Day 1 (Monday)
Proverbs 6:1-24 (Practical Admonitions)
As we begin the New Year of 2023, we will continue for one more week to pause from our normal narrative readings, and return once again to the Book of Proverbs. This book, written by a father seeking to provide good guidance to his son, and by extension to all of us, directs us to walk the narrow path of faithfulness, avoiding the common temptations and holding fast to the Lord in all things. It is a good way to begin the new year. Note: The previous chapter, which we have not read, is a warning against sexual immorality, especially what the text calls the “loose woman,” but it seems to be a warning against any dealings with prostitution. We may extend it in the present day to be a warning against the manifold sexual immorality in our society, whether on the internet or elsewhere, and against the evils and dangers of pornography as well. Parents of teenagers may wish to consider reading Proverbs chapter 5 with their children, or reading it themselves and then sharing relevant elements with their young people.
Practical Admonitions
6 My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbor,
if you have bound yourself to another,
2 you are snared by the utterance of your lips,
caught by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my child, and save yourself,
for you have come into your neighbor’s power:
go, hurry, and plead with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter,
like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you lazybones;
consider its ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief
or officer or ruler,
8 it prepares its food in summer,
and gathers its sustenance in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O lazybones?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want, like an armed warrior.
12 A scoundrel and a villain
goes around with crooked speech,
13 winking the eyes, shuffling the feet,
pointing the fingers,
14 with perverted mind devising evil,
continually sowing discord;
15 on such a one calamity will descend suddenly;
in a moment, damage beyond repair.
16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that hurry to run to evil,
19 a lying witness who testifies falsely,
and one who sows discord in a family.
20 My child, keep your father’s commandment,
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 to preserve you from [great sin and destruction].
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 warning in the first paragraph, against “becoming surety for one’s neighbor” is referring to underwriting other peoples’ debts, as one might do when participating in a charlatan’s get-rich scheme. The warning is against giving money to someone that cannot be trusted: not a friend or close neighbor, but someone that you just happen to come into contact with. This remains good advice when it comes to random advertising and income opportunities, on the internet or in person. The rest of the passage speaks of the importance of diligent work, rather than laziness, and the terrible dangers presented by those who create discord, and finally ends with a warning for children to hold fast to the essential instruction of a patient and conscientious parent. We may note, as well, that the chapter continues with a warning against marital infidelity, especially with someone else’s spouse, and how this will be even more destructive than the sexual immorality that was warned against in the previous chapter. We have not included this part of the chapter, but again, parents of teenagers would do well to read verses 25-35 of this chapter, and consider sharing them with their young people.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Theophany Hymns (to be selected for multiple years)
On January 6th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Theophany, which commemorates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. This feast is not a simple historical remembrance, but is laden with cosmic significance; the Church sees this moment as a turning point, a fulfillment of many expectations, and a promise of greater things to come, as the water of the Jordan becomes the first matter of the Creation (apart from His own Holy Flesh) to be made holy by the Lord Who has come into our midst as one of us, in order to sanctify us, and all Creation with us. This marvelous reality, and the wonder that it is God Himself Who has entered within His own Creation to save and sanctify it, is at the core of themes that the Church reflects on in the hymns of this feast day. There are a great many hymns worth reading for the feast-day, so please don’t hesitate to read a smaller selection of what we have set forth here, if your time (or the attention of your family/class) runs short.
Hymns from the Services of Theophany
Idiomelon 1 of Sixth Hour
Thus did the Lord say to John: "O Prophet, come and baptize me, the One who created you, and who by grace illumines and purifies all people. Touch my divine head, do not be hesitant. O Prophet, let it be so now, for I have come to fulfill all righteousness. So, do not hesitate at all, for I very much want to destroy the enemy who is hiding in the waters, the prince of darkness, and thus to redeem the world from his traps, and to grant eternal life, in my love for humanity."
Idiomelon 2 of Sixth Hour
Today, that prophecy in the Psalms is close to coming to pass. For it says, "The sea saw it and fled, the Jordan turned back, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob," who has come now to His servant to receive Baptism, so that through it we might be cleansed from the impurity of idols and our souls may be illumined
Doxastikon of the Sixth Hour
Why are you restraining your waters, O River Jordan? Why do you reverse your current and not proceed to flow naturally? And the River replies, "I am unable to bear the all-consuming fire. I am enthralled and shaking with holy thrill at the extreme condescension. For I am not accustomed to cleansing one who is clean; I know not how to purify the sinless, but only to wash the dirtied vessels. But now Christ, who is being baptized in me, is teaching me to burn up thorns of sins. And John bears witness with me; yes, the voice of the Logos cries out, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" To Him, O faithful, let us cry aloud, "O God, who made Your epiphany for our salvation, glory to You!
Idiomelon 4 of the Kekragaria
Wishing to save mankind which had gone astray, You did not deem it unworthy to put on the form of a servant; it was fitting for You, the Master, to assume what is ours for our sake. When You were baptized in the flesh, O Redeemer, You granted us forgiveness. Therefore we shout to You, "O Benefactor, Christ our God, glory to You!
Idiomelon 4 of the Liti
Christ is baptized: ⁄ He comes up from the waters, bringing the world with Him. ⁄ He sees the heavens opened which Adam had closed ⁄ against himself and his posterity. ⁄ the Spirit bears witness to His divinity, hastening to His own nature; ⁄ and a voice comes from heaven, ⁄ for He to whom this testimony is given has come down from heaven, ⁄⁄ and He is the Savior of our souls.
Kathisma 2 of the Orthros
Jordan River, tell us do: * What did you see and were amazed? * I saw naked Him whom none * can see, and shuddered in fear. * And how was I not to shudder at Him and be frightened? * The Angels, when they saw Him also shuddered in awe. * And heaven was astonished, and astounded was earth. * The sea recoiled along with all things * both visible and invisible. * For Christ appeared in the River Jordan, * to sanctify the waters.
Both Now Hymn of Ode 4 of Canon 2 of the Feast
In the lairs of dragons, God the Word searches for us ⁄ to lead us back to the life-giving pastures of Paradise. ⁄ He destroys the dreadful snares the enemy had laid for mankind, ⁄ He makes a prisoner of him who bruised all mankind in the heel, ⁄ and so He saves the creation.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out how, in the final hymn selected, we are invited to reflect on the Lord’s Incarnation as our God and Creator coming into the very den of the dragons that enslave us to rescue us and restore us to communion with Him. This is not really a metaphor, as the demons who have led us into sin are rightly referred to as dragons, and especially because the water itself was understood in the ancient world as the dwelling place of monstrous and terrifying sea beasts, associated with death itself. Thus it is important that the Lord enters even into the depths of the waters, into the realm of chaos and death, and destroys the power of these things, and makes even the substance which they had dominated, the waters of the river Jordan, an instrument of grace and sanctification for all the Creation.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 3 (Friday)
Matthew 9:18-34 (Daughter Raised from Dead, Woman Healed, Blind and Mute Men Healed)
This week we return to our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Last time, we saw the disciples of John the Baptist come to Jesus with a question about fasting, at what seems to have been the meal hosted by Matthew the tax collector and newest disciple of the Lord; while He is answering this question, as we will see, a leader of the synagogue comes in to ask for Jesus to help him.
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”
22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And the report of this spread throughout that district.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” 31 But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
Jesus Heals One Who Was Mute
32 After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.”
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that when the blind men call Jesus the “Son of David,” this is a statement that He is the Messiah, the awaited Anointed One, as the Messiah was expected to be a descendant of David, and one who would restore things to how they ought to be. What is remarkable is that these blind men expect a Messiah Who heals, and not just a Messiah to lead an army or establish a kingdom. David never healed the blind; so we can see that there were some in Judaea who expected the sort of Messiah that Jesus was, based on the prophecies of God coming to be with His people, and it is striking that they call out to him in this way, asking for help. It is also worth noting that this verse, and its analogues in the other Gospels, is considered the Scriptural basis for what we call the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” since what they say: “Son of David, have mercy on us,” could be stated rather as “Christ, have mercy on us,” and adding the title Lord and the name Jesus is only making it more specific Who it is that we are calling upon in our prayer.)
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?