Thursday, October 22
St Abercius, Equal-to-the-Apostles
Appointed readings
2 passagesEpistle
Colossians 1:24–29
24I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Gospel
Luke 9:49–56
49Now John answered and said, 'Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.'
50But Jesus said to him, 'Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.'
51Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
52and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.
53But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
54And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?'
55But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.
56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.' And they went to another village.