Daily Bread
Friday, November 15, 2024
“The perfect person does not only try to avoid evil. Nor does he do good for fear of punishment, still less in order to qualify for the hope of a promised reward.
The perfect person does good through love.
His actions are not motivated by desire for personal benefit, so he does not have personal advantage as his aim. But as soon as he has realized the beauty of doing good, he does it with all his energies and in all that he does.
He is not interested in fame, or a good reputation, or a human or divine reward.
The rule of life for a perfect person is to be in the image and likeness of God.”
+ Clement of Alexandria
Daily Scripture Readings
Colossians 2:1-7 (Epistle)
1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Luke 16:15-18, 17:1-4 (Gospel)
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
18 Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.
“Fragrant Flower” Icon of the Mother of God
This Icon is in the Protection Cathedral at Voronezh. The Theotokos is shown holding her Divine Child on her left arm, with a blossoming branch in her right hand.
The Fragrant Flower Icon resembles the Unfading Flower Icon (April 3). In the older Unfading Flower Icons, the Child is held on the Virgin's right arm, and she holds white lilies in her left hand.
In contemporary iconography both Icons may depict Christ on His Mother's left arm, or on the right. One way to distinguish the two Icons is to remember that the Fragrant Flower Icon shows a branch, and the Unfading Flower Icon shows lilies.
Synod Cathedral Choir of New York City Concert
Your Soul Shall Rejoice! - December 6
Synod Cathedral Choir of New York will present a benefit concert of uplifting sacred works on Friday, December 6 at 7:30 PM. Your Soul Shall Rejoice! is a benefit concert to celebrate Metropolitan Nicholas' ten years of archpastoral service. After the performance there will be a reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres with His Eminence, other members of the Synod of Bishops, clergy and, of course, the performers.
Tickets are on sale now. Proceeds will be applied to the Synod Building Restoration Fund benefitting a capital campaign announced earlier this year.
This week’s calendar reminders:
Monday 11/11: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday 11/12: no services or events
Wednesday 11/13: no services or events
Thursday 11/14: Matins 8:30 a.m.; Men’s Group 7pm
Friday 11/15: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Saturday 11/16: Choir Workshop 4-6 pm; Catechumen class 4:30; Great Vespers 6pm
Sunday 11/17: Divine Liturgy 9: 15 a.m.
