Day 1 (Monday)
Hebrews 11:1-22 (Faith of Abraham & Other Patriarchs)
As we begin this third year of the Religious Education Initiative, we are preparing to read the life of Abraham from Genesis 12 through 23 in the coming weeks in our Day 1 readings. But to begin, we will see what St. Paul says about Abraham, whose faith in God is a primary example for us, and how he interprets his life and urges us to imitate him. This is from the Epistle to the Hebrews, which appears to be not so much an epistle as a transcript of a sermon. In this passage, St. Paul begins by describing what Faith (πίστις) is, and where we see it demonstrated in the Old Testament.
The Meaning of Faith
11 Now faith (faithfulness/trust) is the assurance (substance) of things hoped for, the conviction (test) of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
The Faith of Abraham
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 19 He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.” 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.
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 the words translated as “faith” throughout and “faithful” in verse 11 are the same word, and discuss what this word actually reflects, and how faithfulness/trust are a better way in which to understand this word that “belief.” It is clear that everyone in this passage is being praised not just for opinions that they held, beliefs that they had, but actions that they took, trusting God and walking in faithfulness to His call and commandments. We are called to do the same. The other thing that should be noted is that St. Paul is identifying all the righteous of the Old Testament as having been faithful, specifically, to Christ Himself, Who was promised to them, but Whom they did not see or receive directly. But nonetheless, he counts them as Faithful, as Christians. We should therefore watch for signs of commonality with us, or points of example/warning for us, as we read the several chapters about Abraham in the coming weeks.)
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.
3rd Hymn of the Kekragaria
O Cross, most revered by all, * and which the orders of Angels * joyously surround, today * at your exaltation now * by divine command, * you exalt everyone * who had been evicted * and who fell completely into death * for having stolen fruit; * therefore we are faithfully kissing you * with hearts and lips caressing you * and thus are deriving the sanctity; * and shouting, "Exalt Christ * the Lord our God who is exceeding good, * and also worship and venerate * His divine footstool, the Cross."
7th Hymn of the Liti
Let us make glad today and sing in honor of the feast, ⁄ and cry out openly with joyful faces and tongues: ⁄ O Christ, You have accepted condemnation for us, ⁄ being spat upon, scourged, and robed in purple, ⁄ You have gone up upon the Cross. ⁄ Seeing You, the sun and moon hid their light, ⁄ the earth quaked in fear, ⁄ and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁄ Grant us Yourself Your precious Cross as guardian and protector ⁄ the driver away of demons, ⁄ that embracing it we may cry aloud: ⁄ Save us, Cross, by your might! ⁄ Make us holy in your splendor, precious Cross, ⁄ and strengthen us through your exaltation: ⁄⁄ For you have been given to us as the light and salvation of our souls!
1st Hymn of the Orthros Kathismata
We venerate the wood of Your Cross, O humane One, * for You, the Life of all, were nailed to it. * O Savior, You opened Paradise to the Robber who approached You with faith. * He was counted worthy of delight, confessing You, Remember me, O Lord. * Accept us as You accepted him, * for we now cry, We all have sinned * against Your compassion. Do not abandon us.
Ode 7 of the Canon for the Feast
The first man went to dwell in corruption ⁄ from eating of the tree. ⁄ Condemned to shameful banishment from life, ⁄ he fell prey to bodily corruption ⁄ which he transmitted to all our kind like some pollution from disease. ⁄ But finding restoration in the wood of the Cross, ⁄ those who dwell on earth cry out: ⁄ Blessed are You and praised above all, ⁄ our God and the God of our fathers!
The breaking of the law of God came through disobedience, ⁄ and the untimely partaking of the fruit of the tree ⁄ brought death to mortals. ⁄ From that time, the tree of precious life was guarded, ⁄ until the confession of the good thief opened the way to it once more ⁄ as he perished in agony crying: ⁄ Blessed are You and praised above all, ⁄ our God and the God of our fathers!
Doxastikon of the Praises
Today the Cross of the Lord comes out, and the faithful receive it with longing, and they obtain healings of soul and body and of every infirmity. Let us kiss it with joy and with fear: with fear, for we are unworthy because of sin; and with joy, because of the salvation, which Christ the Lord grants us, since He was nailed to the Cross, and He has great mercy.
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 many of the hymns, the Cross is being contrasted with the tree in the Garden of Eden which became the occasion for the sin and exile of our first parents; the Cross, rather, is for us the Tree of Life. As we begin this new Church Year, we are invited to do so in repentance, entering into a new year of the Lord’s salvation, taking up the “weapon of peace, and invincible trophy,” and rejoicing in the deliverance that we have been granted by the Lord.)
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 1:18-25; 2:1-6 (Birth of Jesus, Wise Men Seek the Christ Child)
Last time we began the Gospel of Matthew, and saw him show Jesus’ ancestry from Abraham, laying the groundwork to show that the Lord was the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham that in his seed, all the nations of the world would be blessed. This time, we will continue with the Gospel of Matthew, and see his account of the birth of Jesus and the coming of the Magi from the east to search for the child born King of the Jews.
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
The Visit of the Wise Men
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
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 Matthew is explicit here in identifying Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One of God, promised as the redeemer and savior of the world, and equally explicit that this Messiah is God Himself, with us. There is no uncertainty or doubt about these matters even here at the beginning. As a secondary matter, the Leader might also consider noting that, although the Church has always celebrated Christmas on December 25th, at least since the 4th century, it is not important, nor likely, that Jesus was actually born on this date. We are reading this because it comes at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew which we are now beginning, but coincidentally, there is a fascinating argument from astronomical records that the Lord was actually born in September, and indeed during this week when we are reading this passage, on the 11th of the month. It’s not important…but it is fascinating to think about. If you want to read/hear more about this, I recommend this podcast, or its transcript, as linked here: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/taught_by_a_star)
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?