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.
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?
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Feast of the Transfiguration – Hymn Selections
We have been reading, but have now completed the letter of St. Ignatios to the Church in Ephesus. 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.
Vespers Hymn from the Kekragaria
When You were transfigured on a high mountain, O Savior, having with You those paramounts of Your Disciples, You shone forth with glory. Your intention was to show that those who attain the height of virtue will also be counted worthy of divine glory. Moses and Elias conversed with Christ, to show that He is the Lord of the living and the dead, and that the One who spoke through the Law and the Prophets of old was God. It was to Him that the voice of the Father bore witness from the bright cloud saying, "Listen to Him." He is the One who despoiled Hades through the Cross, and who granted the dead eternal life.
1st Hymn of the Vespers Aposticha
He who of old conversed with Moses on Mount Sinai through symbols, saying, "I am that I am, the One who is," was transfigured on Mount Tabor today for His Disciples to see. And since He had assumed human nature in himself, He showed them the original beauty of the image. He presented Moses and Elias as witnesses of this grace, and He let them share in the great joy, prefiguring what would follow through the Cross, namely the glorious and saving Resurrection.
Hymn from the 3rd Ode of the Canon
You put on the whole Adam, O Christ, and changing the nature that was darkened in days of old You filled it with glory and make it divine by the change that came to pass in Your form.
Hymn from the 8th Ode of the Canon
When the infinite Light that knows no evening, the brightness of the Father Who gives splendor to creation, appeared ineffably in unapproachable glory on Mount Tabor, it made men divine as they sang: All works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Second Hymn of the Ainoi
O God the Word, who exist before the ages, * who cover yourself with light as with a garment, O Lord, * with Your Disciples as witnesses You were transfigured, * O Logos, shining more brightly than the sun. * Moses and Elias stood by You betokening * that You are truly the Lord of both the dead and living; * and they gave glory to Your ineffable * plan of salvation by becoming man, * whereby You in Your mercy have saved the world, * in Your great condescension, * for it was perishing because of sin.
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.)
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 21:1-19
Last time Jesus spoke to the Sadducees and to the scribes (the Pharisees), and put both groups to shame, affirming the Resurrection to the Sadducees, and condemning the scribes as hypocrites. This time He will give an example of what true faithfulness looks like, and warn the people explicitly about the destruction that is coming to the temple.
The Widow’s Offering
21 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Signs and Persecutions
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Jesus warns them that the Temple will be destroyed, not so that they can prevent its destruction, or even so that they can escape it, but so that they don’t follow after earthly rulers and false messiahs. He tells them what the end of their lives will be; not in a rebellion against the Romans, but in persecutions for the sake of His name and the Gospel, that everyone will hate them, but that He will be faithful to them even to the end, and they will win everlasting life by following Him to the end. In short, He is telling them that the Kingdom of God is not to be found in this present life, but in the Resurrection, and urging them to endure to the end in faithfulness, laying aside the good things of this life in order to receive an inheritance with all the Saints in the Kingdom 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?