[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Thu May 8 05:00:27 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu May 8 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 John 3:21-4:6  (Vespers, 1st Reading, Apostle)
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence
toward God.
22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His
commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of
His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And
by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given
us.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist,
which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the
world hears them.
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does
not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of
error.
Scripture Reading 1 of 8

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1 John 4:11-16  (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Apostle)
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides
in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has
given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as
Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him,
and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is
love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Scripture Reading 2 of 8

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1 John 4:20-5:5  (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Apostle)
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love
God whom he has not seen?
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must
love his brother also.
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and
everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of
Him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God
and keep His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His
commandments are not burdensome.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the
victory that has overcome the world-our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is
the Son of God?
Scripture Reading 3 of 8

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John 21:15-25  (Matins Gospel)
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him,
"Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My
lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you
love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He
said to him, "Tend My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love
Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you
love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know
that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded
yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will
stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where
you do not wish.
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And
when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved
following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said,
"Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"
21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is
that to you? You follow Me."
23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple
would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die,
but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?"
24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these
things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they
were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could
not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Scripture Reading 4 of 8

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Acts 4:23-31  (Epistle)
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported
all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one
accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the
sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the
nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were
gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.'
27 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both
Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,
were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be
done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that
with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may
be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled
together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,
and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Scripture Reading 5 of 8

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1 John 1:1-7  (Epistle, St. John)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we
have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, concerning the Word of life-
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and
declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was
manifested to us-
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also
may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the
Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you,
that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we
lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin.
Scripture Reading 6 of 8

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John 5:24-30  (Gospel)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in
Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear
will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to
have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is
the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are
in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of
life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the
Father who sent Me.
Scripture Reading 7 of 8

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John 19:25-27; 21:24-25  (Gospel, St. John)
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved
standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that
hour that disciple took her to his own home.
24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these
things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they
were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could
not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Scripture Reading 8 of 8

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Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
The Church commemorates St John on this day because of the annual
pilgrimage to his grave.
When St John was more than one hundred years old, he took seven of his
disciples and went to a spot outside the city of Ephesus. There he
told them to dig a grave in the form of a cross. Then he climbed into
the grave and told his disciples to cover him with earth. Later, the
grave was opened and the saint's body was not there.
br> Each year on May 8 a red dust would arise from the grave which the
faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses.
br> St John's main Feast is on September 26.
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Venerable Arsenius the Great
Saint Arsenius the Great was born in the year 354 at Rome into a pious
Christian family, which provided him a fine education and upbringing.
He studied rhetoric and philosophy, and mastered the Latin and Greek
languages. St Arsenius gave up philosophy and the vanity of worldly
life, seeking instead the true wisdom praised by St James "pure,
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good
fruits" (Jas. 3:17). He entered the ranks of the clergy as a deacon in
one of the Roman churches, dedicating himself to the service of God.
The emperor Theodosius (379-395), who ruled the eastern half of the
Roman Empire, heard about his erudition and piety, and he wished to
entrust Arsenius with the education of his sons Arcadius and Honorius.
Arsenius, however, protested that he had given up secular studies in
order to serve God. Against his will, but in obedience to the will of
Pope Damasus (December 11), St Arsenius agreed to teach the imperial
children, hoping to teach them Christian piety as well.
When he arrived at Constantinople, Arsenius was received with great
honor by the emperor Theodosius, who charged him to educate his sons
not only in wisdom, but also in piety, guarding them from the
temptations of youth. "Forget that they are the emperor's sons," said
Theodosius, "for I want them to submit to you in all things, as to
their father and teacher."
With fervor the saint devoted himself to the education of the youths,
but the high esteem in which he was held troubled his spirit, which
yearned for the quietude of monastic life. St Arsenius entreated the
Lord to show him the way to salvation. The Lord heard his prayer and
one time he heard a voice telling him, "Arsenius, flee from men, and
you shall be saved." And then, removing his rich clothing and
replacing it with old and tattered garments, he secretly left the
palace, boarded a ship for Alexandria, and he made his way to Sketis,
a monastery in the midst of the desert.
Arriving at the church, he asked the priests to accept him into the
monastic brotherhood, calling himself a wretched wanderer, though his
very manner betrayed him as a cultivated man. The brethren led him to
Abba John the Dwarf (November 9), famed for his holiness of life. He,
wishing to test the newcomer's humility, did not seat Arsenius with
the monks for the trapeza meal. He threw him a piece of dry bread
saying, "Eat if you wish." St Arsenius got down on his hands and
knees, and picked up the bread with his mouth. Then he crawled off
into a corner and ate it. Seeing this, Elder John said, "He will be a
great ascetic!" Then accepting Arsenius with love, he tonsured him
into monasticism.
St Arsenius zealously passed through his obediences and soon he
surpassed many of the desert Fathers in asceticism. The saint again
heard the Voice while he was praying, "Arsenius, hide from people and
dwell in silence, this is the root of virtue." From that moment St
Arsenius settled in a solitary cell deep in the desert.
Having taken on the struggle of silence he seldom left his seclusion.
He came to church only on Sundays and Feast days, observing complete
silence and conversing with no one. When Abba Moses asked him why he
hid himself from people, St Arsenius replied, "God knows that I love
you, but I cannot remain with God and with men at the same time. The
Heavenly Powers all have one will and praise God together. On earth,
however, there are many human wills, and each man has his own
thoughts. I cannot leave God in order to live with people."
Though absorbed in constant prayer, the saint did not refuse visiting
monks his counsel and guidance, giving short, but perceptive answers
to their questions. Once, a monk from Sketis saw the great Elder
through a window standing at prayer, surrounded by a flame.
The handicraft of St Arsenius was to weave baskets, for which he used
the fronds of date palms soaked in water. For a whole year St Arsenius
did not change the water in the container, but merely added a little
water to it from time to time. This caused his cell to be permeated
with a foul stench. When asked why he did this, the saint replied that
it was fitting for him to humble himself in this way, because in the
world he had used incense and fragrant oils. He prayed that after
death he would not experience the stench of hell.
The fame of the great ascetic spread far, and many wanted to see him,
and they disturbed his tranquility. As a result, the saint was forced
to move around from place to place. But those thirsting to receive his
guidance and blessing still found him.
St Arsenius taught that many take upon themselves great deeds of
repentance, fasting, and vigil, but it is rare for someone to guard
his soul from pride, greed, jealousy, hatred of one's brother,
remembrance of wrongs, and judgment. In this they resemble graves
which are decorated outwardly, but filled with stinking bones.
A certain monk once asked St Arsenius what he should do when he read
the Holy Scriptures and did not comprehend their meaning. The Elder
answered, "My child, you must study and learn the Holy Scriptures
constantly, even if you do not understand their power... For when we
have the words of the Holy Scriptures on our lips, the demons hear
them and are terrified. Then they flee from us, unable to bear the
words of the Holy Spirit Who speaks through His apostles and
prophets."
The monks heard how the saint often urged himself on in his efforts
with the words, "Rouse yourself, Arsenius, work! Do not remain idle!
You have not come here to rest, but to labor." He also said, "I have
often regretted the words I have spoken, but I have never regretted my
silence."
The great ascetic and keeper of silence was given the gift of tears
with which his eyes were constantly filled. He spent fifty-five years
at monastic labors and struggles. He spent forty years at Sketis, and
ten years on the mountain of Troe near Memphis. Then he spent three
years at Canopus, and two more years at Troe, where he fell asleep in
the Lord.
Our holy, God-bearing Father Arsenius reposed when he was nearly one
hundred years old, in the year 449 or 450.
His only disciples seem to have been Alexander, Zoilos, and Daniel
(June 7).
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Venerable Pimen the Ascetic of the Kiev Far Caves
Saint Pimen, Faster of the Caves, won fame by his exploit of fasting.
The relics of the saint rest in the Far Caves. He is also commemorated
on August 28.
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Venerable Arsenius the Lover-of-Labor of the Kiev Far Caves
Saint Arsenius the Lover of Labor lived during the fourteenth century.
This ascetic was distinguished by his love for toil, and living in
asceticism in the Kiev Caves monastery of the Dormition of the Most
Holy Theotokos, he knew no rest. He prayed constantly and partook of
food only at the setting of the sun. For his humility and love of
labor the Lord gave him the gift of wonderworking. His memory is also
celebrated together with the Saints of the Far Caves on August 28.
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