Day 1 (Monday)
Leviticus 11:1-47 (Clean & Unclean Animals)
For the past couple weeks, we have paused our progress through the book of Leviticus to observe the celebration of Christmas and to begin this second third of year five with a selection from the book of Proverbs. This week, we will jump ahead slightly in the book of Leviticus to see what sort of animals are permitted to be used for offerings and for eating by the people of God. This distinction between animals that are to be eaten and animals that are to be avoided is not fundamentally one of what is righteous and what is evil, but rather of restraint and separation; God’s people are to be set apart from the rest of the people of the earth, not because they are better than them, but because their role is to be a priestly people, ministers of the presence of God to all the nations and peoples of the world, and for this priesthood, God calls them to be set apart in this way.
Clean and Unclean Foods
11 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them: 2 Speak to the people of Israel, saying:
From among all the land animals, these are the creatures that you may eat. 3 Any animal that has divided hoofs and is cleft-footed and chews the cud—such you may eat. 4 But among those that chew the cud or have divided hoofs, you shall not eat the following: the camel, for even though it chews the cud, it does not have divided hoofs; it is unclean for you. 5 The rock badger, for even though it chews the cud, it does not have divided hoofs; it is unclean for you. 6 The hare, for even though it chews the cud, it does not have divided hoofs; it is unclean for you. 7 The pig, for even though it has divided hoofs and is cleft-footed, it does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean for you.
9 These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the streams—such you may eat. 10 But anything in the seas or the streams that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and among all the other living creatures that are in the waters—they are detestable to you 11 and detestable they shall remain. Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall regard as detestable. 12 Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.
13 These you shall regard as detestable among the birds. They shall not be eaten; they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, 14 the buzzard, the kite of any kind; 15 every raven of any kind; 16 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind; 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the water hen, the desert owl, the carrion vulture, 19 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
20 All winged insects that walk upon all fours are detestable to you. 21 But among the winged insects that walk on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to leap on the ground. 22 Of them you may eat: the locust according to its kind, the bald locust according to its kind, the cricket according to its kind, and the grasshopper according to its kind. 23 But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you.
Unclean Animals
24 By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until the evening, 25 and whoever carries any part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. 26 Every animal that has divided hoofs but is not cleft-footed or does not chew the cud is unclean for you; everyone who touches one of them shall be unclean. 27 All that walk on their paws, among the animals that walk on all fours, are unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until the evening, 28 and the one who carries the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; they are unclean for you.
29 These are unclean for you among the creatures that swarm upon the earth: the weasel, the mouse, the great lizard according to its kind, 30 the gecko, the land crocodile, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. 31 These are unclean for you among all that swarm; whoever touches one of them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening. 32 And anything upon which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether an article of wood or cloth or skin or sacking, any article that is used for any purpose; it shall be dipped into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening, and then it shall be clean.
33 And if any of them falls into any earthen vessel, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break the vessel. 34 Any food that could be eaten shall be unclean if water from any such vessel comes upon it; and any liquid that could be drunk shall be unclean if it was in any such vessel. 35 Everything on which any part of the carcass falls shall be unclean; whether an oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces; they are unclean, and shall remain unclean for you. 36 But a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, while whatever touches the carcass in it shall be unclean. 37 If any part of their carcass falls upon any seed set aside for sowing, it is clean; 38 but if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.
39 If an animal of which you may eat dies, anyone who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 40 Those who eat of its carcass shall wash their clothes and be unclean until the evening; and those who carry the carcass shall wash their clothes and be unclean until the evening.
41 All creatures that swarm upon the earth are detestable; they shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever moves on its belly, and whatever moves on all fours, or whatever has many feet, all the creatures that swarm upon the earth, you shall not eat; for they are detestable. 43 You shall not make yourselves detestable with any creature that swarms; you shall not defile yourselves with them, and so become unclean. 44 For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming creature that moves on the earth. 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; you shall be holy, for I am holy.
46 This is the law pertaining to land animal and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms upon the earth, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.
Reading 5
1113 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 the distinctions that are drawn between clean and unclean animals here are established for Israel specifically, which is to say, those whose males are circumcised and who eat the Passover meal each year. They are not imposed upon all of humanity, but are the rules for Israel as a priestly people, just as there are particular rules for the Levites and for the family of the high priest which are not imposed on the people at large. That means that these dietary rules are the means by which the distinction between Israel and the nations of the earth is established, and this point is very helpful as we consider our New Testament reading from Acts 10 from last week and from this week. St. Peter’s vision of the sheet being let down from heaven, and the voice commanding him to rise, kill and eat, is directly connected with God’s initiation of the nations of the earth, starting with Cornelius the centurion, into the body of the Church. What was unclean and separated is no longer so.)
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
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 to unite Himself with 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 or class) runs short.
Hymns from the Services of Theophany
Idiomelon 1 of the 9th Hour
How amazing it was, to see the Maker of heaven and earth at the River strip down and receive Baptism from His servant, like a servant, all for our salvation. Even the hosts of Angels were astonished, overcome with fear and joy. We join them now and worship You, O Lord. Save us
Idiomelon 2 of the 9th Hour
When the Forerunner saw the Lord of glory approaching him, he shouted, "Behold, He who liberates the world from corruption has come. Behold, He delivers us from affliction. Behold, He who grants remission of sins has come to earth, born of a Virgin, for mercy's sake; and out of servants, He is making sons of God, and out of darkness, He is illumining the human race, through the water of His divine Baptism." So come, everyone, all together let us sing our hymns of glory to Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Doxastikon of the 9th Hour
That hand of yours that touched the immaculate head of the Master (3), with the finger of which you pointed Him out to us, lift it up to Him on our behalf, O Baptist, as one who has great freedom to speak. Indeed, that you are greater than all the Prophets has He borne witness concerning you. Again those eyes of yours that beheld the all-holy Spirit when it descended in the form of a dove, cast them up to Him, O Baptist, making Him merciful to us. Then come and stand with us (3), and set the seal on our song, and be the leader of the festivities.
Doxastikon of the Kekragaria
You bowed Your head before the Forerunner; You crushed the heads of the dragons; You came to the river; and you enlightened the universe, to glorify You, O Savior, the illumination of our souls.
Troparion 3 of the Great Blessing of the Water
You have come to the River as a man, O Christ our King; and You urgently request to receive a Baptism befitting a servant, at the hands of the Forerunner, all because of our sins, O good Lord who loves humanity.
Idiomelon at the End of the Great Blessing of the Water
Let us the faithful extol the greatness of God's benevolent deeds concerning us. For He became man in our transgression; and now in the Jordan, He who alone is clean and undefiled is cleansed in the cleansing that is meant for us; and He sanctifies me and the waters, and on the water He crushes the heads of the dragons. Therefore, brethren, let us draw water with gladness. For to those who draw with faith, the grace of the Spirit is invisibly given by Christ, our God and the Savior of our souls.
Idiomelon 5 of the Liti
The hand of the Baptist trembled, ⁄ when it touched Your immaculate head: ⁄ The river Jordan turned back, not daring to minister to You. ⁄ For how could that which stood in awe of Joshua the Son of Nun ⁄ not be afraid before Joshua's Creator? ⁄ But You, Savior, have fulfilled all that was appointed, ⁄ so that You might save the world by Your epiphany, ⁄⁄ only Lover of mankind.
Idiomelon 3 of the Aposticha
Today, the Creator of heaven and earth comes in the flesh to the Jordan, asking to be baptized, though He is without sin, in order to purge the world of the error of the foe. And so the Master of all is baptized by a servant, and He grants purification by water to the human race. Let us shout to Him, "O God, who have appeared, have mercy on us.
Kathisma 3
You hallowed the waters of the Jordan River, O Lord; * and by Your own might You shattered sin's dominion, O Christ our God. * You bowed yourself, O Savior, beneath the hand of the Baptist, * and saved the human race from deception and error. * Therefore we intently entreat You to save Your world.
Troparion 1 of Ode 9 of Canon 1 of the Feast
In the Spirit, O David, come be present and sing out * to those being illumined, Now approach to God in faith and be illumined. * Adam who was fallen cried aloud, being the poor man, * and truly the Lord heard him; and therefore He has come, * and in the streams of the Jordan He renewed him, the corrupted one
Troparion 2 of Ode 9 of Canon 1 of the Feast
Wash yourselves and be clean, says the Prophet Isaiah, * and put away your evildoing from before the Lord's eyes. * All you who are thirsty go now to the living water. * For Christ will sprinkle those who believing run to Him * with water that renews; and He baptizes them * with the Spirit unto undecaying life.
Troparion 3 of Ode 9 of Canon 1 of the Feast
By the grace and the seal let us believers preserve ourselves. * For as the Hebrews once escaped destruction when the lintel had been bloodied, * likewise this baptismal laver of regeneration * will be a passing over and exodus for us, * where we shall see the Trinity's never-setting lights.
Idiomelon 5 of the Praises
He who wraps heaven in clouds wraps himself today in the streams of the Jordan. He who takes away the sin of the world washes himself in a wash that is meant for me. The cognate Spirit from above testifies of Him, that He is the Most High Father's Only-begotten Son. To Him let us cry aloud, "O Christ our God who appeared to us and saved us, glory to You.”
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 the third selection above, the Doxastikon of the 9th Hour, is the third of three hymns that are chanted at that point in the 9th Hour during the Royal Hours of the three ancient baptismal feasts of the Church. All three of them begin and end with a triple refrain, and in the service are intoned once in the center of the Church before being chanted, usually antiphonally, by the Choirs. What is worth noting is that the other two, those that are chanted in the Christmas Royal Hours and the Holy Friday Royal Hours, each end with a triple repetition of: “we worship Your Passion/Nativity, O Christ, show us also Your divine Resurrection/Epiphany.” For the Paschal Royal Hours, they reach their fulfillment in the imminent celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection, but for Christmas, the feast of Theophany IS the pinnacle which it anticipates. Thus the Theophany hymn stands on its own, reflecting on the miracle of God’s presence with us, and enters into the inestimable joy of the celebration together with the Forerunner.))
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 10:23b-48 (Peter Visits Cornelius, Gentiles Received)
Last time we saw the messengers of Cornelius sent to find Peter in Joppa, and we saw Peter have a vision while in prayer, in which a sheet was let down from heaven filled with unclean animals, and a voice commanded him to “Rise, kill and eat.” And when he refused, saying that he had never touched or eaten anything forbidden to God’s people as unclean in the Torah, the Voice asked him why he called unclean what God had made clean. Immediately the messengers arrived, and he went down to meet with them, perhaps beginning to understand that the vision and their arrival were connected. This time, we will see him go with them and arrive at the home of Cornelius.
Peter Visits Cornelius
The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 On Peter’s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; 28 and he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31 He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.”
Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
39 “We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
Reading 19 – 586 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 Peter’s final words, as they are vital. He is effectively interpreting what has happened, and making clear that God Himself has intervened directly in this situation, commanding Cornelius to send for Peter, commanding Peter to go with Cornelius’ messengers, and finally, after the Gospel has been preached to Cornelius’ household, God has accepted these Gentiles, uncircumcised though they are, as full members of the household of Faith, even though they have not yet even been baptized. Thus Peter asks who can forbid baptism to these whom God has already sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit; this is perhaps the only time that we have seen Chrismation, the personal Pentecost that is the receiving of the Holy Spirit, come in its fullness BEFORE baptism, specifically as a sign that baptism is NOT to be forbidden to those of the Nations who wish to be counted as Christians, even if they have not become Jews by Circumcision. This event is thus the founding moment for the Christian Faith of the vast majority of Christians today, as very few of us can claim any genetic heritage in Israel.)
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?