is that Abraham is past the natural age of fathering children, so the child that God will give to him and to Sarah will be begotten not of their own natural power, but only with God’s intervention, as God’s particular gift to them. We may recall what St. Paul said, that God raised up His people from one man who was as good as dead (Hebrews 11:12). Before doing so, however, God is asking Abraham to dedicate that child that will be born, and all children born in his household throughout all generations, to belong to God. Abraham’s descendants are to be God’s particular people, a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).)

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. John Chrysostom on the Covenant with Abraham

For our Day 2 reading, we will see St. John Chrysostom give an answer to one of the questions which often comes to mind when we read about Abraham, who spent effectively his entire life waiting for God’s promise. Why did God make him wait so long? Chrysostom provides two answers to this question, and lays the groundwork for us to understand the sign of the covenant in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Please note: we have provided the entire context here, but for those who are short on time, or who are concerned about shorter attention spans, the first and last paragraphs, with additions that we have set out in bold, will be enough to get the point across, that Abraham had been obeying God, trusting Him, and waiting for the fulfillment of the promise for 25 years.

St. John Chrysostom’s Homilies on Genesis (Homily 39)

“Now, when Abram was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him.” (Genesis 17:1)

(4) These things…were not idly said on this occasion; instead, it was for us to be in a position to know…how the loving God wanted to make the patriarch conspicuous to everyone, and so gave evidence of a particular procrastination for such a great number of years without the just man getting upset, becoming fainthearted because of the length of time or giving up hope—rather, he was buoyed up on sound hope and thus in every way demonstrated the godliness of his attitude.

Now, we will know precisely all the patriarch’s virtue if we learn how much time elapsed in the meantime. You see, all this blessed Moses teaches us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So what does he say? When Abram obeyed God’s direction, moved on from Charran and took himself into Canaan, he was seventy-five years old. As soon as he took possession of Canaan, God promised him he would give all the land to his descendants and would cause them to grow into such a great multitude as to defy numbering, like the sand and the stars. After this promise, many things befell the just man in the meantime, the journey down into Egypt on account of the famine, the abduction of Sarah and immediately God’s providential intervention; again, after the return from there the abuse of Sarah at the hands of the king of Gerar and the immediate assistance from God.

Though he saw all this happening to him after that promise, the just man was not upset in his thinking nor did he worry within himself why the recipient of such a great promise should encounter so many awful trials day in day out and continue for so long without children. Instead, being a godly man he could not bring himself to submit to the limitations of his own reasoning what was done by God, and so he was content and accepted willingly God’s decisions.

(5) After the tenth year he took Ishmael, his child by the maidservant, and considered that the promises had been fulfilled for him in the child. The patriarch was, you remember, the text tells us, eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born. The loving God, however, exercised the virtue of the just man for a still further period of thirteen years: when God saw that he had been purified like gold in a furnace for a long period of time, and had rendered the just man’s virtue more conspicuous and resplendent, Scripture says, “when Abram was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him again.”

Why did God delay so long? Not simply that we should get to know the just man’s endurance and his great virtue, but for us to see as well the extraordinary degree of his power. You see, when nature lost its potency and was now useless for childbearing, his body being wasted and chilled with old age, to show his peculiar power God put into effect the promise.

John Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis 18–45, ed. Thomas P. Halton, trans. Robert C. Hill, vol. 82, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1990), 376–377.

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 Chrysostom, in summing up Abraham’s life, shows us two things. First, Abraham’s faith and trust in God is shown by his patience waiting for the promise; he waited 25 years to see the promise that God gave him fulfilled. Second, it shows God’s power; He waited until no one could think or imagine that the child born to Abraham and Sarah was anything less than a miracle; in this way, Abraham’s descendants through Isaac belong to God in a special and unique way, and are His chosen instrument for the salvation of the world. Older children and adults may understand from this the purpose of the specific sign of the Covenant; in circumcision, the most visible mechanism of human reproduction is altered, dedicating all the subsequent generations of Abraham’s line to God’s particular people, connecting them to the miracle of Isaac’s birth as surely as though they were themselves Isaac, born beyond reason and expectation to parents that were, reproductively speaking “as good as dead” (Hebrews 11:12). It is also important that Abraham’s circumcision comes before Isaac’s conception; Isaac is the child of God’s promise, being both the child of Abraham AND his lawful wife Sarah, and the child born in the covenant sealed with circumcision. Finally, for advanced reflection, we may see the same point made still more clear in the Christian sacrament of baptism, which has taken the place of circumcision, and which the Church considers circumcision to prefigure and prophesy. Baptism is precisely the laying aside of the old nature and the putting on of the new, dying to the fallen and natural way of living, and being born again, born from above, through the will and action and grace and love of God. Thus, in Baptism, we all are born again as children of God, children of the Promise, children of the Covenant, in which the Lord has reconciled us perfectly to Himself in Himself. This reality is the point that circumcision points toward.)

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)

Matthew 5:21-32 (Sermon on Mount Continues – On Human Relationships)

Last time we saw the Lord preach the “Beatitudes,” a series of contrasts between the “way of the world” and the way of the Kingdom of God. We may point out that this contrast between the natural order of things and the new life and being to which God has called us is precisely the same sort of point as the covenant of circumcision, and eventually the sacrament of baptism, are conveying to us. In this passage, the Lord will continue on this theme by developing the contrast between the world and the Kingdom of God in regards to Anger, Adultery, and Divorce.

Concerning Anger

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Concerning Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

Concerning Divorce

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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 how radical and unexpected these things that Jesus is teaching truly are. The idea that God will not accept us if we have offended a brother or sister without making it right with them is a terrifying one, and requires some further discussion. It is not that someone else can “hold us hostage to God’s condemnation” simply by refusing to forgive us, but that WE must not refuse to repent for anything that we have actually done to offend someone else. If we have sinned against them, we need to repent, and try to make it right, and be open to reconciliation as far as it is in our power. So long as we have done so, their own resentment cannot trap anyone in exile from God except themselves – but we must truly do so! This is why the best approach to a conflict with someone is twofold. First, we need to ask forgiveness and offer reconciliation. God willing they respond, and we may then, at peace with one another, approach the Lord together. But if they refuse, then the second imperative comes into play: if they are unwilling to be reconciled with us, then we need not continue to subject ourselves to their abuse and anger, but it is essential that pray for them and for their good and salvation, and not harbor anger and resentment in our own heart. This is, I believe, what St. Paul means when he says in Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, [that is] so far as it lies in your power, live at peace with all people.”)

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 16:1-16 (Birth of Ishmael)

Last week we saw God make His covenant with Abram, promising him once again that his descendants would inherit the land, and foretelling to Abram that they would first be slaves in Egypt for 400 years. God sealed this promise with a sign, revealing Himself to Abram in the darkness as a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, passing between the halves of the divided animals, condescending to use the manners of human oaths to make His promise to Abram certain. This time, we will see Abram and Sarai take measures into their own hands, and what comes of that action.

The Birth of Ishmael

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar, 2 and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife.

4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave-girl to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her.

7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her,

“Now you have conceived and shall bear a son;
you shall call him Ishmael,
for the Lord has given heed to your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild ass of a man,
with his hand against everyone,
and everyone’s hand against him;
and he shall live at odds with all his kin.”

13 So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

15 Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

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 first that in this reading, we see the Angel of the Lord come to Hagar, and understand that she sees Him, and understands that He is God Himself. This is one of the passages in which we see that the Angel of the Lord is one of the names for the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity, the Son of God, as He is active in the Old Testament. In coming to Hagar, we see Him extend a promise to her as well; the Messiah will not be descended from her, but nonetheless, her descendants will also be children of Abraham, and partake in the covenant that God makes with them. We should also note that this is, once again, a place where Abram does something, but just because he does it doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do, and at the same time, just because it was the wrong thing to do doesn’t mean that God can’t bless it and turn it to good. Notwithstanding the rise of Islam, the descendants of Ishmael nonetheless have had a longstanding and active role in the life of the Church.)

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)

Prayer of St. Philaret of Moscow

St. Philaret was the metropolitan bishop of Moscow, the highest ranking hierarch in the Russian Church, in the early 1800’s, in a period when the Russian Tsar exerted an extreme level of control over the Church. He was known and respected as a faithful and pious man, and played a significant role in the translation of the Bible into the Russian language. This prayer of his has become a frequent element of regular morning prayer rules for Orthodox Christians.

Prayer of St. Philaret of Moscow

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon your holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal your will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all.
In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will, teach me to pray.
And you, yourself, pray in me.
Amen.

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 great theme of this prayer is the willing submission of one’s self to God, in mind, will, thoughts, words, actions, and above all in prayer. This is precisely what we are seeking to do when we say our prayers; we are turning our hearts and minds and lives to the Lord, and entrusting our entire self to Him. It is worth noting, as well, that it is precisely this of submission and trust that we see Abram struggling, and it seems to us, failing to achieve in the Day 1 reading. On the same token, it should be comforting to us that, even in our failures, the Lord does not abandon us, and remains faithful His promises to us, that He will never leave or forsake us. We have only to get up when we have fallen, and continue to walk in repentance and obedience to Him.)

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)

Matthew 5:1-20 (Beatitudes, Sermon on Mount)

Last week we saw the Lord call His first four disciples and begin to preach in Galilee. This time, we will see what He is saying. This chapter 5, and chapters 6 and 7, comprise what is usually called the Sermon on the Mount; they are entirely made up of a single continuous speech of the Lord. This is one of the major points that distingues Matthew from Mark; Mark shows us Who Jesus is, but Matthew tells us what Jesus says, in great and precise detail.

The Beatitudes

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

The Law and the Prophets

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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 the Lord says in the “Beatitudes,” which is to say, the sayings about who is blessed, is a complete upending of normal assumptions about human life. Normal people think that it is good to be wealthy, happy, elevated above others, and free of hunger and thirst, but the Lord tells us that it is those who “suffer” from the opposites of these things that are truly blessed. He is telling His disciples, and anyone willing to listen to Him, that their way in the world is to be almost the complete opposite of the values they have been taught.)

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 15:1-21 (God’s Covenant with Abram)

Last time we saw Abram rescue his nephew Lot, and the people of the cities of the plain (including Sodom and Gomorrah), and offer bread and wine to Melchizedek. Abram’s victory was miraculous, a gift of the Lord who fought for him, and his giving of thanks through this offering, without accepting any of the spoils of the battle himself, was precisely a confession of the same sentiment as may be seen in Psalm 114: “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory.” This time, we will see God actually make a covenant with Abram, making explicit the promises that He had already made to him. We have actually read this passage before, in Year 1, but will read it again here to keep track of the narrative.

God’s Covenant with Abram

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

7 Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. 13 Then the Lord[c] said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; 14 but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

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 explain the significance of the animals being cut in half; this is one manner in which covenants were sealed in this time and place. The parties making the agreement would pass between the pieces, as though to say: “If I am not faithful to our agreement, may what has happened to these animals happen to me.” It is notable, then, that God does NOT have Abram pass between them, but passes between them Himself; it is also important to note that at this same time, He tells Abram about the enslavement of his descendants in Egypt, and then promises to give to them the land of Canaan, which currently belongs to the Amorites, but only once their “iniquity is complete.” In all this, God is giving assurance to Abram, who has been faithful to God so far, and has followed the Lord's guidance, but has not yet seen any sign of a child born to his wife Sarai. So God assures him that His word is certain and trustworthy in this way, encouraging him even as he continues to wait upon the Lord.)

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. John Chrysostom on God’s First Covenant with Abraham

We read on Day 1 the account of God’s covenant with Abraham, cutting the animals in half. This is a crucial moment in the story of Abraham, as God responds to his question with a guarantee far beyond what we would expect from God. This passage provides us an opportunity to see St. John Chrysostom preaching and explaining this passage, from his 37th Homily on Genesis. We begin as Chrysostom is explaining the dialogue between God and Abraham…

Paragraph 4

Consequently, on the present occasion God reminds Abram of all the care he had shown him by revealing to him that it was due to his great plans for him and his wish to put into effect his promises in his regard and bring them to fulfillment that he caused him to make such a long journey.

“ ‘I am the one who has brought you out of the land of the Chaldeans to give you this land for your inheritance.’ It was not idly and in vain that I brought you from that place, was it? The reason that I wanted you to settle in Palestine, to leave your ancestral home and come to this land was that you might inherit it. Accordingly, considering how much care you have enjoyed on my account from the time you left Chaldea up until the present and how famous you have become from day to day as you proved to be more conspicuous for my support and providence in your regard, have confidence also in my words.”

Do you see the extraordinary degree of his loving kindness? Do you see the extent of his considerateness in wanting to confirm Abram’s spirit and make his faith stronger so that he might no longer be inclined to have regard for natural obstacles but rather consider the power of the one who had made the assurances, as if his promises had already taken effect, and thus be free to trust him?

Paragraph 5

Once more, however, notice the patriarch, when he had taken comfort in these words, how he looked for greater certitude. “He said,”My lord and master, how shall I know that I am able to inherit it?” Even if Sacred Scripture had previously testified to his having faith in the words of God, for which reason it was reckoned as righteousness in him, nevertheless when he heard that the reason why “ ‘I have brought you from the land of Chaldea is to give you this land for your inheritance,’ ” he said:

“While it is not possible for me to have no faith in the words you have spoken, still I would like to know as well the way I would come to inherit it. After all, I see that by now I have reached my old age and to the present time I have been going about like a vagrant, unable to discern the future by human reasoning—even though from the outset (he says) I had faith in your words as being a statement from you, the one able to bring things from non-being to being, to create and transform everything. So it is not out of unbelief that I am asking this; but since you mentioned once again the inheritance, I was wanting to receive as well some more concrete and visible sign, something capable of shoring up the limitations of my thinking.”

What, then, did the good Lord do? Showing considerateness for his own servant, and out of a wish to fortify his spirit, when he saw him admitting his own limitations and, while believing in the promise, yet wanting some confirmation, he said to him: “ ‘Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a ram, a turtledove and a pigeon.’ ”

Observe how he makes a covenant with him in human fashion: just as in the case of human beings, when they make a promise to someone and want to convince the recipient of the promise not to entertain doubts about what is promised, they supply some sign or pledge so that the recipient may have it before his eyes and thus be in a position to know that the promises will take effect in every detail, so too the good Lord, when Abram said, “ ‘How shall I know?’ ” replied, Lo, this too I provide you with: “ ‘Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a ram, a turtledove and a pigeon.’ ” Notice, I ask you, the degree of detail the good Lord deigns to go into for the sake of the just man’s certitude. Since in ancient times it was the custom to make covenants in this way for people of that time and by that means to endorse them, this was the way the Lord himself followed.

Paragraph 6

“He brought them,” the text goes on, “and cut them in half.” Observe carefully how it was not idly or to no purpose that it indicated the age as well: he bade him bring three-year-old animals, that is, mature, perfect. “He cut them in half, and put the halves opposite each other, but the birds he did not cut.” He sat down to take care that birds on the wing should do no damage to the divided animals, and he kept that watch through the whole day. “Other birds, however, swooped down on the divided carcases, and Abram sat with them. Now, at sunset Abram fell into a trance and, lo, a terrible gloom came upon him.”

Why at sunset, when already the day had reached evening? God wants to make him more attentive in every way; a trance and terrible gloom fall upon him for the reason that through what happens he may gain some sense of seeing God—this, after all, being God’s way invariably. Later, remember, when God was on the point of giving the Law and the Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai, “there was darkness and a hurricane,” the text says, “and the mountain smoking.” Hence Scripture also says, “He touches the mountains and they smoke.” You see, since it is impossible to see anything incorporeal through these physical eyes, he wants to convey to him his characteristic activity.

Accordingly, when that just man was terrified and fear struck his mind as well as the trance that had developed, word came to him (the text says): “You asked,” God said, “‘How shall I know?’ and you wanted to get a sign of the way you were destined to inherit the land. Behold, I am giving you a sign: you need great faith to learn that I can bring things from desperate straits to optimistic prospects.”

John Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis 18–45, ed. Thomas P. Halton, trans. Robert C. Hill, vol. 82, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1990), 342–345.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out Chrysostom’s style, in expanding and re-stating what God and Abraham are each saying, to help us understand more clearly. This makes the Scripture more accessible, and is one of the reasons he was renowned and loved as a preacher.)

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)

Matthew 4:12-25 (Jesus Begins His Ministry)

Last time we saw Jesus baptized by John, and then go into the wilderness, where the devil tempted Him three times. The Lord replied only with Scripture, and eventually the devil left Him. This time, we will see the Lord go to Galilee, where He will begin to call His disciples and to minister to the people of Galilee.

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

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 final verse describes Jesus already being followed by a mixed crowd of people; Decapolis was a Hellenistic group of towns on the east side of the Jordan River, and Galilee itself was populated by a mix of Jews and Gentiles. There are plenty of people of the covenant following Jesus, but the reality of His healing all those who come to Him, the details of some of those encounters that we see later on, and simply the places from which people were following Him, all indicate that it was not just Jews who were coming to Him for healing, help, etc.)

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 14:1-24 (Abram Goes to War, Meets Melchizedek)

Last time we read about Abram and Lot encamping between Bethel and Ai, and then finding that there was not room enough in the land for both of them. So they separated, with Lot choosing the rich low country near the Dead Sea (although it was not dead at that time, but was rather a fertile and lush river valley), and Abram remaining in the hill country. At that time, God came to him and promised that his descendants would possess everything he could see, in all directions. At this point, Abram moved south, from Bethel/Ai to Hebron (a map showing the rough locations being discussed in these chapters may be found here: http://godswarplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/06-BATTLE-of-SIDDIM-Main-LG.jpg. Please note – the rest of the linked webpage may be interesting, but I can’t vouch for its quality or accuracy. The map should be helpful, however.) This time we will see what happens to Lot after he settles in this rich and fertile country.

Lot’s Captivity and Rescue

14 In the days of King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim, 2 these kings made war with King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the edge of the wilderness; 7 then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and subdued all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 with King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. 11 So the enemy took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way; 12 they also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner; these were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot with his goods, and the women and the people.

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
maker of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord, God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, so that you might not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share.”

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 Abram doesn’t seem to go out to fight by himself, with only the 318 men from his household, as it speaks also of his allies going with him, and taking their share. Nonetheless, his force must have been tremendously outnumbered by this army that represents five significant and powerful city states in Mesopotamia. His victory should be considered a miracle, God fighting for Abram, and his refusal to take any spoils should be seen as another indication of this point. It should also be noted that Melchizedek here is apparently a faithful worshipper of Yahweh, living in the midst of peoples worshipping other gods. His name is heathen, but his actions and faith are not. Finally, it should be noted that this passage is read each time we celebrate the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, as there were 318 Fathers present at that council, and their rejection of the heresy of Arius is seen as typologically connected with this miraculous victory over invaders.)

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. Dionysios: Excerpt from "On the Divine Names"

The Church celebrates the feast of St. Dionysios the Areopagite on October 3rd, so it is appropriate that we should read something of his writings today. St. Dionysios was one of the first converts to Christianity in Athens, and has attributed to him some of the most important writings on how the Orthodox approach and speak about God. St. Dionysios affirms clearly that God can be known through prayer, and yet often speaks of God as unknowable, beyond human reason and understanding. This is a point that we often affirm in the Church (in summary) by stating that God can be encountered personally, but NEVER comprehended rationally. It is good, however, that we should read what St. Dionysios himself, and not merely what others say about him.

Chapter 3; Section 1

The power of prayer

1. For a start, then, let us look, if you will, at the most important name, “Good,” which shows forth all the processions of God. But we should really begin with an invocation of the Trinity, the source and, indeed, the superior of what is good. The Trinity shows forth every one of its most excellent processions and we should be uplifted to it and be shaped by it so as to learn of those good gifts which are gathered together around it. For the Trinity is present to all things, though all things are not present to it.

But if we invoke it with prayers that are holy, with untroubled mind, with a suitability for union with God, then we are surely present to it. For the Trinity is not in any one location in such a manner as to be “away from” one place or moving from “one spot to another.” Even to speak of it as “present in everything” is inaccurate since this does not convey the fact that it infinitely transcends everything and yet gathers everything within it.

So let us stretch ourselves prayerfully upward to the more lofty elevation of the kindly Rays of God. Imagine a great shining chain hanging downward from the heights of heaven to the world below. We grab hold of it with one hand and then another, and we seem to be pulling it down toward us. Actually it is already there on the heights and down below and instead of pulling it to us we are being lifted upward to that brilliance above, to the dazzling light of those beams.

Or picture ourselves aboard a boat. There are hawsers joining it to some rock. We take hold of them and pull on them, and it is as if we were dragging the rock to us when in fact we are hauling ourselves and our boat toward that rock. And, from another point of view, when someone on the boat pushes away the rock which is on the shore he will have no effect on the rock, which stands immovable, but will make a space between it and himself, and the more he pushes the greater will be the space.

That is why we must begin with a prayer before everything we do, but especially when we are about to talk of God. We will not pull down to ourselves that power which is both everywhere and yet nowhere, but by divine reminders and invocations we may commend ourselves to it and be joined to it.

Pseudo-Dionysius, Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works, ed. John Farina, trans. Colm Luibheid and Paul Rorem, The Classics of Western Spirituality (New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1987), 68–69.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point the central point of St. Dionysios’ teaching here: we cannot bring God down to us, as He is at once already present everywhere and entirely beyond our comprehension and power; but we can learn to be present with God, as He is always present with us, and to no longer push ourselves away from Him and separate ourselves from Him. This is, in a very real sense, the entire work of the Christian life: learning to be present with God, that is, to pray, and learning to lay aside every unworthy action which pushes us away from Him, that is, every sin.)

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)

Matthew 3:13-17; 4:1-11 (Baptism & Temptation of Jesus)

Last time we saw Jesus return from Egypt to live in Nazareth, and then we jumped forward in time to see John the Baptist begin to preach, preparing the way for the Lord out in the wilderness beyond Jordan, calling the people to repentance. This time, we will see Jesus go to John and be baptized, and then go out into the wilderness, where Satan will tempt him.

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should ask the group the important question of why it was “necessary to fulfil all righteousness” for Jesus to be baptized, and note that the Lord’s baptism is a sign of His Incarnation, and especially of death and resurrection. His blessing of the water by being immersed in the water is a sign and token of His trampling death by means of death. It is also worth noting how Satan tempted the Lord, and the Lord met the challenge with Scripture. In this, the Lord shows us an important element of resisting temptation; He gives no space to the temptation, nor does He even argue with it. He simply abides in the truth of the relationship between God and humanity, as expressed in Scripture, and denies the temptation.)

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?