Day 1 (Monday)
Philippians 2:12-30; 3:1-11
Last time we read the beginning of St. Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi, and saw how he introduced himself, how he wrote to encourage them in the face of persecutions (both his own and theirs), and confirmed the essential divinity and humanity of the Lord as He preached Christ’s example of humility in lowering Himself and becoming human. This time he will urge them to continue to be faithful, and warn them especially against the false teachings that are currently present among them.
Shining as Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. 20 I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. 21 They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also.
25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me.
Breaking with the Past
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, 6 as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless.
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
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Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader can note two points. a) The first paragraph is a good example of what the Church calls synergeia, how our salvation is a matter of our will and work in cooperation with God’s work and will in us. The point is that we cannot save ourselves from sin and death; it is God Who saves us, but we have to cooperate with Him. b) The final two paragraphs are an example of what Paul means. He lists all the things that he had done himself that he might have thought were his own works to save himself, and then shows how none of those actually saved him, and what He must do is to trust in the Lord, and be faithful to Him, and follow Him in suffering, even to the point of death, so that He may follow Him even to the resurrection from the dead. This is the point for all of us…the Christian life isn’t about completing a checklist, but is a matter of living a life of faithfulness, entrusting our entire lives to the Lord, and following Him through the many sufferings of this life into everlasting life.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Feast of the Transfiguration – 7
We have been reading, but have now completed the sermon of St. Proclus on the Most-Holy Theotokos. Since we celebrated two great feasts of the Church earlier this month, we will take the final two weeks of this year to reflect on some elements of the services for the feast of Transfiguration (August 6th) and Koimisis (August 15th). For the Feast of Transfiguration, we should note that there are three readings from the Old Testament, all of which we read during this past year. Two of them are the encounters that Moses had with God on Mount Sinai, from the book of Exodus, and the third is the meeting that Elijah had with God on Mount Horeb, when God was not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire, but in the still small voice. These readings were selected because they showed us the previous times that Moses and Elijah had met the Lord on the mountain, and how those meetings were fulfilled when He was transfigured and revealed His glory to them and to His disciples on Mount Tabor.
Kekragaria 1
Before Your crucifixion, O Lord, the Mount became like heaven, the cloud was like the Tent. When You were transfigured and the Father bore witness to You, Peter, James and John were there, since they would also be with You when You were betrayed; so that by seeing these wonders of Yours now, they would not be frightened by Your sufferings later. Grant that we may venerate Your Passion in peace, because of Your great mercy.
Liti Idiomelon 3
Christ, the light that shined before the sun, like the sun moved over the earth in His body; and, before His Crucifixion, He executed His awesome plan for salvation in a manner fitting His divine majesty. And so, today on Mt. Tabor, He mystically reveals the image of the Trinity. He took His three select Disciples, Peter, James and John, and led them up with himself. And then He briefly concealed the flesh that He had assumed, and He was transfigured before them. In so doing, He showed them the majesty of His original beauty, although not completely, but just enough to inform them, as much as their physical eyes could bear, and still spare them, lest the full vision cause them to lose their life. Then He brought in the pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elijah; and each in his own way testified that He is God, and that He is the true radiance of the Father’s essence, and that He is Lord of both the living and the dead. Then a cloud, like a tent, overshadowed them, and the voice of the Father on high came from the cloud, and audibly bore witness and said, “This is the One whom I begot without changing from the womb before the morning star, my beloved Son, whom I sent to save those who are baptized in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and who with faith confess that undivided is the one dominion of the Godhead. Listen to Him.” O humane Savior, Christ our God, we pray You to illumine us as well, with the light of Your unapproachable glory, and show us to be worthy recipients of your kingdom that has no end.
Hymn 3 from the 9th Ode of the 1st Canon
Having seen strange and marvelous wonders, * and having heard the voice of the Father * on Mount Tabor, the servants of the Word * cried out proclaiming unto the whole world: * He is our Savior and the impress of the Archetype.
Hymn 4 from the 9th Ode of the 1st Canon
Invariable image of the One who is, * the seal that is neither moved nor altered, * Son and Logos and Wisdom and Arm, * and Right Hand and Strength of the Most High, * we all extol you with the Father and the Spirit.
Hymn 1 from the 9th Ode of the 2nd Canon
That You might manifestly show * Your unutterable second descent to come, * how You the Most High God * will then be seen standing in the midst of gods, * You did ineffably shine forth * on Moses and Elias and * on the Apostles, O Lord, * on Mount Tabor. Hence we magnify You, O Christ.
Hymn 2 from the 9th Ode of the 2nd Canon
People, come listen to me. * Let us climb that mountain, holy and heavenly, and immaterially * stand in the city of the living God. * Let us noetically see * the immaterial Divinity * of the Father and the Spirit, * shining forth in the Only-begotten Son.
582 words
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note the basic themes. a) Christ is the same One Who appeared to Moses and Elijah. b) At the Transfiguration, His Divinity is revealed in the human nature He assumed. c) Being Incarnate with us, He changes us and saves us. d) In showing forth His Divinity, He shows also that He is the Master and Lord of sin and death, and prefigures His triumph over them. The long hymn from the Liti, especially, sums up the entire story, and reflects on its meaning and significance.)
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)
Luke 18:18-43 (Rich Ruler, Jesus Foretells His Passion a 3rd Time, Heals a Blind Beggar Near Jericho)
Last time we saw Jesus urging His disciples to pray, with fervent persistence like the widow, with humble repentance like the tax collector, and with the lowliness and simplicity of a child. This time, we will see Him continue to speak to those around Him as He makes His way toward Jerusalem and His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
The Rich Ruler
18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have observed from my youth.” 22 And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looking at him said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “Lo, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon; 33 they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar Near Jericho
35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; 36 and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Reading 39
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Discussion Questions
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that this passage follows immediately on the scene in which the disciples are keeping the children from the Lord, and He rebukes them, saying that the kingdom of God is for children, and unless one approaches the kingdom of God in the manner of a child, they will have no part in it. Remembering that, we can see the story of this rich young ruler as further explaining what it means to approach the kingdom of God like a child; following God is not just a matter of obeying the commandments and avoiding sin, but of actually becoming weak, and poor, and depending solely on the Lord for our life and salvation. In short, as an infant depends on its parents, so too we need to entrust ourselves to the Lord. The story of the Blind Beggar, whose persistent prayers for the Lord to have mercy on him are often cited as one of the origins of the Jesus Prayer, is another example of this sort of humble faith, illustrating in actual examples the points that the Lord has been making in parables and teachings.)
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?
6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)
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