Day 1 (Monday)
Genesis 37:29-36; 39:1-23 (The Brothers Lie to Jacob, Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife)
Last time, we saw the sons of Jacob take center stage, with Joseph, the older son of Rachel and the favorite of his father, having (and sharing) dreams about how he would be the ruler of all the family. His father gave him a multi-colored and rich robe, a sign of his favor, and his brothers were jealous of that favor and hated him. When they had an opportunity, they planned to kill him, but Reuben, the oldest, was opposed to the plan, and convinced them to just put him in a pit, planning to come rescue him later. But while he was gone, the other brothers decided to sell Joseph into slavery, and Joseph was taken into Egypt as a slave. This time, we will see what happens next.
Reuben’s Sorrow
29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he rent his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers, and said, “The lad is gone; and I, where shall I go?” 31 Then they took Joseph’s robe, and killed a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood; 32 and they sent the long robe with sleeves and brought it to their father, and said, “This we have found; see now whether it is your son’s robe or not.”
33 And he recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s robe; a wild beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile the Mid′ianites had sold him in Egypt to Pot′i-phar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
We are going to skip chapter 38, as it is a sordid story; in this chapter, we see Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, take a wife from among the Canaanites and father three sons. In the course of the story, his wife dies, two of his sons die because they are wicked, but Judah has two more sons with the widow of his oldest son. This is an ugly story which shows how far Judah has fallen from the high call of the God of his fathers, but it also shows a hint of repentance in him by the end.
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
39 Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Pot′i-phar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ish′maelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian, 3 and his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands.
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge; and having him he had no concern for anything but the food which he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Lo, having me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand; 9 he is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife; how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
10 And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie with her or to be with her. 11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and got out of the house.
13 And when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice; 15 and when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; 18 but as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out of the house.”
19 When his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatever was done there, he was the doer of it; 23 the keeper of the prison paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
Reading 2 – 851 words
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out we see Joseph’s character here; he has shown himself to be a faithful, trustworthy, and prudent servant, and resists the temptation that comes to him from his master’s wife, even though the power that he has been given would allow him to commit this sin and perhaps even get away with it. We should note his words: he says that it would be a sin against God for him to lie with his master’s wife. We might expect him to say that it would be a sin against his master to do so, but it bears reflection why it would be a sin against God. In Joseph’s case, there are two reasons. The first, of course, is that God calls all to chastity. But there is a second element; the access to his mistress that his position in his master’s household gives to him is a gift given in trust, not just by his master, but by God, who has granted him favor and authority. Joseph is doing well, fed, clothed, and honored, and trusted as the steward of someone else’s possessions. To take the one thing forbidden to him would indeed be a sin against God, a second Fall, as in Eden. In refusing the temptation, Joseph shows that faithfulness to God is possible, and we see almost immediately that God is faithful to him, continuing to show him favor even as he is in prison.)
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)
St. Euphemia (September 16) and Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope, and Love (September 17)
In the course of this week, there are a number of saints celebrated who are of particular note in the life of the Church. The first is St. Euphemia, whose relics remain even to this day in the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Constantinople, and who was involved in the resolution of the Christological controversies during the 4th Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon. The second is a mother, Sophia, who was martyred together with her three daughters, after whom a great many Christian women throughout the Church’s history have been named. These brief lives are taken from the new publication of the Prologue of Ohrid, which is a beautiful text that combines lives and hymns of saints together with brief homilies or reflections. It is, in fact, very much along the lines of the Prologue from Ohrid that these readings are set up, and any families that wish to add additional readings to their family life would do well to acquire this beautiful book, available at this link either in print or on Kindle: https://sebastianpress.org/the-prologue-of-ohrid-lives-of-saints-hymns-reflections-and-homilies-for-every-day-of-the-year/
The Holy Great-martyr Euphemia
Euphemia was born in Chalcedon. Her father Philophronus, a senator, and her mother Theodorisia were devout Christians. Euphemia was a beautiful virgin in body and in soul. When the Proconsul Priscus held a feast and offered sacrifices to Ares in Chalcedon, forty-nine Christians avoided this foul sacrificial offering and hid themselves.
However, they were discovered and brought before Priscus. Among them was St. Euphemia. When the arrogant Priscus asked them why they defied the imperial decree, they replied: “Both the emperor’s and your command should be obeyed, if they are not contrary to the God of heaven; but if they are contrary to God, they should not only be disobeyed, but should also be opposed.”
For nineteen consecutive days, Priscus imposed various tortures on them. On the twentieth day he separated Euphemia from the others and began to flatter her for her beauty, attempting to win her over to idolatry. As his flattery was in vain, he ordered that the virgin be tortured again. First, they tortured her on the wheel, but an angel of God appeared to Euphemia and shattered the wheel. Then they threw her into a fiery furnace, but she was preserved by the power of God. Upon seeing this, two soldiers, Victor and Sosthenes, came to believe in Christ, for which they were thrown to the wild beasts, and thus gloriously ended their earthly lives.
Euphemia was then thrown into a pit filled with water and every kind of poisonous vermin; but she made the sign of the Cross over the water and remained unharmed. She was finally thrown to the wild beasts and, with a prayer of thanksgiving to God, gave up her spirit. Her parents buried her body honorably. Euphemia suffered in the year 304 and entered into eternal joy. She is also commemorated on July 11.
Hymn of Praise
The Holy Great-martyr Euphemia
All-blessed Euphemia, the holy virgin, Offered herself to God as a sacrificial lamb. She neither gasped, nor sighed, nor sorrowed, But gave warm thanks to God for her tortures. Angels appeared to her in the flame, And extinguished the embers with cool heavenly dew. Oh, such is our Faith—invincible! Oh, such is the love for God—unquenchable! Euphemia, wise virgin, virgin of Christ, Christ the Lord gave you the Kingdom for your suffering. You have boldness before the Mother of God and Christ our God, And help Their work by your holy prayers. O Euphemia, pray for all sinners,
Velimirovich, Saint Nikolai. The Prologue of Ohrid (p. 1451). Sebastian Press. Kindle Edition.
The Holy Martyrs Pistis (Faith), Elpis (Hope), and Agapi (Love), and their mother Sophia (Wisdom)
They all lived and suffered in Rome during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Sophia was wise, as her name implies. She was left a widow, and had established herself and her daughters well in the Christian Faith. When the persecuting hand of Hadrian extended even over the virtuous home of Sophia, Faith was only twelve years old; Hope, ten years old; and Love, nine years old.
Brought before the emperor, these four held each other’s hands “like a woven wreath,” humbly but steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ the Lord and refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan idol Artemis. Before their suffering, the mother encouraged her daughters to endure to the end: “Your heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is eternal health, inexpressible beauty and eternal life. When your bodies are slain by torture, He will clothe you in incorruption and the wounds on your bodies will shine in the heavens as stars.”
One by one the torturers inflicted cruel torments, first on Faith, then on Hope, and then on Love. They beat them, slashed them, cast them into fire and boiling pitch, and finally beheaded them with the sword one after another. Sophia took the dead bodies of her daughters outside the town and honorably buried them. She remained at their grave for three days and three nights, praying to God. Then she gave her spirit to God, flying off to Paradise, where the blessed souls of her glorious daughters awaited her.
Hymn of Praise
The Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, and Love and their mother, Sophia
Sophia, all-wise, glorified the Lord; As a sacrifice to Him, she offered three most-beautiful daughters. To her daughters she said: “Be not afraid, my daughters; Strengthen yourselves in Christ; endure in the Faith; And be not afraid of torture or bitter misfortunes. Do not grieve over your bodies—it is better in heaven: God will give you wonderful bodies in heaven. Do not grieve over your beauty—with divine beauty You will shine among the angels in the Kingdom of God, As the daughters of the King of kings! Do not grieve over life—what is this earthly life worth?
Velimirovich, Saint Nikolai. The Prologue of Ohrid (p. 1457). Sebastian Press. Kindle Edition.
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 the essential truth that we see revealed in the story of every martyr, which is particularly evident here, that the martyrs bear witness of the love and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, choosing to hold fast to Him not simply for the sake of future joy or glory, but for the sake of the present communion with Him in which they partake. It is this true life in Christ to which we are all called, if we can learn to lay aside the cares and pleasures of this life and hold fast to the King of Glory, Who is present with us at all times, waiting for us to turn to Him in repentance.)
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 2:14-36 (Peter Addresses the Crowd)
Last time, we saw the beginning of the day of Pentecost, as the Disciples of the Lord were gathered together in the Upper Room, and the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, as tongues of fire rested upon the heads of the Disciples, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in every language under heaven the glorious works of the Lord. This sound of wind was loud enough that it was heard throughout the city, so that a crowd gathered to see what was happening, and was amazed and perplexed to hear these simple men of Galilee speaking and confessing and proclaiming the glory of God in every language. Some in the crowd suggested that the Disciples must be drunk, and at this point, Peter begins to preach.
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Reading 3 – 556 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 how much of the Scripture Peter is quoting in this sermon. We sometimes wonder what sort of things the Lord revealed to the Disciples in the 40 days after His Resurrection and before His Ascension…but ultimately, we shouldn’t wonder, because we know, simply because what the Lord taught to them is what they have preached and proclaimed to us. Thus St. Peter brings together the Psalms and the Prophets and the lived experience of his audience, many of whom had lived through the signs and wonders that accompanied the Lord’s Crucifixion, to proclaim to them the wonders of the day, and call them to repentance. We will see what he directs them to do next time.)
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?