Sunday, October 31
Holy Apostles Stachys, Apelles, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus and Aristobolus.
Appointed readings
5 passagesMatins · Gospel
John 20:11–18
11But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.
12And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13Then they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.'
14Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, 'Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.'
16Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him, 'Rabboni!' (which is to say, Teacher).
17Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' '
18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Epistle
2 Corinthians 11:31–12:9
31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
1It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
3And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Epistle
Hebrews 13:7–16
7Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
10We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
12Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
14For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
16But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Gospel
Luke 8:26–39
26And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!' Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
27And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.
28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, 'What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!'
29For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.
30Jesus asked him, saying, 'What is your name?'
31And he said, 'Legion,' because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
32Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them.
33Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.
34When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.
35Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
36They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed.
37Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
38Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,
39'Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.' And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
Gospel
Luke 12:32–40
32'Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35'Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
36and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
37Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
38And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.'