Thursday, September 25
Repose of Ven. Sergius of Radonezh
Appointed readings
7 passagesVespers · Old Testament
Proverbs 10:31–11:12
31A righteous man will never fail, But the ungodly shall not inhabit the earth.
32The mouth of a righteous man distills wisdom, But the tongue of an unrighteous man utterly destroys.
33The lips of righteous men distill grace, But the mouth of the ungodly is perverse.
1Deceitful scales are an abomination before the Lord, But a righteous weight is acceptable to Him.
2Wherever arrogance enters, there also is dishonor, But the mouth of the humble meditates on wisdom.
3When a righteous man dies, he leaves regret, But the destruction of the ungodly is immediate and brings joy.
4Righteousness cuts straight and blameless paths, But ungodliness embraces wrongdoing.
5The righteousness of upright men delivers them, But lawless men are taken to their destruction.
6When a righteous man dies, his hope does not perish, But the boast of the ungodly perishes.
7A righteous man escapes from a snare, But the ungodly man is handed over in his place.
8There is a snare for citizens in the mouth of the ungodly, But the perception of the righteous is prosperous.
9A city stays upright in the good things of the righteous, But it is razed to the ground by the mouths of the ungodly.
10A man in need of discernment treats citizens with contempt, But a man of discernment keeps quiet.
11A double-tongued man reveals deliberations heard in council, But a man faithful in spirit conceals matters.
12Those for whom there is no leadership fall like leaves, But there is salvation in much counsel.
Vespers · Old Testament
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9
1But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, And no torture will ever touch them.
2In the eyes of the undiscerning they seemed to have died, And their departure was considered to be misfortune,
3And their passage from us to be their destruction; But they are at peace.
4For though in man's view they were punished, Their hope is full of immortality.
5Though chastened in a few things, Great kindness will be shown them, For God tested them and found them worthy of Himself.
6He tested them like gold in a furnace And accepted them as a whole burnt offering.
7In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, And they will run about like sparks through straw.
8They will judge nations and rule over peoples, And the Lord shall reign over them unto the ages.
9Those who trust in Him will understand truth, And the faithful shall continue with Him in love, Because grace and mercy are upon His elect.
Matins · Gospel
Matthew 11:27–30
27All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'
Epistle
Ephesians 1:1–9
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Epistle
Galatians 5:22–6:2
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
1Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Gospel
Luke 4:16–22
16So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18'The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.'
20Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21And He began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.'
22So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, 'Is this not Joseph's son?'
Gospel
Luke 6:17–23
17And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
19And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
20'Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.
23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.