Day 1 (Monday)
2 Chronicles 16:7-13; 17:1-10, 12-13; 18:1-34; 19:1-3 (Reign of Jehoshaphat, Death of Ahab)
Last time, we read about the final destruction of the kingdom of Israel. Over the past several weeks, we have followed Israel from the time of Jeroboam to its end, and have seen how the Lord sent prophets to Ahab and his descendants, caring for the faithful people of Israel and calling the unfaithful back to Him, so that no one willing to follow the Lord’s commandments was without guidance, even as the nation of Israel declined and fell from the communion with the Most-High God to which they were called.
Meanwhile, we’ve only seen what happened in the southern kingdom of Judah, where David’s descendants are kings, in passing. We saw that Solomon, his son Rehoboam, and his grandson Abijah, all did evil in the sight of the Lord, and we noted that Asa, Abijah’s successor, began his reign in righteousness, as a welcome change from those who had gone before him. Unfortunately, he ended his reign by paying the king of Syria for military assistance against Israel, instead of trusting in the Lord, so that his reign ended poorly. His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him, at the time that Ahab and Jezebel ruled in Israel, and he sought the Lord and served Him, abolishing the high places and destroying the Asherim in Judah, and sending his court officials together with Levites and priests to teach the people from the Torah. So therefore the Lord was with him. He even made peace with Israel, and it is there that we will pick up the story.
Micaiah Predicts Failure
18 Now Jehosh′aphat had great riches and honor; and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to Ahab in Samar′ia. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ra′moth-gil′ead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ra′moth-gil′ead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”
4 And Jehosh′aphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ra′moth-gil′ead, or shall I forbear?” And they said, “Go up; for God will give it into the hand of the king.” 6 But Jehosh′aphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?”
7 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micai′ah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” And Jehosh′aphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 8 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micai′ah the son of Imlah.”
9 Now the king of Israel and Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes; and they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samar′ia; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 And Zedeki′ah the son of Chena′anah made for himself horns of iron, and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, and said, “Go up to Ra′moth-gil′ead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
12 And the messenger who went to summon Micai′ah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 13 But Micai′ah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.” 14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micai′ah, shall we go to Ra′moth-gil′ead to battle, or shall I forbear?” And he answered, “Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.”
15 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 16 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
18 And Micai′ah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left; 19 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ra′moth-gil′ead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ 21 And he said, ‘I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go forth and do so.’ 22 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; the Lord has spoken evil concerning you.”
23 Then Zedeki′ah the son of Chena′anah came near and struck Micai′ah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 24 And Micai′ah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 25 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micai′ah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Jo′ash the king’s son; 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with scant fare of bread and water, until I return in peace.’” 27 And Micai′ah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”
Defeat and Death of Ahab
28 So the king of Israel and Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah went up to Ra′moth-gil′ead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosh′aphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him; and Jehosh′aphat cried out, and the Lord helped him. God drew them away from him, 32 for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
33 But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn about, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 34 And the batle grew hot that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; then at sunset he died.
19 Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 But Jehu the son of Hana′ni the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehosh′aphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. 3 Nevertheless some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Ashe′rahs out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”
Reading 11 – 1157 words
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that the story about Ahab’s death, which may seem at first glance to show God plotting against Ahab and tricking him, instead shows God’s final offer of mercy to Ahab. This is made clear because, although Micaiah the prophet begins by saying what Ahab wants to hear, Ahab knows that it is untrue, and demands the truth…but when he hears it, he rejects it, although Micaiah has told him exactly what has happened in the high court of heaven. The time for judgment has come for Ahab, so God allows deceiving spirits to work for Ahab’s destruction, giving words of prophecy to the unrighteous prophets, to tell Ahab what he wants to hear. But he also sends Micaiah to tell Ahab the truth. Ahab knows that Micaiah is the only faithful prophet of the Most-High God present that day. He knows which prophet is speaking the truth…but he refuses to listen. And therefore he goes to his death.)
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. Gregory the Theologian – On the Holy Lights – 4
Last time, St. Gregory spoke of the God Who has revealed Himself to us at the Feast of Theophany, affirming, confessing, and proclaiming the truth and glory of the Holy Trinity, the one-in-three and three-in-one, and then proceeded to speak of the Son of God, become man for our sake and for our salvation, revealing the Father to us and calling us to worship Him and enter into communion with Him, to restore us to the place in relationship with God from which we had fallen through sin and error.
On the Baptism of Christ (On the Holy Lights) – Part 4
14 Therefore at his birth we kept festival as was fitting, both I the leader of the feast, and you, and all that is in the world and above the world. With the star we ran, and with the magi we worshipped,72 and with the shepherds we were surrounded by light, and with the angels we gave glory.73 With Symeon we took him in our arms, and with aged and chaste Anna we gave thanks.74 And thanks be to the one who came to his own as a stranger,75 that he might glorify his host.
But now there is another deed of Christ and another mystery. I cannot hold back my joy, I become inspired, and almost like John I announce the good news,76 if not indeed as a forerunner, at least from the desert. Christ is illumined,77 let us flash like lightning with him. Christ is baptized,78 let us go down with him, that we may also come up again with him.
Jesus is baptized. Is this all? Or is it necessary also to attend carefully to the other matters? Who is he? And by whom is he baptized? And when? The pure one, and by John, and at the beginning of his signs.79 What are we to learn and what are we to be taught by this? To purify ourselves beforehand, and to be humble minded, and to preach when mature both in spiritual and bodily stature.
The first lesson is addressed to those who rush to baptism precipitously and do not prepare beforehand or assure the security of their redemption through a disposition toward the good. For indeed if the grace entails release from what is past, for it is grace, now, still more, reverent fear is fitting, lest we return again to our own vomit.80 The next is addressed to those who rise up against those who dispense the mysteries, if in any way they surpass them in rank. The third is addressed to those who are overconfident in youth and consider that every time is appropriate for teaching or presiding.
Jesus is purified, and you despise purification? By John, and you rebel against your herald? He was thirty years old,81 and you, before you have a beard, teach the elders, or believe you can teach, though you are not revered because of age, or perchance because of character? Here one speaks of Daniel,82 or this one or that one, young judges, and the examples are on your tongue. For all the guilty are ready with a defense. But the exception is not the law of the Church, if indeed one swallow does not make a summer, nor one line a geometer, nor one voyage a sailor.
15 Yet as John is baptizing, Jesus approaches, perhaps also to sanctify the baptizer, and certainly to bury all the old Adam83 in the water, but before these things and for the sake of these things to sanctify the Jordan. As indeed he was spirit and flesh, so he initiates by the Spirit and the water. The baptizer does not accept it; Jesus debates [with him]. “I need to be baptized by you,”84 the lamp85 says to the sun,86 the voice87 to the Word, the friend88 to the bridegroom, the one above all born of women89 to the first born of all creation,90 the one who leaped in the womb91 to the one worshiped in the womb, the one who was and will be the Forerunner92 to the one who was and will be made manifest.
“I need to be baptized by you”; add “and for you.” For he knew that he would be baptized by martyrdom or, like Peter, would not have only his feet cleansed.93 “And you come to me?”94 This is also prophetic. For he knew that after the madness of Herod would come that of Pilate,95 so as he himself departed beforehand, Christ would follow.
But what does Jesus say? “Let it be so now”;96 for this is the divine plan. For he knew that shortly he himself would baptize the baptizer. And what is the winnowing fan?97 Purification. And what is the fire?98 The destruction of the chaff and the fervor of the Spirit. And what is the axe?99 The cutting down of the soul that is incurable, even after the manure.100 And what is the sword?101 The cut made by the Word, which divides the worse from the better, and separates believer from unbeliever, and stirs up son and daughter and bride against father and mother and mother-in-law,102 the new and recent against the old and shadowy.
And what is the fastening of the sandal, which you who baptize Jesus cannot undo,103 you who live in the desert even without food,104 the new Elijah,105 the one surpassing the prophets,106 to the extent that you have seen what they prophesied, the mediator of the old and the new covenants? What is it? Perhaps the principle of Christ’s sojourn and the flesh, a matter that is not easy to solve even apart from the loftiest meaning, either for those who are still fleshly and infants in Christ or for those who are like John in the Spirit.
16 But Jesus comes up again out of the water.107 For he carries up with himself the world and “sees the heavens opened”108 which Adam closed for himself and for those after him as he also closed paradise by the flaming sword.109 And the Spirit testifies to [Christ’s] divinity,110 for he ran toward one like himself, as does the voice from heaven,111 for from there comes the one to whom testimony is given. And the Spirit comes as a dove,112 for he honors the body, being seen “corporeally,”113 since it also is God by divinization. And since long ago the dove has been accustomed to announcing the good news of the flood’s end.114
But if you judge divinity by size and weight, and for this reason the Spirit is small to you because he appears in the form of a dove, you who are small-minded about the greatest things, it is time for you also to dishonor the kingdom of heaven since it is compared to a mustard seed,115 and instead of Jesus’ greatness to prefer the adversary because he is called a great mountain116 and leviathan117 and king of those in the waters, while Jesus is named lamb118 and pearl119 and drop120 and the like.
St Gregory of Nazianzus, Festal Orations, ed. John Behr, trans. Nonna Verna Harrison, vol. 36, Popular Patristics Series (Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2008), 79–97.
Reading 4 – 1105 words
72 Matt 2:8–11.
73 Luke 2:9–14.
74 Luke 2:28–38. This reference implies that at 380 the encounter with Symeon and Anna takes place at Christmas, not yet at the Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord (February 2nd). Between 381 and 384, according to Egeria, this feast was celebrated at Jerusalem. It spread from there to Antioch (ca. 513–518) and Constantinople (534). See Kenneth W. Stevenson, “The Origins and Development of Candlemas: A Struggle for Identity and Coherence?” in J. Neil Alexander, ed., Time and Community: In Honor of Thomas Justin Talley (Washington, DC: Pastoral Press, 1990), 43–73, 49–53.
75 John 1:11.
76 Matt 3:1; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3.
77 In the early church, “illumination” was another name for baptism.
78 Matt 3:13; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21.
79 John 2:11.
80 Prov 26:11; 2 Pet 2:22.
81 Luke 3:23.
82 Sus 45–50.
83 1 Cor 15:45.
84 Matt 3:14.
85 John 5:35.
86 Mal 4:2.
87 Matt 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4.
88 John 3:29; Matt 9:15.
89 Matt 11:11; Luke 7:28.
90 Col 1:15.
91 Luke 1:41.
92 Matt 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27.
93 John 13:6–8.
94 Matt 3:14.
95 Matt 14:3–5; 27:26; Mark 6:17; 15:15; Luke 3:19–20; 23:24–25; John 19:16.
96 Matt 3:15.
97 Matt 3:12.
98 Matt 3:10–12.
99 Matt 3:10.
100 Luke 13:8.
101 Matt 10:34.
102 Matt 10:35; Luke 12:53.
103 Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27.
104 Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6.
105 Matt 11:14.
106 Matt 11:9.
107 Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10.
108 Mark 1:10.
109 Gen 3:24.
110 Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22.
111 Matt 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22.
112 Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22.
113 Luke 3:22.
114 Gen 8:11.
115 Matt 13:31.
116 Dan 2:45.
117 Job 3:8.
118 John 1:29.
119 Matt 13:46.
120 Ps 72:6.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that everything we have read prior to this has been preliminary, setting the stage for the celebration of the Lord’s baptism by urging repentance, humility and faithfulness, then proclaiming Who God is and confessing the truth of the Incarnation, and now, finally, arriving at the marvel of the Lord’s Baptism. In this passage, he effectively recounts the narrative of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to John the Baptist and asking for baptism, expanding and explaining the dialogue that surrounds the baptism itself, in order to highlight the enormity of what is happening in the Lord’s baptism, and what is being unveiled to us as He enters the water and comes forth from it once again. Especially notable are the three lessons that he identifies in the text, against those who seek baptism cavalierly, those who despise the clergy because of wealth or nobility, and those who presume to teach others without deferring to the authority of the Church.)
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 24:24-27, 25:1-12 (Paul Held in Custody, Appeals to Caesar)
Last time we saw St. Paul in Caesarea, before Felix the governor, being accused of various crimes by the lawyer engaged by the Sanhedrin against him, and then having the opportunity to defend himself against those charges. We see him ably defend himself, so that Felix says he will wait to give judgment until the tribune who had first arrested him comes from Jerusalem. This time, we will see that the tribune doesn’t come, and Paul remains in custody for two years. We will see what follows after this.
Paul Held in Custody
24 Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.
27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Paul Appeals to the Emperor
25 Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem 2 where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him 3 and requested, as a favor to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” he said, “let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”
6 After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. 8 Paul said in his defense, “I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor.”
9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?” 10 Paul said, “I am appealing to the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11 Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.” 12 Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, “You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.”
Reading 45 – 459 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 no one in this story is concerned with actual justice. Felix is concerned with the money that Paul might give to him, while Festus is concerned with gaining the favor of the Jewish leaders. Thus, over all this time, nothing happens, except that Paul is accused of various things without proof. He defends himself ably, but when Festus appears ready to send him to Jerusalem, where he will certainly be killed by mob, he finally invokes his right as a Roman citizen, and appeals to Caesar. This becomes his ticket to Rome, as we will see in the coming weeks as we move toward the end of the book of Acts.)
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?