Day 1 (Monday)

Genesis 41:9-45 (Pharaoh's Dreams Interpreted, Joseph is Elevated to Rule Egypt)

Last time we saw Joseph in the prison, where he met the butler and the baker of the Pharaoh, who had displeased their master and been thrown into the prison. While they were there, they each had strange dreams, and they told Joseph about them. He told them that the interpretation of dreams belongs to God, and asked them to tell him their dreams; when they did, he interpreted them, telling them that the butler would soon be restored to his station, while the baker would be executed. Joseph then asked the butler to intercede on his behalf to Pharaoh, because he himself was imprisoned unjustly. Things played out just as he had said, but the butler forgot about him completely for two years. At that time, Pharaoh himself had two dreams, about seven fat cows being eaten by seven thin cows, and seven fat ears of grain being consumed by seven thin ears. When he woke up, he told his servants about his dreams. We will pick up the story there, as the butler suddenly remembers Joseph.

The Butler Remembers

9 Then the chief butler said to Pharaoh, “I remember my faults today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own meaning. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard; and when we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came to pass; I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it; and I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile; 18 and seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass; 19 and seven other cows came up after them, poor and very gaunt and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin and gaunt cows ate up the first seven fat cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as gaunt as at the beginning. Then I awoke.

22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good; 23 and seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dream is one. 27 The seven lean and gaunt cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh, God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of that famine which will follow, for it will be very grievous. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land, and take the fifth part of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine which are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Joseph’s Rise to Power

37 This proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a man as this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are; 40 you shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 and he made him to ride in his second chariot; and they cried before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaph′enath-pane′ah; and he gave him in marriage As′enath, the daughter of Poti′phera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Reading 4 – 898 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out how Joseph makes clear to Pharaoh that the interpretation of dreams is not some special ability that he has, but rather that this is a matter that belongs to God, and Joseph is simply the servant of the Lord. This humility is vitally important, and is an essential sign of true faithfulness to God, as its absence is a sign of faithlessness and pride. We should note, as well, what Joseph says about the doubling of the dream, that this is not simply a warning to Pharaoh, a call to repentance; indeed, this coming famine seems to have nothing to do with Egypt at all, save that God is providing Egypt with the means to be delivered from the famine. We might wonder why this is God’s purpose, and while on the one hand certainty in such matters is impossible, we might note that God has said repeatedly to Abraham and to Isaac that their descendants will inherit the Promised Land of Canaan, but not yet, because the evil and wickedness of the peoples living there at the time is not yet so great that their time of judgment has arrived. The famine that is coming, however, serves to bring Jacob and his household out of the Promised Land and into Egypt, and during the 400 years that they remain in Egypt, the wickedness of the Canaanites will become very great, and finally the Lord will send Israel as His own instrument of judgment. So this may be at least one cause of the famine.)

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)

Joseph and Asenath – 1

This week, we are going to begin reading a text that was extremely popular among the people of Israel during the final century before the Lord’s birth, which was embraced and adopted with enthusiasm by the Christian Church. Copies of this text appear throughout the Christian world in effectively every language of the ancient Christian Church (Greek, Syriac, Amharic, Armenian, etc). In the words of the translator we are using, “As far as we can see, exegesis and theology took little notice of our romance, unless inclusion in some lists of canonical and apocryphal books is a sign of theological interest. Joseph and Aseneth was read as a source of inspiration and moral strength, at times for historical information, and indubitably often just for fun.”
Inasmuch as we are very much in favor of inspiration, moral strength, and fun, we will be reading this text over the next several weeks, as we continue our way through the story of Joseph.

James H. Charlesworth, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and the New Testament: Expansions of the “Old Testament” and Legends, Wisdom, and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works, vol. 2 (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1985), 202–238.

FIRST PART: ASENETH’S CONVERSION AND MARRIAGE

I. CAST OF CHARACTERS. SCENE OF ACTION

1 1 (1) And it happened in the first year of the seven years of plenty, in the second month, on the fifth of the month: Pharaoh sent out Joseph to drive around the whole land of Egypt. 2 (2) And Joseph came in the fourth month of the first year, on the eighteenth of the month, (3) into the territory of Heliopolis, and was gathering the grain of that region like the sand of the sea.

3 (4) And there was a man in that city, a satrap of Pharaoh, and this (man) was a chief of (5) all the satraps and the noblemen of Pharaoh. And this man was exceedingly rich and prudent and gentle, and he was a counselor of Pharaoh, because he was understanding beyond all the noblemen of Pharaoh. And the name of that man (was) Pentephres, priest of Heliopolis. 4 (6) And he had a daughter, a virgin of eighteen years, (she was) very tall and handsome and beautiful to look at beyond all virgins on the earth. 5 (7) 

And this (girl) had nothing similar to the virgins of the Egyptians, but she was in every respect similar to the daughters of the (8) Hebrews; and she was tall as Sarah and handsome as Rebecca and beautiful as Rachel. And the name of that virgin was Aseneth. 6 (9) And the fame of her beauty spread all over that land and to the ends of the inhabited (world). And all the sons of the noblemen and the sons of the satraps and the sons of all kings, all of them young and powerful, asked for (10) her hand in marriage, and there was much wrangling among them over Aseneth, and they made attempts to fight against each other because of her.

7 (11) And Pharaoh’s firstborn son heard about her and he kept entreating his father to give (12) her to him for (his) wife. 8 (13) And his firstborn son said to Pharaoh, “Father, give me Aseneth, the daughter of Pentephres, the priest of Heliopolis, for (my) wife.” 9 (14) And Pharaoh, his father, said to him, “Why do you seek a wife (that is) beneath you, and you are king of the whole land of Egypt? Behold, is not the daughter of the king of Moab, Joakim, betrothed to you, and she is a queen and exceedingly beautiful? This (one) take for (your) wife.”

Aseneth’s tower and the court surrounding Pentephres’ house are described

2 1 (1) And Aseneth was despising and scorning every man, and she was boastful and arrogant with everyone. And no man had ever seen her, because Pentephres had a tower adjoining (2) his house, very big and high, and ´on top of this tower was an upper floor including ten chambers. 2 (3) And the first chamber was big and splendid, paved with purple stones, and its (4) walls were faced with colored and precious stones, and the ceiling of that chamber was of gold.
3 And within that chamber gods of the Egyptians who were without number were (5) fixed to the walls, (even gods) of gold and silver. And Aseneth worshiped them all and feared them and performed sacrifices to them every day. 4 (6) And the second chamber contained (7) Aseneth’s ornaments and chests, and there was much gold in it (the chamber) and silver and clothes interwoven with gold and chosen and costly stones and distinguished cloths and all the ornaments of her virginity.
5 (8)(9) And the third chamber was Aseneth’s storeroom, and in it were all the good (things) of the earth. 6 (10) And seven virgins occupied the remaining (11) seven chambers, each having one chamber, ´and these were waiting on Aseneth, and they were all of the same age, born in one night with Aseneth, and she loved them very much. And they were very beautiful, like the stars of heaven, and no man ever conversed with them, not (even) a male child.

7 (12) And there were three windows to Aseneth’s big chamber where her virginity was being (13) fostered. And the one window, the first, was exceedingly big, looking east toward the court, and the second one was looking south, and the third one was looking north toward the street where people passed by. 8 (14) And there was a golden bed standing in the chamber, (a bed) (15) that looked toward the window (looking) east, and the bed was laid with gold-woven purple stuff, interwoven with violet, purple, and white. 9 (16) And in this bed Aseneth slept, alone; and a man or another woman never sat on it, only Aseneth alone.

10 (17) And there was a large court surrounding the house, and a wall was around the court, very high, built from big square stones. 11 (18) And the court had four iron-plated gates, and (19) eighteen powerful armed young men guarded each of these. And handsome trees of all sorts and all bearing fruit were planted within the court along the wall. And their fruit was ripe, for it was the time of harvest. 12 (20) And there was in the court, on the right hand, a spring of abundant living water, and below the spring was a big cistern receiving the water of that spring. From there a river ran right through the court and watered all the trees of that court.

915 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that this text sets up the characters that we don’t already know, which is to say, Asenath, who will be the wife of Joseph, but who at the beginning of our story is simply the daughter of one of the most powerful and wealthy men in Egypt, beautiful, desired by all, and also entirely full of herself. This story will narrate for us how a princess of Egypt could become the wife of the most faithful of Jacob’s sons, a woman fit to be named among the exemplar couples in the Orthodox marriage service. We should therefore note that the sketch that we get of her character speaks of her wealth, her arrogance, her beauty, and her worship of the many gods of Egypt. We also are given the setting in which the coming story will play out.)

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)

Acts 3:11-26; 4:1-4 (Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico, Peter & John Before the Council)

Last time we saw 3,000 Jews from all over the Roman Empire, assembled in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot) enter the Church, being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit together with the 120 Disciples who had gathered in the Upper Room and upon Whom the Holy Spirit had descended. We saw, too, Peter and John go to the Temple, where Peter healed a lame man who was asking for alms there. This time, we will see what is the aftermath of that healing.

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. 12 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.

14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

17 “And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, 21 who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.

22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. 23 And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ 24 And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. 25 You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Peter and John before the Council

4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

Reading 5 – 505 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that here we see what is effectively the second Christian sermon preached after the Lord’s Ascension, and that once again, Peter is preaching to people who were themselves eyewitnesses of the Lord’s condemnation and crucifixion, and that only two or three months beforehand. This is still fresh in memory and experience, and it is for this reason especially that he is speaking of how they have rejected the Author of Life; he is calling these specific people to repentance, and not condemning an entire race for their connection to those who rejected the Lord. The Gospel is FOR these people, but in the final paragraph, there is also that sense of urgency, as the Lord has come to them, but as Jesus foretold, if they reject the Holy Spirit, there is no further revelation or opportunity for repentance that is coming. This is not their last chance, individually, as they and we continue to have opportunities to repent through to the end of our lives. But the coming of the Holy Spirit is the final fulfillment of what was prophesied; if they reject Him, then they are effectively choosing to live in an alternate reality of their own making, and this is a pitfall into which every one of us might fall, and against which we must guard ourselves.)

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 40:1-23; 41:1-8 (Joseph in Prison, Pharaoh’s Dreams)

Last time we saw Joseph arrive in Egypt, where he became the slave of a wealthy Egyptian named Potiphar. God was with him, and he gained the favor of his master, who entrusted all his household and property to Joseph’s stewardship. However, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, and when he refused her, she slandered him to her husband, who threw Joseph into prison. Even there, God remained with him, and he gained the favor of the master of the prison, who set him over everything within the prison. We will continue the story from there.

The Dreams of Two Prisoners

40 Some time after this, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them; and they continued for some time in custody.

5 And one night they both dreamed—the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own meaning. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them, they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, I pray you.”

9 So the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches; as soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days; 13 within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his butler. 14 But remember me, when it is well with you, and do me the kindness, I pray you, to make mention of me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; 19 within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat the flesh from you.”

20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief butler to his butlership, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand; 22 but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream

41 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows sleek and fat, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, gaunt and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the gaunt and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men; and Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was none who could interpret it to Pharaoh.

Reading 3 – 741 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that this story of Joseph, beginning with his own dreams when he was first introduced to us, is the first time that we really see dreams featuring in the Bible. In the ancient world, dreams were understood to be a space in which divine beings spoke to human beings, whether for good or for ill. Thus each of these dreams is considered to have a meaning beyond the sort of psychologizing that we are inclined to today. Now, it must be noted that these are a particular sort of dream, strange visions that connect to nothing in one’s daily life, and this matters. The point that we should take away, perhaps, is that not all dreams come from God, and not all dreams mean something…but also that sometimes they do. When they do, the Fathers of the Church urge us not to take them as a source of pride, nor to be guided by them, unless we are able to be absolutely certain that God is speaking to us. In the dreams we see in this passage, the dreams are revealing Joseph to be a man of discernment, able to interpret God’s revelation to humankind. We should not expect to have similar dreams, and if we do, we should be careful of believing or following them, should apply ourselves to prayer and the things of God, and should ask the priest for guidance in interpreting what we have dreamed.)

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)

7th Vespers Prayer 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 last of those seven prayers.

7th Vespers Prayer at the Lighting of the Lamps

O God, Who are great and most high, Who only have immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; Who have made the whole creation in wisdom; Who have divided between the light, and between the darkness; and have appointed the sun for the ruling of the day, but the moon and the stars for the ruling of the night; Who have deigned that we, sinners, should, at the present hour also, come before Your presence with confession, and offer You the evening doxology: do Yourself, O Lord, lover of man, direct our prayer, as incense before You, and accept it for an odour of a sweet smell.

And grant us that the present evening, and the approaching night may be peaceful: put on us the armour of light; deliver us from the terror of the night, and from every thing that walks about in the dark; and grant us that the sleep, which You have ordained for the refreshing of our infirmity, may be safe from every phantasy of the devil.

Yea, O Master of all, supplier of good things; that, upon our beds also feeling compunction, we may be mindful of Your Name in the night; and being enlightened by meditation on Your commandments, may arise in exultation of soul, to glorify Your goodness, bringing to Your tenderness of heart entreaties and supplications, for our own sins, and for those of all Your people; whom, at the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, do You visit in mercy.

For a good God, and lover of man 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.

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 this prayer establishes us in relationship with God and with the natural order of the world. The first portion confesses the Lordship of God the Creator over all things, having set everything in order, and recognizes our place in this order, that we should come before the Lord at sunset to make confession, to glorify God, and to offer our prayer like incense. As we inhabit this space which God has given to us, we ask for His protection throughout the night, that we may be preserved from any sin or temptation, so that we may rise in the morning in that same right relationship with the Creator of all things and with His Creation. This prayer, then, is nothing less than a template for our life in Christ, our life in this world, our existence as stewards of the creation and fellow laborers with the Creator in the tending and pruning and ordering of 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)

Acts 2:37-47; 3:1-10 (First Converts, Life of the Early Church, Crippled Beggar Healed)

Last time, we saw St. Peter’s sermon to the crowd that had gathered when they heard the sound of the mighty rushing wind on the day of Pentecost. Peter had spoken to them of how what they were experiencing that day was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, of how God would send His Spirit upon all flesh on the occasion of the great and glorious Day of the Lord, and then explained that the Day of the Lord had come as well, and that they had experienced it, with the darkness and the earthquake that had accompanied the death of the Lord on the Cross. He then proclaimed to them the Resurrection of the Lord, and that He had ascended and been enthroned in the fullness of His divinity and humanity at the right hand of God the Father, and that therefore that same Jesus whom they had crucified was alive, and was the Lord, God Himself, and the long awaited Messiah, the Christ. This time, we will see what those who heard him say in response, and what follows.

The First Converts

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Life among the Believers

43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4 Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,[a] stand up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Reading 4 – 485 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that St. Peter’s sermon basically articulated the Gospel to the crowd, in the terms of the Scriptures that had been fulfilled by the Lord. Their question to him, then, of what they need to do to be saved, may be taken as the appropriate response to hearing the Gospel of the Lord, and the answer is, to repent and be baptized, and to answer the Lord’s call to all to follow Him. We should make a note about the life of the early Church as provided here: when it says they devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread and to prayers, this is a reference essentially to what would have been the earliest Divine Liturgy, the regular celebration of the Lord’s Mystical Supper, which is what the Breaking of the Bread refers to, along with the prayers. What we know about the life of the Early Church is that they continued to participate in the life of the Jewish community, attending the reading and preaching of the Scriptures in the synagogues, and attending and participating in the prayer and worship that continued to take place in the Temple. On the Lord’s Day, the 1st day of the week, however, they gathered in the homes of the Faithful and celebrated the Eucharist, with the breaking of the bread and with prayers.)

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 37:29-36; 39:1-23 (The Brothers Lie to Jacob, Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife)

Last time, we saw the sons of Jacob take center stage, with Joseph, the older son of Rachel and the favorite of his father, having (and sharing) dreams about how he would be the ruler of all the family. His father gave him a multi-colored and rich robe, a sign of his favor, and his brothers were jealous of that favor and hated him. When they had an opportunity, they planned to kill him, but Reuben, the oldest, was opposed to the plan, and convinced them to just put him in a pit, planning to come rescue him later. But while he was gone, the other brothers decided to sell Joseph into slavery, and Joseph was taken into Egypt as a slave. This time, we will see what happens next.

Reuben’s Sorrow

29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he rent his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers, and said, “The lad is gone; and I, where shall I go?” 31 Then they took Joseph’s robe, and killed a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood; 32 and they sent the long robe with sleeves and brought it to their father, and said, “This we have found; see now whether it is your son’s robe or not.”

33 And he recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s robe; a wild beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile the Mid′ianites had sold him in Egypt to Pot′i-phar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

We are going to skip chapter 38, as it is a sordid story; in this chapter, we see Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, take a wife from among the Canaanites and father three sons. In the course of the story, his wife dies, two of his sons die because they are wicked, but Judah has two more sons with the widow of his oldest son. This is an ugly story which shows how far Judah has fallen from the high call of the God of his fathers, but it also shows a hint of repentance in him by the end.

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

39 Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Pot′i-phar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ish′maelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian, 3 and his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands.

4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge; and having him he had no concern for anything but the food which he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Lo, having me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand; 9 he is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife; how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

10 And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie with her or to be with her. 11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and got out of the house.

13 And when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice; 15 and when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; 18 but as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out of the house.”

19 When his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatever was done there, he was the doer of it; 23 the keeper of the prison paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

Reading 2 – 851 words 

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out we see Joseph’s character here; he has shown himself to be a faithful, trustworthy, and prudent servant, and resists the temptation that comes to him from his master’s wife, even though the power that he has been given would allow him to commit this sin and perhaps even get away with it. We should note his words: he says that it would be a sin against God for him to lie with his master’s wife. We might expect him to say that it would be a sin against his master to do so, but it bears reflection why it would be a sin against God. In Joseph’s case, there are two reasons. The first, of course, is that God calls all to chastity. But there is a second element; the access to his mistress that his position in his master’s household gives to him is a gift given in trust, not just by his master, but by God, who has granted him favor and authority. Joseph is doing well, fed, clothed, and honored, and trusted as the steward of someone else’s possessions. To take the one thing forbidden to him would indeed be a sin against God, a second Fall, as in Eden. In refusing the temptation, Joseph shows that faithfulness to God is possible, and we see almost immediately that God is faithful to him, continuing to show him favor even as he is in prison.)

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. Euphemia (September 16) and Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope, and Love (September 17)

In the course of this week, there are a number of saints celebrated who are of particular note in the life of the Church. The first is St. Euphemia, whose relics remain even to this day in the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Constantinople, and who was involved in the resolution of the Christological controversies during the 4th Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon. The second is a mother, Sophia, who was martyred together with her three daughters, after whom a great many Christian women throughout the Church’s history have been named. These brief lives are taken from the new publication of the Prologue of Ohrid, which is a beautiful text that combines lives and hymns of saints together with brief homilies or reflections. It is, in fact, very much along the lines of the Prologue from Ohrid that these readings are set up, and any families that wish to add additional readings to their family life would do well to acquire this beautiful book, available at this link either in print or on Kindle: https://sebastianpress.org/the-prologue-of-ohrid-lives-of-saints-hymns-reflections-and-homilies-for-every-day-of-the-year/

The Holy Great-martyr Euphemia

Euphemia was born in Chalcedon. Her father Philophronus, a senator, and her mother Theodorisia were devout Christians. Euphemia was a beautiful virgin in body and in soul. When the Proconsul Priscus held a feast and offered sacrifices to Ares in Chalcedon, forty-nine Christians avoided this foul sacrificial offering and hid themselves.
However, they were discovered and brought before Priscus. Among them was St. Euphemia. When the arrogant Priscus asked them why they defied the imperial decree, they replied: “Both the emperor’s and your command should be obeyed, if they are not contrary to the God of heaven; but if they are contrary to God, they should not only be disobeyed, but should also be opposed.”

For nineteen consecutive days, Priscus imposed various tortures on them. On the twentieth day he separated Euphemia from the others and began to flatter her for her beauty, attempting to win her over to idolatry. As his flattery was in vain, he ordered that the virgin be tortured again. First, they tortured her on the wheel, but an angel of God appeared to Euphemia and shattered the wheel. Then they threw her into a fiery furnace, but she was preserved by the power of God. Upon seeing this, two soldiers, Victor and Sosthenes, came to believe in Christ, for which they were thrown to the wild beasts, and thus gloriously ended their earthly lives.

Euphemia was then thrown into a pit filled with water and every kind of poisonous vermin; but she made the sign of the Cross over the water and remained unharmed. She was finally thrown to the wild beasts and, with a prayer of thanksgiving to God, gave up her spirit. Her parents buried her body honorably. Euphemia suffered in the year 304 and entered into eternal joy. She is also commemorated on July 11.

Hymn of Praise
The Holy Great-martyr Euphemia

All-blessed Euphemia, the holy virgin, Offered herself to God as a sacrificial lamb. She neither gasped, nor sighed, nor sorrowed, But gave warm thanks to God for her tortures. Angels appeared to her in the flame, And extinguished the embers with cool heavenly dew. Oh, such is our Faith—invincible! Oh, such is the love for God—unquenchable! Euphemia, wise virgin, virgin of Christ, Christ the Lord gave you the Kingdom for your suffering. You have boldness before the Mother of God and Christ our God, And help Their work by your holy prayers. O Euphemia, pray for all sinners,

Velimirovich, Saint Nikolai. The Prologue of Ohrid (p. 1451). Sebastian Press. Kindle Edition.

The Holy Martyrs Pistis (Faith), Elpis (Hope), and Agapi (Love), and their mother Sophia (Wisdom)

They all lived and suffered in Rome during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Sophia was wise, as her name implies. She was left a widow, and had established herself and her daughters well in the Christian Faith. When the persecuting hand of Hadrian extended even over the virtuous home of Sophia, Faith was only twelve years old; Hope, ten years old; and Love, nine years old.

Brought before the emperor, these four held each other’s hands “like a woven wreath,” humbly but steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ the Lord and refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan idol Artemis. Before their suffering, the mother encouraged her daughters to endure to the end: “Your heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is eternal health, inexpressible beauty and eternal life. When your bodies are slain by torture, He will clothe you in incorruption and the wounds on your bodies will shine in the heavens as stars.”

One by one the torturers inflicted cruel torments, first on Faith, then on Hope, and then on Love. They beat them, slashed them, cast them into fire and boiling pitch, and finally beheaded them with the sword one after another. Sophia took the dead bodies of her daughters outside the town and honorably buried them. She remained at their grave for three days and three nights, praying to God. Then she gave her spirit to God, flying off to Paradise, where the blessed souls of her glorious daughters awaited her.

Hymn of Praise
The Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, and Love and their mother, Sophia

Sophia, all-wise, glorified the Lord; As a sacrifice to Him, she offered three most-beautiful daughters. To her daughters she said: “Be not afraid, my daughters; Strengthen yourselves in Christ; endure in the Faith; And be not afraid of torture or bitter misfortunes. Do not grieve over your bodies—it is better in heaven: God will give you wonderful bodies in heaven. Do not grieve over your beauty—with divine beauty You will shine among the angels in the Kingdom of God, As the daughters of the King of kings! Do not grieve over life—what is this earthly life worth?

Velimirovich, Saint Nikolai. The Prologue of Ohrid (p. 1457). Sebastian Press. Kindle Edition.

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 essential truth that we see revealed in the story of every martyr, which is particularly evident here, that the martyrs bear witness of the love and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, choosing to hold fast to Him not simply for the sake of future joy or glory, but for the sake of the present communion with Him in which they partake. It is this true life in Christ to which we are all called, if we can learn to lay aside the cares and pleasures of this life and hold fast to the King of Glory, Who is present with us at all times, waiting for us to turn to Him in repentance.)

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

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

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

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

Day 3 (Friday)

Acts 2:14-36 (Peter Addresses the Crowd)

Last time, we saw the beginning of the day of Pentecost, as the Disciples of the Lord were gathered together in the Upper Room, and the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, as tongues of fire rested upon the heads of the Disciples, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in every language under heaven the glorious works of the Lord. This sound of wind was loud enough that it was heard throughout the city, so that a crowd gathered to see what was happening, and was amazed and perplexed to hear these simple men of Galilee speaking and confessing and proclaiming the glory of God in every language. Some in the crowd suggested that the Disciples must be drunk, and at this point, Peter begins to preach.

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,

‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Reading 3 – 556 words 

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 much of the Scripture Peter is quoting in this sermon. We sometimes wonder what sort of things the Lord revealed to the Disciples in the 40 days after His Resurrection and before His Ascension…but ultimately, we shouldn’t wonder, because we know, simply because what the Lord taught to them is what they have preached and proclaimed to us. Thus St. Peter brings together the Psalms and the Prophets and the lived experience of his audience, many of whom had lived through the signs and wonders that accompanied the Lord’s Crucifixion, to proclaim to them the wonders of the day, and call them to repentance. We will see what he directs them to do next time.)

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 37:1-28 (Joseph’s Dreams, Is Sold by his Brothers)

As we begin this fifth year of the Religious Education Initiative, we are continuing from where we left off last year in the book of Genesis (week 10) as Jacob returned to Bethel, where God had appeared to him and given to him the promises of Abraham and Isaac his fathers. He worshipped God there, and then continued back to Mamre (Hebron) to see his father, but along the way, Rachel died while giving birth to Jacob’s youngest son Benjamin. We should remember that Jacob had twelve sons by four wives: six sons from Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar & Zebulun) as well as a daughter, Dinah, two sons by Rachel’s maid Bilhah (Dan & Naphtali), two sons by Leah’s maid Zilpah (Gad & Asher), and then finally two sons by Rachel herself, Joseph the older and Benjamin the younger. This does not conclude the story of Jacob, but from this point on, the main characters in the story are his sons.

We remember, too, that the narrative of Genesis so far has shown us God’s creation of the world, the rebellion of humanity through the deception of the serpent, the growth of wickedness until the Flood wipes out all of humanity except Noah and his family, and the repopulation of the earth until they rebel against God once again at the Tower of Babel, and so God divides the nations and their languages, and establishes a distance between Himself and humanity. At this point, however, God also begins to prepare a means of reconciliation between Himself and rebellious humanity, and calls Abraham to leave the land of Babel, and promises him that he will be the father of many nations, and blessing to all the nations of the earth, although he and his wife are old and have no children. Abraham and Sarah received their son Isaac when Abraham was 100, and Sarah was 90, and then Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. With the twelve sons of Jacob, then, we are at the brink of the swift growth of the descendants of Abraham, and are approaching the covenant that God will make with Jacob’s descendants at Mt. Sinai. But we are not there yet; first, they have to go to Egypt, and be enslaved there, and then God will send Moses to lead them out of slavery into the Land of Promise, as His own priestly people, a nation set apart to reconcile all humanity to Himself. The story of Jacob’s sons, and especially the story of Joseph, is the account of how they came to be in Egypt in the first place.

Joseph Dreams of Greatness

37 Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the history of the family of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought an ill report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they only hated him the more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered round it, and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him yet more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream; and behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers, and with the flock; and bring me word again.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 And a man found him wandering in the fields; and the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said, “tell me, I pray you, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’”

So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. 18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”

21 But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; 24 and they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ish′maelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ish′maelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers heeded him. 28 Then Mid′ianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ish′maelites for twenty shekels of silver; and they took Joseph to Egypt.

Reading 1 – 765 words
700 goal
+65

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leaders should point out first of all that the consequences of Jacob’s many wives, and his preference for Rachel, are playing out in a profound enmity amongst the brothers. If anyone ever says that the Old Testament has no problem with polygamy, this passage in particular refutes that. Jacob certainly did have many wives, but this is manifestly NOT a good thing. Nonetheless, God turns even this evil toward good, as we will see. Second, the dreams that Joseph has, especially the first one, is an indication of the high calling of Jacob’s family; they are the sun, the moon, and the stars, as Abraham was promised that his descendants would be like the stars in the heavens. Finally, the selling of Joseph into bondage for a certain number of pieces of silver is often connected to Judas’ betrayal of the Lord for a certain amount of silver. In this, and in a number of other points, Joseph becomes a type of Christ, and we should watch for more as his story unfolds.)

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 Elevation of the Holy Cross

Today for our selection from Church Tradition, we’ll be looking at some of the hymns from the great Feast of the Church that we celebrate on September 14th, the Elevation of the Precious and Holy Cross. This feast commemorates both the finding of the Cross by St. Helen, and its recovery and return to Jerusalem in 627, after its seizure by the Persians a decade before. The feast of the Cross is a Strict Fast, and functions almost like mini celebration of the themes of Holy Week, all distilled into a single feast day, here in the fall, at the beginning of the new Church Year.

2nd Hymn of the Kekragaria

Moses once prefigured you * when he extended his arms up * and he routed utterly * Amalek the tyrant king, * O most precious Cross; * the believers' pride and joy, * Martyr-athletes' support, * the Apostles' badge and ornament, * defender of the Just * and the preservation of the Devout. * And all creation seeing you * lifted high is therefore rejoicing now, * and is celebrating * and glorifying Christ who has through you * united those that were separate, * in His extreme benevolence.

Doxastikon of the Liti

Portraying in advance the action of the precious Cross, Moses routed the adversary Amalek in the wilderness of Sinai, O Christ. For when he spread out his arms, in the form of the Cross, the people became strong. And now the outcome of those events has been fulfilled in us. Today the Cross is exalted, and the demons are banished. Today the entire creation is liberated from corruption. For it is through the Cross that all the gifts of grace have shined on us. Therefore, rejoicing, we all bow down before You and say, "How magnified are Your works, O Lord. Glory to You!"

From the Canon
Ode 1

Moses prefigured the Cross. * Lifting up the rod, he stretched out his hand and split the Sea for Israel to cross on land. * Then he stretched it out again, * and the sea returned and covered Pharaoh's chariots. * The Cross was thus portrayed as our invincible armor. * So let us sing to the Lord, * Christ our God, for He is greatly glorified.

The Prophet Moses of old * in himself prefigured the undefiled Passion, when he stood between those men of God. * With hands held up in the form * of the Cross, he raised a monument of victory, * defeating the destroyer Amalek and his forces. * So let us sing to the Lord, * Christ our God, for He is greatly glorified.

The antidote was set up * on a pole by Moses of old to save the people from the poisonous and deadly bite. * He horizontally fixed * to the wood, symbolic of the Cross, the snake of bronze * and vanquished the affliction of the slithering serpent. * So let us sing to the Lord, * Christ our God, for He is greatly glorified.

The Cross appeared in the sky * to the godly-minded and pious Emperor to be the emblem of victory. * The raging of hostile foes * now has been struck down by it; deceit has been overthrown; * and faith in God has spread to the four corners of the earth. * So let us sing to the Lord, * Christ our God, for He is greatly glorified.

Ode 9

Theotokos, you are mystical Paradise, * for without husbandry you have blossomed Christ, * by whom on earth the Cross, as a life-bearing tree, has been planted and watered. * As it is now exalted, * we adore Him and worship Him and magnify you.

Let all the trees of the forest greatly rejoice, * because their nature was sanctified when Christ, * by whom they were originally planted on earth, * was crucified upon one. * As it is now exalted, * we adore Him and worship Him and magnify 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 many of the hymns talk about the typologies and prefigurements of the Cross as the weapon of salvation and victory in the Exodus from Egypt. The reference to Moses and Amalek refers to the event in Exodus 17, when the Amalekites attacked Israel as they were arriving at Mt. Sinai. During the battle, when Moses raised his arms, imitating the form of Christ on the Cross, Israel was winning, but when his hands lowered in weariness, Israel was losing. His two assistants ended up holding his hands aloft, and this event entered deeply into the memory of the people of God, especially after the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord revealed the reason for the significance of the shape of the Cross.)

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)

Acts 2:1-13 (Coming of the Holy Spirit)

Last time we read the first chapter of Acts, in which we saw the Lord’s Ascension depicted once again by St. Luke, and then saw the Lord’s Disciples (the 11, together with the 70 and other close disciples, including the Lord’s Mother, and probably His brothers, that is to say, the sons of Joseph) gathering in prayer in the Upper Room, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. We also saw them cast lots to select a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed the Lord, and choose Matthias to be counted as one of the Twelve. This time, we will see what happens on the Day of Pentecost itself.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Reading 2 -232 words
481 goal
-57

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that the Feast of Pentecost was a feast of the Old Covenant, Shavuot in Hebrew, and was one of the three festivals on which the people of God were commanded to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It was celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover, and thus was called “Fiftieth,” or in Greek, Πεντεκοστή, from which we get the English borrowing “Pentecost.” The feast celebrated the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai and the Covenant that God made with His people there, as the culmination of the exodus from Egypt. It also coincided with the harvest of the wheat, so in the Descent of the Holy Spirit on this day, we see the fulfillment of the Old Testament Pentecost, in which the people of God were anointed as His priestly people at Mt. Sinai; now, on Mt. Zion, the renewed Israel, delivered not just from earthly bondage, but from slavery to death and sin, are anointed with the Holy Spirit Himself, and empowered to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord throughout the entire world. This feast also is connected with the separation of the languages of the nations at the Tower of Babel, for here, what had separated the nations is now made the instrument for their reconciliation with God, as the Apostles are granted speech in the language of every people under heaven to proclaim the glorious works of God.)

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)

Proverbs 24:1-34; 25:1-28

This reading and reflection marks the beginning of the fifth year of the Religious Education Initiative. Each week, we will provide three readings for the parish. Everyone is urged to participate; families should participate together, reading the selections Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (or three other days/times, whatever works best for the family). Anyone can take the lead, but we recommend that the father and mother in each household do so to start with. Whoever takes the lead, we strongly recommend that each household take this opportunity to make it a priority to do these readings and reflections as an entire and whole family, all together. Also, since fathers often get left out of religious matters in the home, because of their other responsibilities and obligations outside of the home, wherever possible it is best if the father takes the lead in these readings, either reading the selection and guiding the discussion himself, or delegating the reading to someone else.

As we begin the new Church year, and our fifth year of the Religious Education Initiative, we will start with another selection from the book of Proverbs. At this point in the book of Proverbs, we are simply reading through a collection of wise sayings of Solomon. In all of these, the general theme is the contrast between what the Church has often referred to as the way of death, versus the way of life. We pray that these reminders will remind us all of the sacred responsibilities placed in our hands, and that we will run with patience and faithfulness the race that is set before us, not just this year, but over our entire lives.

Note: this is a longer selection, as may be appropriate for families with older children, etc. Families with younger children may certain consider reading only a portion of the following, as seems appropriate to the parents. If you read the entire selection, it should take a little over six to eight minutes, so feel to adjust accordingly. A simple way to shorten the selection is to read only the one of the two chapters; reading them in advance will let you see which chapter contains more helpful or relevant proverbs for your household at present.

Further Sayings of the Wise

24 Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them;
2 for their minds devise violence,
and their lips talk of mischief.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is mightier than a strong man,
and a man of knowledge than he who has strength;
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 He who plans to do evil
will be called a mischief-maker.
9 The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to men.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not requite man according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do not violence to his home;
16 for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again;
but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 lest the Lord see it, and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not envious of the wicked;
20 for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,
and do not disobey either of them;
22 for disaster from them will rise suddenly,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise.
Partiality in judging is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will be upon them.
26 He who gives a right answer
kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside,
get everything ready for you in the field;
and after that build your house.
28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man without sense;
31 and lo, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

25 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great;
7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of the prince.
What your eyes have seen
8 do not hastily bring into court;
for what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not disclose another’s secret;
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.

11 A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
he refreshes the spirit of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.

16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest you be sated with it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

20 He who sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on a wound.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain;
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
so be sparing of complimentary words.
28 A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that any of these verses will bear closer consideration and reflection; they purposely are seeking to provide deeper insight to common experiences. For an example, these verses from early in the selection can be interpreted on at least two levels, depending on whether we read them together, or separately:

“10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.”

If we read them separately, then the first is simply an observation that those who get tired when life gets hard are weak, and the second is an admonition to help those who are being enslaved. But if we read them together, then the import becomes an admonition to build up our strength, or rather, our dependence upon the Lord in our weakness, in the times when we are not facing adversity, because by preparing in ourselves the habit of waiting upon the Lord, entrusting ourselves to Him, we will prepare and provide assistance and rescue (from the Lord Himself) for ourselves in the future when we are being taken away to death, stumbling to the slaughter…and thus we will be found to have great strength in the day of adversity, not in ourselves, but in the Lord in Whom we have learned to live and move and have our being.
At any rate, any of these proverbs bear careful consideration, and it is worth listening to hear what strikes your attention, and to go back and reflect on it throughout the day.)

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)

Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

As we begin the new Church Year, we always make a start with the celebration of the feast of the Birth of the Theotokos, the Mother of God. Her birth marks the formal beginning of the Lord’s work of His Incarnation, so it is fitting that we start the Church Year with this commemoration. This feast emphasizes the long waiting and hoping of the people of God for deliverance and salvation, looking to the birth of the Mother of God as the moment when these hopes begin to see their fulfillment. It is a fitting thing for us not just to celebrate this fulfillment, but as we celebrate this great feast, to also take the occasion, then, to read together some of the significant hymns of the Feast.

5th Hymn of the Kekragaria

Today is the proclamation of universal joy! ⁄ The barrenness of humans is pardoned, ⁄ for the barren Anna becomes a mother ⁄ of the virginal Mother of the Creator! ⁄ The One Who is God by nature ⁄ has taken our human nature ⁄ and has worked salvation in the flesh ⁄⁄ Christ the Lover of mankind and the Redeemer of our souls.

3rd Hymn of the Liti

What is this sound of feasting we hear? ⁄ Joachim and Anna keep mystic festival. ⁄ Adam and Eve cry: Rejoice with us today! ⁄ For if by your transgression you closed the gate of Paradise to those of old, ⁄ we have now been given a glorious fruit, ⁄ Mary, the child of God ⁄⁄ who opens its entrance to us all!

2nd Kathisma Hymn of the Orthros

Unto us is born today Mary the child of God, * as the branch from Jesse's root, and as the fruit of David's loins, * and all creation is re-created and deified. * O heaven and the earth, rejoice in unison. * Sing praises unto her, O all you Gentile clans. * Joachim is exultant, and Anna is keeping festival, crying out: * "The barren woman bears the Theotokos, * the nourisher of our Life."

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that the reflections on the barrenness of Anna connect with the spiritual barrenness of old Israel, and with the helplessness and brokenness of fallen humanity at large, and that the inability for a woman to bear children, while it functions in a demeaning way in the societies of the time, reducing a woman to her ability to bear offspring, is here universalized as the true state of all of humanity apart from the grace and mercy of God. Thus, God comes bringing help to the helplessness and lifelessness of humanity, raising up a miraculous offspring for the barren Anna, and in her creating new life in barren and fallen humanity, so that this living branch of the dead root of Jesse becomes the vessel for the Lord and Master of Life to enter His Creation and grant life to all.)

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)

Acts 1:1-26 (The Ascension, Promise of the Holy Spirit, Matthias Chosen)

In Year 5 of the REI, we will read the Book of Acts. To this point, we have read one of the Gospels each year, and we must note from the outset that the book of Acts is not a Gospel, and therefore should not be ranked as important as they are. Nonetheless, the book of Acts provides us with an account of the life and history of the Church in its earliest days, during the time in which the Apostles were preaching and establishing communities throughout the Mediterranean world. It takes us from the Lord’s Ascension all the way to St. Paul’s arrival in Rome, and thus from A.D. ~30 through about ~60. We should watch for the points of connection between the early Church and our current experience, both in the positive elements, and in the challenges which have faced the Church from the very beginning.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension of Jesus

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16 “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘Let his homestead become desolate,
and let there be no one to live in it’;
and
‘Let another take his position of overseer.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Reading 1 -673 words –
Goal 481
+192

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 book of Acts is written by St. Luke, basically as a continuation of the story given in his Gospel. Luke himself seems to have been an eyewitness of many of these events, being, as it seems, the unnamed disciple who was with Cleopas on the road to Emmaeus when the Lord came and journeyed with them, and explained to them all the things from the Scriptures that spoke of His coming, of His passion, and of His Resurrection. We should note, as well, that we see here a listing of the 11 Disciples, and we also see Peter initiate the replacement of Judas Iscariot with another disciple who had been with them from the beginning, and probably one of the 70 that the Lord had sent out. In the mind of the Church, however, the twelfth disciple is not St. Matthias, but St. Paul, who is chosen by the Lord Himself, as we will see in the coming weeks. This is not to demean St. Matthias, who is truly counted among the ranks of the Apostles, but at the same time, we have a necessary reminder that, even as we who are the Church act in the best good faith and conscience, we can make mistakes…and that the Lord Himself will correct those mistakes.)

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?