Day 1 (Monday)

Proverbs 22:1-31; 23:1-16

As we begin the New Year of 2024, we will continue for one more week to pause from our normal narrative readings, and return once again to the Book of Proverbs. This book, written by a father seeking to provide good guidance to his son, and by extension to all of us, directs us to walk the narrow path of faithfulness, avoiding the common temptations and holding fast to the Lord in all things. It is a good way to begin the new year, remembering that we are called indeed to live in a manner set apart from the brokenness of the world, and that this life to which we are called is truly blessed.

Proverbs 22 & 23

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 All deeds are right in the sight of the doer,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked—are sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.

9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious wife.
10 The souls of the wicked desire evil;
their neighbors find no mercy in their eyes.
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser;
when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he casts the wicked down to ruin.

13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,
you will cry out and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret averts anger;
and a concealed bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
16 Whoever wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want;
whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful wife.
20 Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise,
but the fool devours it.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life and honor.
22 One wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 To watch over mouth and tongue
is to keep out of trouble.
24 The proud, haughty person, named “Scoffer,”
acts with arrogant pride.

25 The craving of the lazy person is fatal,
for lazy hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long the wicked covet,
but the righteous give and do not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when brought with evil intent.
28 A false witness will perish,
but a good listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put on a bold face,
but the upright give thought to[e] their ways.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel,
can avail against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Chapter 23
1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common:
the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 The clever see danger and hide;
but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
the cautious will keep far from them.
6 Train children in the right way,
and when old, they will not stray.
7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of anger will fail.

9 Those who are generous are blessed,
for they share their bread with the poor.
10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife goes out;
quarreling and abuse will cease.
11 Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech
will have the king as a friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit;
he with whom the Lord is angry falls into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy,
but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
16 Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.

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 general principle that many, perhaps most, of these proverbs are illustrating an aspect of the Way of Life versus the Way of Death, as an aid to our discernment of the choices that we face in our own lives. It may be worthwhile to reflect somewhat on the first verse of chapter 21, which speaks of the heart of the king as a stream of water in the hands of the Lord. This suggests an interesting perspective on the intersection between our free will and the will of God. In that sense, the flow is guided and directed, especially if the king is a righteous king, and is striving to be faithful to the Lord. But even if the king is rebellious and wicked, the will and action of his heart may still be guided by the Lord to purposes and ends that the king does not understand, intend, or will. Even the evil that we do is directed toward a final blessed end by the Lord, Who upholds and sustains all things. This is a great mystery, yet it is at the heart not just of the life of a king, but of every one of 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 2 (Wednesday)

Theophany Hymns

On January 6th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Theophany, which commemorates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. This feast is not a simple historical remembrance, but is laden with cosmic significance; the Church sees this moment as a turning point, a fulfillment of many expectations, and a promise of greater things to come, as the water of the Jordan becomes the first matter of the Creation (apart from His own Holy Flesh) to be made holy by the Lord Who has come into our midst to unite Himself with us in order to sanctify us, and all Creation with us. This marvelous reality, and the wonder that it is God Himself Who has entered within His own Creation to save and sanctify it, is at the core of themes that the Church reflects on in the hymns of this feast day. There are a great many hymns worth reading for the feast-day, so please don’t hesitate to read a smaller selection of what we have set forth here, if your time (or the attention of your family or class) runs short.

Hymns from the Services of Theophany

Troparion for the Royal Hours

Jordan River once turned back when Elisha struck its stream * with his mantle in the wake of Elias's ascent; * and the water was parted to the one side and to the other. * And thus the fluid stream became a dry way for him, * a symbol and truly a type of Baptism, * by which we now pass over the streaming passage of the present life. * And Christ appeared at the Jordan River * to sanctify the waters.

Idiomelon 1 of the Third Hour

When the Forerunner and Baptist, the Prophet, honored over all the Prophets, laid eyes on You, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, his right hand atremble, and troubled by conflicting thoughts, he uttered, "I dare not lay my hand on Your head, O divine Word. I pray You sanctify me and illumine me, O merciful Lord. For You are the life and the light and the peace of the world.

Idiomelon 2 of the Third Hour

The Trinity, our God, undividedly revealed Itself to us today: the Father gave voice to an audible witness to His only-begotten Son; and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, flew down from heaven; while the Son, standing before the Forerunner, bowed His immaculate head, and in being baptized, He delivered the human race from bondage, in His love for humanity.

Doxastikon of the Third Hour

When You came in the flesh to the River Jordan, O Lord, wishing to be baptized, in the form of a man, so that You might rescue us, who had gone astray, from every trap and trick of the serpent foe, and that You might illumine us, as the compassionate Giver of Life, the Father bore witness to You, and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descended and remained on You. And now we pray, make yourself at home in our souls, in Your love for humanity.

Idiomelon 3 of the Kekragaria

The waters of the Jordan received You, who are the source; and the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove. You who bowed the heavens now bow Your head. The clay cries out to You, the Fashioner, and says, "Why do You command me to do what is beyond me? I need for You to baptize me." O sinless One, O Christ our God, glory to You!

Troparion 2 of the Great Blessing of the Water

Today the substance of water is made holy, for the Master is washed in the Jordan. When the River sees Him, it stops its flow and bursts forth.

Prayer of the Blessing of the Water

Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father, true God, Source of life and immortality, Light of Light: as You came into the world to enlighten it, illumine our minds with Your Holy Spirit, and accept us as we offer You glory and thanksgiving for Your wonderful, mighty works from all ages, and for Your saving dispensation in these latter times, when You clothed Yourself in our weak and poor substance and condescended to the place of a servant. You are the King of all, yet You condescended to be baptized in Jordan at the hands of a servant, that having sanctified the nature of water, sinless One, You might lead us to a new birth through water and the Spirit and restore us again to our first freedom. We celebrate the memory of this divine mystery and pray You, Lord and Lover of mankind: According to Your divine promise, sprinkle cleansing water upon us, Your unworthy servants, as a gift of Your compassion. May the supplications of us sinners over this water be well pleasing to Your goodness and may Your blessing through it be bestowed upon us and all Your faithful people, to the glory of Your holy and adorable name. For to You, together with Your Father Who is without beginning and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, belong all glory, honor and worship, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Idiomelon 3 of the Liti

Come, let us go like the wise virgins, ⁄ and meet the Master Who has appeared: ⁄ For as a bridegroom He has come forth to John. ⁄ The Jordan, seeing You, was driven back in fear; ⁄ John cried out: I dare not touch Your immortal head. ⁄ The Spirit came down in the form of a dove, hallowing the waters, ⁄ and a voice called from on high: ⁄ This is my Son Who has come into the world to save mankind. ⁄⁄ O Lord, glory to You.

Heirmos of Ode 3 of Canon 1 of the Feast

The Lord who bestows upon our rulers His might and exalts * the horn of His own anointed ones * was born of a pure virgin Maid, and now He goes to baptism. O faithful, let us cry aloud * and say that there is no one holy like our God, * and no one is righteous except for You, O Lord

Troparion 1 of Ode 3 of Canon 1 of the Feast

Rejoice today, O Church of Christ! ⁄ Before you were barren and sadly childless; ⁄ now through water and the Spirit sons have been born to you ⁄ and they cry aloud in faith: ⁄ None is holy as our God ⁄ and none is righteous but You, O Lord!

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 many essential themes of the Christian life are brought together in this feast. We see Baptism, the blessing of the water, the humility of John the Baptist, the revelation of the Holy Trinity, the Lord’s rescue of us from the oppression of the evil one, the Lord’s presence with us, and the illumination of our minds and the transformation of the nature of the water and of our nature as well. This feast draws together the entirety of the Gospel into a single, marvelous wonder, as we encounter the Lord coming up out of the water to heal and save all the Creation.)

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)

John 7:25-39 (Is This the Christ, Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus, Rivers of Living Water)

Last time we saw Jesus go secretly to the Festival of Booths in Jerusalem, where He stood up in the Temple and began to preach. The people were amazed at His teaching, and then questioned how He could preach in such a way, when He had never been taught. The Lord proclaimed once again that He was sent by the Father, and then brought up with them the matter for which they were opposed to Him and seeking to kill Him, the healing of the Paralytic on the Sabbath Day, reminding them that it was no violation of the Law to circumcise a child on the Sabbath Day, and therefore other actions to save and sanctify were also no violation. We will see from here how things proceed.

Is This the Christ?

25 Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? 27 Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30 Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, “When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

Officers Are Sent to Arrest Jesus

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will search for me and you will not find me’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

Rivers of Living Water

37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

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 confusion that the evangelist is depicting; the religious leaders are determined to arrest Jesus, but are unable to do so, while the crowd is not sure what to think, with many believing in the Lord, while others wonder what the religious authorities actually know and what they are thinking. Meanwhile, the Lord is simply proclaiming that the Father has sent Him to fulfill every prophecy and every yearning, to bring life flowing abundantly to all who receive Him, assuring everyone who will listen that the time of renewal is at hand.)

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)

Daniel 2:17-45

Last time we began the book of Daniel, and saw Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael (otherwise known as Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego) taken into captivity in Babylon, where they were trained to become members of the bureaucracy of Nebuchadnezzar's empire. We saw them hold themselves faithful to the Torah, not eating the meat that had been sacrificed to idols, and eating only vegetables, and being blessed and sustained by the Lord in that. We saw, too, how they became officials in Babylon, and prospered and gained the respect of all. And then we saw the king have a dream which troubled him deeply, so that he demanded his wise men, these four young men included, should tell him not just the interpretation to the dream, but to tell him the dream itself first, as a way of proving that they did indeed have the inside track to the revelation that had been given to him by "the gods." Daniel heard of this, and told the king that he would fulfill the king's demand. What he did next, we will see this week.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

17 Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel said:

“Blessed be the name of God from age to age,
for wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons,
deposes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my ancestors,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and power,
and have now revealed to me what we asked of you,
for you have revealed to us what the king ordered.”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will give the king the interpretation.”

25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who can tell the king the interpretation.” 26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen at the end of days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed were these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed, came thoughts of what would be hereafter, and the revealer of mysteries disclosed to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any other living being, but in order that the interpretation may be known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

31 “You were looking, O king, and lo! there was a great statue. This statue was huge, its brilliance extraordinary; it was standing before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of that statue was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked on, a stone was cut out, not by human hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, were all broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 “This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings—to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the might, and the glory, 38 into whose hand he has given human beings, wherever they live, the wild animals of the field, and the birds of the air, and whom he has established as ruler over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron; just as iron crushes and smashes everything, it shall crush and shatter all these.

41 As you saw the feet and toes partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but some of the strength of iron shall be in it, as you saw the iron mixed with the clay. 42 As the toes of the feet were part iron and part clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so will they mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever; 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from the mountain not by hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has informed the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation trustworthy.”

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 reading, in which Daniel recounts the dream and gives the interpretation, is one of the readings assigned for the Christmas Eve Great Vespers service, because it describes how the Lord in His coming overthrows and transforms all the kingdoms of the world, in establishing the Church to be the only source of life and identity and being for us, and for all human beings.)

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 the Feast of the Lord’s Circumcision

Every year, on January 1st, the 8th day after the Nativity of the Lord, we celebrate the Circumcision in the Flesh of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In this feast, we see our Creator and God, human and present in our midst, submitting Himself to the Law that He Himself had given, accepting circumcision, precisely as did Abraham and all His descendants. The point, of course, is that our Lord is Himself the long-awaited Child of Promise, in anticipation of Whom all the coming generations from Abraham had been dedicated to God as His own people. In keeping with the commandments of God, it was also on this 8th Day that He received the name the Angel had commanded for Him, and was called Jesus.

2nd Hymn of the Vespers Kekragaria

THE supremely good God was not ashamed to be circumcised in the flesh; but for our salvation He offered Himself as a type and example unto all. For the Author of the Law fulfills the precepts of the Law and the things that the Prophets preached of Him. O You Who holds all things in Your grasp, and were wrapped in swaddling bands, O Lord, glory be to You.

The Reading is from the Book of Proverbs
(8:22-30)

THE Lord made me the beginning of His ways for His works. Before time was, He established me, in the beginning, before He made the earth, and before He made the depths, before the fountains of the waters came forth, before the mountains were made, and before all the hills, He begat me. The Lord made lands and uninhabited places, and the uttermost inhabited parts under heaven.

When He prepared the heaven, I was present with Him; and when He appointed His own throne upon the winds; when He strengthened the clouds above, and when He secured the fountains of the waters that are under heaven; when He gave the sea its bound that the waters should not go beyond His word, and He made strong the foundations of the earth, I was with Him, working in harmony with Him. I it was in whom He took delight, and daily I rejoiced in His presence continually.

Both Now Hymn of the 1st Orthros Kathismata

THE Master of the world, the Creator of all things, * Who dwells in the heights with the Father and Spirit, * is circumcised on the earth as an infant but eight days old. * Truly are Your works divine and wondrous, O Master! * You are circumcised for us, since You are the perfect * fulfilment of all the Law.

Troparia from the 3rd Ode of the Canon of the Feast

WHEN the Word, the Transcendent in Essence, became flesh, He was circumcised unto the cessation of the Law; and He gave us the first-fruits of divine grace and of uncorrupted life.

CHRIST incarnate was shown to be a fulfiller of the Law, and not an adversary of God, and He deigned of His own will to be circumcised on the eighth day.

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 here how the hymns and readings assigned for this day reflect on a dual marvel; that the Lord submits to the Law which He Himself had given, and that the Maker of all things is circumcised as a newborn son of the Covenant Which He had Himself made for the saving of His own Creation. The passage from Proverbs is particularly important, as in it, we see Wisdom, the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity, the Logos and Son of God, speaking of His presence and participation in the Creation together with the Father…yet it is Him that we see born in the flesh in the Feast of the Nativity, and whose circumcision we celebrate on January 1st.)

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)

John 7:10-24 (Jesus at the Festival of Booths/Tabernacles)

Last week, we saw the Lord finish speaking about Himself as the Bread from Heaven, Whose Body and Blood are food and drink indeed, and of Whom all of us must partake, or else we have no life. We saw many of His disciples leave, and saw the Twelve remain, because, as Peter said "Where shall we go? You have the words of life." We saw the Lord's "brothers" ask Him to go to the pilgrimage festival in Jerusalem, urging Him to proclaim Himself publicly if He were truly from God, showing that even they did not believe His preaching and His miracles. He told them that His time had not yet come, and tehrefore that He would not be going with them, but this time, we will see Him go nonetheless, but "in secret," at least to begin.

Jesus at the Festival of Booths

10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, “He is a good man,” others were saying, “No, he is deceiving the crowd.” 13 Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews.

14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” 16 Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

19 “Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

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 the Festival of Booths/Tabernacles/Sukkot is the 3rd Pilgrimage Festival (the others are Pascha and Pentecost, Pesach and Shavuot. One can check the basic internet, such as Wikipedia, for more information, but the Festival of Booths is basically the time that the people of God were commanded to remember the wandering in the wilderness, and that God cared for them, and thus a time to remember that their identity and well-being and wholeness come from their relationship with God, and not from the things that they possess. The issue between Him and the religious leaders of the day about the Sabbath Day, and with the Law in general, all comes more into focus when we look at it through the lens of this particular Feast. We all need to be careful not to mix up God Himself with His gifts and guidance to 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 1 (Monday)

Daniel 1:1-21: 2:1-45

Last time, we finished reading the short book of Ruth, and saw the “prequel” to the story of King David. We will continue the story of King David in the new year, but for these final weeks, as we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s birth, and the salvation that comes to us all, we will fast forward several hundred years to the end of David’s kingdom in Jerusalem, at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. When this king took the city, he took captive certain young men of the city, among whom was Daniel. This week, we will read the prelude of Daniel’s time in Babylon, and next week, as we are celebrating Christmas, we will read the vision of the king that Daniel interpreted.

Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court

1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.

3 Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine.

They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court. 6 Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. 7 The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. 9 Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. 10 The palace master said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king.”

11 Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.” 14 So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. 16 So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.

18 At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, 19 and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21 And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. 2 So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had such a dream that my spirit is troubled by the desire to understand it.”

4 The Chaldeans said to the king (in Aramaic), “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will reveal the interpretation.” 5 The king answered the Chaldeans, “This is a public decree: if you do not tell me both the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you do tell me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

7 They answered a second time, “Let the king first tell his servants the dream, then we can give its interpretation.” 8 The king answered, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed: 9 if you do not tell me the dream, there is but one verdict for you. You have agreed to speak lying and misleading words to me until things take a turn. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.”

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! In fact no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”

12 Because of this the king flew into a violent rage and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 The decree was issued, and the wise men were about to be executed; and they looked for Daniel and his companions, to execute them. 14 Then Daniel responded with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the king’s chief executioner, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon; 15 he asked Arioch, the royal official, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in and requested that the king give him time and he would tell the king the interpretation.

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 the actions of Daniel and his friends show that not everyone in Judah was faithless. The king and many of the people had abandoned Yahweh the God of Israel, and had therefore come under judgment, and brought their entire kingdom with them. But Daniel and his friends continue to trust in the Lord, and even in captivity, we see that they are blessed. Moreover, we see that they are serving the king of their captivity faithfully and loyally, except insofar as it leads them into sin…and we see the Lord honoring and protecting them in this. As for what the king dreamed, we will discuss this next week. It is not for nothing, however, that next week’s reading is included in the readings for the Great Vespers of Christmas Eve.)

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. Joseph the Hesychast on Exile

St. Joseph is a new saint, and was canonized on March 9th, 2020. He was born in 1897, and became a monastic on Mt. Athos in his early 20’s. He, and several of his spiritual children, were directly involved in the renewal of monastic life in six of the twenty monasteries on Mt. Athos, and throughout the world, especially in the United States. The following is taken from the book “Monastic Wisdom,” which is a collection of many letters which he wrote to spiritual children during his lifetime.

On Exile and Life in the World

“Alas! We are in exile and we do not want to realize it. We do not want to see from what heights we have fallen. But with our own evil will, we cover our ears and shut our eyes, blinding ourselves willingly so that we might not see the truth. Woe to us, for we consider the darkness here to be light, and for a paltry pleasure that this world offers, we avoid the light there as if it were darkness. We avoid it because of the small sorrow that the body encounters, and lose the repose there.

Woe to our wretchedness! For God calls out to us to become His children, but we become sons of darkness. We exchange eternity for a little bit of honey. For the small pleasure of luxury or glory, we deny and fall away from the glory of the kingdom of God. So blessed is he who sees this deception and abstains from the fleeting pleasures of this world, and aspires to the enjoyment that awaits us.” (41st Letter)

Elder Joseph the Hesychast. Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast. St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, Florence, Arizona. 2016.

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 the saint is speaking about exile as the reality in which we live, and which we try to deny…and it is this denial of our exile which prolongs and intensifies it, as we seek more desperately for fulfillment from the passing pleasures of life, rather than confess our sin and exile, and turn back towards the Lord. What we saw from Daniel and his friends in the Day 1 reading was exactly the opposite; being in exile, they turned towards the Lord in more particular and determined faithfulness, and in this way, their exile became the means of their salvation and glorification.)

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)

John 6:60-71; 7:1-9 (The Words of Eternal Life, Unbelief of Jesus' Brothers)

The last few weeks, we have seen the Lord discussing His miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 with those who had received that miracle, as He tells them that they should be seeking not for further signs and miracles from Him, but rather need to be recognizing and understanding that true nourishment of their entire being, soul and body, comes from Him, that He Himself is not just the one who gives bread to them, but Who IS the Bread of Heaven. When He tells them that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood, or else they will have no life in them, they are incredulous. We will see what their reaction is in this week’s reading.

The Words of Eternal Life

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

The Unbelief of Jesus’ Brothers

7 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; 4 for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 (For not even his brothers believed in him.) 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. 8 Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

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 the Lord’s words about the Eucharist, about Himself as the Bread of Heaven, the Bread of Life, were more than many of His disciples could stand or understand, and many of them left Him. He had the opportunity to soften His words, as we have seen the last several weeks, but He did not, because there is no way to soften the crisis for us. We cannot hold onto the priorities of this world, and still receive the Lord. This crisis point leaves only the twelve with Him. Even His “brothers,” the sons of Joseph by his first wife, do not believe in Him; they tell Him to go and prove Himself to everyone in Judaea, not understanding that once He invites that confrontation with the religious authorities in Judaea, the time for His Passion will have arrived. It is not the time for this yet; so He is not going to Judaea for the festival, at least not publicly, and not at the beginning of the Festival…as we’ll see next week, He does in fact go.)

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)

Ruth 3:1-18; 4:1-22 (Ruth & Boaz at the Threshing Floor, Marriage of Boaz & Ruth)

Last time, we met Naomi, an Israelite woman who had gone to live in Moab during a period of famine together with her husband and two sons. While in Moab, her two sons married Moabite women, and then both of them, as well as her husband, died. She decided to return to her home town in Israel, and urged her two daughters-in-law to leave her and return home. One of them did so, but the other, Ruth, insisted on accompanying her back to Israel, saying “Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God.” Once they had settled in Israel, in the town of Bethlehem, Ruth began to go and glean grain that had fallen to the ground during the harvest, in the field of a man named Boaz. When she told Naomi this, Naomi replied that this Boaz was a relative of her husband’s family, and had the right and responsibility under the Torah to marry Ruth and to bring the two women under his protection. This time, we will see how the story comes to an end, and why it is relevant to us.

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. 2 Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.” 5 She said to her, “All that you tell me I will do.”

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.”

10 He said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. 12 But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. 13 Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do it. If he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. 16 She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”

The Marriage of Boaz and Ruth

4 No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, “Come over, friend; sit down here.” And he went over and sat down. 2 Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here”; so they sat down. 3 He then said to the next-of-kin, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you.”

So he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance.” 6 At this, the next-of-kin said, “I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, “Acquire it for yourself,” he took off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses.”

11 Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; 12 and, through the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

The Genealogy of David

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. 17 The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, 21 Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, 22 Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.

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 passage shows us something of the inner workings of the Torah’s requirement that a widow without any children should not be left alone, but should be married by the brother or other near relative of her husband. On the one hand, in the absence of an actual brother, there seems to be a gray area in which the marriage COULD happen, but might not. This could be a matter of unfaithfulness to the Torah, on the one hand, or a matter simply of individual people falling through the cracks in extraordinary circumstances. What it shows, as well, is the difficulty presented for the next-of-kin, as doing this might disrupt his own inheritance; it is for this reason that the nearest next-of-kin refuses to marry Ruth, and thus the opportunity falls to Boaz. It is worth noting, too, that this is the situation that is described by the Sadducees in the Gospel accounts, as they discuss the woman who was married in sequence to seven brothers without ever having children, and this type of marriage that the Lord refers to when He says that in the Kingdom of Heaven, they neither marry nor are given in marriage.)

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 encountering in the manger Emmanuel, God With Us. Many of the hymns reflect on the child born in Bethlehem as the Eternal God from before the ages, active and present in the world with the righteous of the Old Testament, and finally revealed to us as perfect God and perfect Man, in keeping with what we have been discussing about Abraham and his encounters with the Lord.

It is worth noting here that the feast-day celebrations span two days, and normally 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. This year, that schedule is altered somewhat, because Christmas Day falls on a Monday, bringing the services for the days preceding Christmas onto the weekend. So instead, we will celebrate an Orthros and Liturgy on Sunday morning, which is Christmas Eve, then the Vespers of Christmas that evening, and then the Orthros and Liturgy of Christmas Day Sunday morning. The Royal Hours are shifted a day earlier, and are to be done (if they are done) the morning of Friday, the 23rd.

Doxastikon of the 1st Hour

Thus did Joseph speak to the Virgin, "Mary, what is this I see in you? I cannot understand it, and I am amazed, and my mind is struck with dismay. Therefore get out of my sight quickly. Mary, what is this I see in you? You have brought me shame and sorrow instead of honor and joy; and instead of praise, you have brought me reproach. I cannot bear to be rebuked by the people. When I received you from the priests at the Temple, you were an innocent girl, consecrated to the Lord. So what is this that I see in you now?"

Idiomelon 2 of the 9th Hour

O Virgin Mary, when Joseph was racked with sadness, on the way to Bethlehem, you said to him, "Why are you miserable and troubled, seeing me pregnant? Are you completely ignorant of the tremendous mystery unfolding in me? Well then, put away all your fears, and understand the extraordinary wonder. God, in His mercy, has come down to earth, and He is now in my womb, and He has taken flesh. You will see Him born of me, as He wills; and you will be filled with joy; and you will worship Him, as your Creator, the One whom Angels unceasingly extol and glorify, as they do the Father and the Holy Spirit."

Idiomelon 3 of the Vespers Kekragaria

Your kingdom, O Christ God, is a kingdom of all the ages, and Your dominion is from generation to generation. You who were incarnate by the Holy Spirit and became man by the ever-virgin Mary, have shone on us as light, by Your advent, O Christ God. Light of light, the brightness of the Father, You have brightened all creation. Everything that breathes praises You, the express image of the Father's glory. O God, the One who is and who pre-existed, and who shone forth from the Virgin, have mercy on us.

Idiomelon 3 of the Liti

"Glory to God in the highest!" I hear the Angels sing this today in Bethlehem to Him whose good will it was that there be peace on earth. Now the Virgin is wider than heaven. Light has risen for those in darkness, and has lifted up the lowly who, like the angels, are singing, "Glory to God in the highest."

Idiomelon 1 of the Aposticha

A great and paradoxal miracle has taken place today. A Virgin has given birth, and there is no damage to her womb. The Word becomes flesh, and He is not separated from the Father. Angels and Shepherds give glory, and we join them in shouting: "Glory in the highest to God, and on earth let there be peace."

Kathisma 2 of the Orthros

Mary, why are you amazed and awed by what was done in you? * And she answers, "For in time I have brought forth a timeless Son. * But I have no understanding of His conception. * Husbandless am I: how can I bear a son? * Who has ever seen seedless childbirth? * But where God wills, the order found in nature * is overcome, as it is written." * So Christ was born from the Virgin Maiden, * in Bethlehem of Judea.

Troparion of Ode 5 of Canon 1 of the Feast

Submitting to Caesar Augustus' decree, * You, O Christ, were enrolled among your own slaves, * and freed us from our slavery to the enemy and sin. * Assuming our entire impoverished earthen nature, * by this very union and communion You rendered it deified.

Both now of Ode 5 of Canon 2 of the Feast

The people that walked before in darkness ⁄ today have seen a light from the beacon on high. ⁄ The Son offers to God the nations as His inheritance, ⁄ bestowing grace past telling ⁄⁄ where sin once flourished more abundantly.

Troparion of Ode 8 of Canon 1 of the Feast

The daughter of Babylon drew into exile * David's children as captives from Zion. * In return, she sends her own captivated * children, the three Magi bearing gifts, to court David's Daughter bearing God. * So let us melodiously chant in praise: * Let all creation bless and extol the Lord, * and let it exalt Him supremely to the ages.

Troparion of Ode 8 of Canon 1 of the Feast

Lamentation once suspended organ of song; * for Zion's children would not sing in strange lands. * Rising out of Bethlehem, Christ abolished * all the error of Babylon, her symphony of music as well. * So let us melodiously chant in praise: * Let all creation bless and extol the Lord, * and let it exalt Him supremely to the ages.

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 how many of these hymns are in conversation with one another, especially the first two that we include, with Joseph expressing his doubts and fears in the first hymn of our reading, and Mary replying to him in the second selection. This, as well as the Orthros hymn in which we address the Virgin Mary ourselves and ask why she is amazed, are notable, as the answer that she gives expresses both her own awe at what the Lord has accomplished in her, and her understanding that this is the Lord’s doing, and it is indeed marvelous in our eyes.)

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)

John 6:41-59 (The Bread from Heaven continued)

Last time, we saw the Lord speak to the crowd that had followed Him from the place where He had fed the 5,000, and pointed out to them that they only wanted to be with him because He had given them food, but that this sign of giving them bread He was the One Who IS their nourishment. He told them that they should seek THAT bread from heaven, and when they asked Him to give it to them, He told them that He Himself is the Bread of Life. We will see their response to Him, and what He says after.

The Bread from Heaven continued

41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

43 Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.

47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.

56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

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 stages of incredulity for the Jews who are speaking with Jesus. First, they are incredulous (which means unbelieving) because He says He comes from heaven, and they have known Him since childhood. Then, they are incredulous when He says that He is the living bread, and that those who eat of Him will live forever. His response to them emphasizes the very thing that is beyond their belief. On the surface, this is a matter of shock, of “how can we eat someone’s flesh?” But more deeply, what the Lord is saying to them is that everything that they are created and called to be is founded on communion with Him. They could gain the most perfect life, wealth, food, and clothing…and they would still all die, because none of these things last. But if they entrust themselves to Him, and hold fast to Him, and are nourished by His life, then death no longer has power over them, and He will raise them on the last day. Life is in the Lord, and nowhere else.)

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)

Ruth 1:1-22; 2:1-23 (Naomi & Ruth; Ruth Meets Boaz)

Last time, we saw the end of the story of Gideon, how he completed the victory against the Midianites, and then returned to sack some Israelite cities that had not supported him during the fighting. He ended up ruling Israel as a judge in name only, leading Israel in worshipping God using idolatrous methods, and when he finally dies, all of Israel returns to worshipping Baal. This account is not the worst of what happens in the book of Judges; from chapter 8, things go from bad to worse, as everyone in Israel continues to do whatever seems good to them in their own eyes. The book of Judges is effectively showing us the need for an Anointed King in Israel, someone to lead the people in faithfulness, to do justice and uphold the Torah. The next two weeks’ readings will give us a final glimpse at the time of the Judges, and a look at how the Lord will bring just such a king for His people.

Elimelech’s Family Goes to Moab

1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Naomi and Her Moabite Daughters-in-Law

6 Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. 10 They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, 13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.” 14 Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said,

“Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
17 Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!”

18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them,

“Call me no longer Naomi, [Pleasant]
call me Mara, [Bitter]
for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.
21 I went away full,
but the Lord has brought me back empty;
why call me Naomi
when the Lord has dealt harshly with me,
and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

22 So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Ruth Meets Boaz

2 Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

4 Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” They answered, “The Lord bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “To whom does this young woman belong?” 6 The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.’ So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.”

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?”

11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” 13 Then she said, “May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.”

14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, “Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied. 19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.”[One with the right to redeem] 21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay close by my servants, until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is better, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, otherwise you might be bothered in another field.” 23 So she stayed close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.

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 after her sons died, Naomi was destitute; she returned to Israel as a beggar. Her urging of Orpah and Ruth to return to their families is an urging that is done, in human terms, in their best interests. She has nothing to offer to them, and does not want to see them trapped in her impoverishment, which is all she expects from her future. For Ruth to stay, then, is an act of deep devotion; she could have gone home to her family in Moab, and likely could have married again, and done well. But she loves Naomi, and for her sake Ruth dedicates herself to Israel, invoking the name of the Lord, Yahweh, as she calls His curse upon her if she does not keep her promise. We should note especially that, from this point on, Ruth is treated as an Israelite; she has renounced her pagan origins and has entrusted herself to the Lord. Once back in Bethlehem, Ruth seeks out a means by which she can care for Naomi, and begins to glean. When Naomi finds out that she is gleaning in Boaz’s fields, Naomi gets a ray of hope; Boaz is a near male relative, with the responsibility under the Torah to marry the widow of any men of Elimelech’s household, and to raise up children for him. But it must be clear that, as with many things commanded in the Torah, not everyone was faithful to this law, and there was no guarantee that Naomi and Ruth will be taken under Boaz’s protection.)

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. Silouan on the Love of God

Saint Silouan was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in 1866 to Orthodox parents in Russia's Tambov region, somewhat to the northeast of Ukraine. At the age of twenty-seven, after a time of military service, he left his native Russia and came to Mount Athos, where he became a monk at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon and was given the name Silouan, the Russian version of the Biblical name Silvanus, or Silas.

An ardent ascetic, he received the grace of unceasing prayer and saw Christ in a vision. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and inner stillness. He prayed and wept for the whole world as for himself, and he put the highest value on love for enemies. Even Thomas Merton, a twentieth-century Catholic monk, described Silouan as “the most authentic monk of the twentieth century.” St Silouan fell asleep in the Lord on September 24, 1938. He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1987, and his feast is celebrated on September 24th.

Though barely literate, he was sought out by pilgrims for his wise counsel. His writings were edited by his disciple and pupil, Archimandrite Sophrony. Father Sophrony has written the life of the saint along with a record of St. Silouan's teachings in the book Saint Silouan the Athonite.

On the Love of God

“Brother R. Told me how once when he lay seriously ill his mother said to his father: ‘How ill our little lad is! I would gladly let myself be cut in pieces if it would help him and ease his suffering.’

The Lord’s love for man is like that. He said, ‘Great love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his fellow.’ The Lord’s compassion for us was so strong that He wanted to suffer for us, as a mother suffers, and even more. But no man can conceive of this great love without the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures tell of this love but neither are they to be understood by the mind, for in the Scriptures too speaks the same Holy Spirit.

The love of the Lord is such that He would have all men saved. His desire is that all should abide eternally with Him in heaven, and behold His glory. We do not know the fullness of this glory, but through the Holy Spirit we may conceive of it in part. But the man who has not come to know the Holy Spirit can have no conception of this glory: he can only believe in the promise of the Lord, and keep His commandments. However, he too is blessed, as the Lord showed St. Thomas, and will have equal place with those who saw the glory of God while still here on earth.

If you would know the Lord, humble yourself to the utmost. Be obedient and sober in all things. Love truth. And the Lord of a surety will give you to know Him through the Holy Spirit; and then you will know by experience what love towards God is, and what love towards man. And the more perfect the love, the more perfect your knowledge. There is love in small measure; there is a mean of love; and there is great love.

The man who fears sin loves God. The man with a tender heart loves Him more. Still greater is the love of the man in whose soul dwell light and joy. But the man with grace in soul and body has perfect love. This is the grace the Holy Spirit gave to the Martyrs, the grace that helped them to bear every suffering with fortitude.“

Archimandrite Sophrony. Wisdom from Mount Athos: The Writings of Staretz Siloan. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press. Crestwood, NY. 1974. Pages 28-29

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 there are two parts to this reading. The first part talks about God’s love for us, for all of humanity, and how He desires for everyone to be partakers of His glory. The second part talks about what how we respond to the love of God, how we grow in love for God, beginning with the combat against sin, but continuing from this starting point to tenderness of heart, the establishment of light and joy in the heart, and the receiving of grace in both soul and body. This is a journey; it starts with God’s love for us, and continues with our response of obedience, faithfulness, and transformation through the glory of God…and has no end.)

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)

John 6:22-40 (The Bread from Heaven)

Last week, we saw the Lord feed the crowd of 5,000 that had gathered to him on the mountain by the Sea of Galilee, from the small amount of food provided by a young man present there: five loaves and two fish. After this, the crowd wanted to make Jesus a king by force, but He withdrew to the mountain. Meanwhile, the disciples started back toward Capernaum in a boat, but a storm rose up, and they were frightened, when they saw the Lord walking on the water toward them. He calmed the waters, and immediately the boat arrived where it was going. We will pick up the story from that point, as the crowd continues to look for the Lord.

The Bread from Heaven

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note how the Lord is teaching the people. He points out to them that they are following Him not because they are actually seeking Him, but because they want the food that He gave to them. He then proceeds to tell them, basically, that they are getting things exactly wrong. The food that He gave them, and the signs that He does, are all arrows that point to Him as the One Who nourishes and saves them. They need to receive Him, and not just seek the transitory good things that He brings to them.)

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?