'Daily Bread'
“A man in this world must solve a problem: to be with Christ, or to be against Him. And every man decides this, whether he wants to or not. He will either be a lover of Christ or a fighter of Christ. There is no third option.”
+ St. Justin Popovich, (Explanation of I John, 4.3)
1 John 4.3 - And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Daily Scripture Reading
Galatians 3:23-4:5 (Epistle)
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Luke 7:17-30 (Gospel)
17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”
21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
27 This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
Ven. Dionysii, Recluse, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—15th c.)
Saint Dionysius, Hermit of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves, called Schepa, is mentioned briefly in the Kiev Caves Paterikon. In the year 1463 during Paschal Matins, Dionysius went around censing the relics of the God-pleasers buried in the Kiev Caves. When the monk cried out: “Holy Fathers and brethren, today is the great day! Christ is Risen!” their reply resounded like thunder: “Truly, He is Risen!”
From that very day Saint Dionysius lived as a recluse, and after many labors he fell asleep in the Lord. The miracle involving Saint Dionysius is mentioned in the 8th Ode of the Canon of the Kiev Caves Saints. He is also commemorated on August 28, and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
Saint Peter - The Foundation of the Church (w/ Frederica Matthews-Green)
St. Peter is the foremost of the apostles and incredibly important to our faith for both Eastern Orthodox as well as Roman Catholics. But the Orthodox take a different view of what it means for St. Peter to be the rock of the Church, which may be unexpected.
This week’s calendar reminders:
Monday 9/30: Matins 8:30 a.m.; Vesperal Liturgy 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday 10/1: no services or events
Wednesday 10/2: no services or events
Thursday 10/3: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Friday 10/4: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Saturday 10/5: Catechumen Class 4:30 pm; Choir Rehearsal 5:00 pm; Great Vespers 6 pm
Sunday 10/6: Divine Liturgy 9: 15 a.m. (Chrismation for Mike and Ryan); FORCC Banquet, St. Dimitri’s
