Daily Bread
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Daily Scripture Readings
1 Timothy 1:18-20, 2:8-15 (Epistle)
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
Mark 10:11-16 (Gospel)
11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Martyr Sebastian at Rome, and his companions
The Holy Martyr Sebastian was born in the city of Narbonum in Gaul (modern France), and he received his education at Mediolanum (now Milan). Under the co-reigning emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305) he occupied the position of head of the imperial guards. Saint Sebastian was respected for his authority, and was loved by the soldiers and those at court. He was a brave man filled with wisdom; his word was honest, his judgment just. He was insightful in advice and faithful in his service and in everything entrusted to him. He was a secret Christian, not out of fear, but so that he could provide help to the brethren in a time of persecution.
The noble Christian brothers Marcellinus and Mark had been locked up in prison, and at first they firmly confessed the true Faith. But under the influence of the tearful entreaties of their pagan parents (Tranquillinus and Marcia), and also their own wives and children, they began to waver in their intent to suffer for Christ. Saint Sebastian went to the imperial treasurer, at whose house Marcellinus and Mark were held in confinement, and addressed the brothers who were on the verge of yielding to the entreaties of their family.
“O valiant warriors of Christ! Do not cast away your everlasting crowns of victory because of the tears of your relatives. Do not remove your feet from the necks of your enemies who lie prostrate before you, lest they regain their strength and attack you more fiercely than before. Raise your banner high over every earthly attachment. If those whom you see weeping knew that there is another life where there is neither sickness nor death, where there is unceasing gladness and everything is beautiful, then assuredly they would wish to enter it with you. Anyone who fears to exchange this brief earthly life for the unending joys of the heavenly Kingdom is foolish indeed. For he who rejects eternity wastes the brief time of his existence, and will be delivered to everlasting torment in Hades.”
Then Saint Sebastian said that if necessary, he would be willing to endure torment and death in order to show them how to give their lives for Christ.
https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2019/12/18/103565-martyr-sebastian-at-rome-and-his-companions
What Is our Call?
The story of Jesus in the Gospels includes many references to His calling fishermen as disciples, preaching and teaching by the seashore, crossing the sea and calming its winds and waves. This body of water of course is not actually a sea but rather a large lake, measuring roughly twelve miles long and eight miles wide at its widest and longest points. On the east side of the lake is Syria and Jordan. On the west side Palestine and Israel. The lake is named by various names according to ancient local districts and towns: Lake of Gennesaret, Sea of Galilee, Sea of Tiberias.
In the days of Jesus, because of ample fishing, the lake supported numerous towns on its western shore. It was there, near the town of Capernaum, that Jesus called His earliest four disciples, two sets of brothers: Peter and Andrew, John and James (Mat. 4:18-23). He issued a “call” (κλήσις or κάλεσμα) to them: “Follow me!” And they left their nets and followed Him. Ordinary people in ordinary circumstances. But in answering that call they became extraordinary people: co-workers of Christ and inspired preachers of the gospel of salvation.
The Gospels report several “calls” of the earliest disciples, with some differences in details and names (Mat. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:35-51). It may be that the disciples had to grow in their understanding and commitment to Christ. Also, the Gospel authors worked from memory and received traditions told and retold over the years. And they indicate a great deal of freedom in recording their own version of the events of the life of Christ.
Why did Jesus call disciples? Because He had a mission to accomplish and could not do that alone. He called certain people He chose, eventually twelve of them, as symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel to signify the new era of fulfillment and restoration of God’s people. He called them to train them, and to have them share in His mission. Later they called others to do the same and these others summoned new people to continue the work. The process of mission and pastoral care continues in the life of the Church and calls all of us to participate in God’s work in the world for the salvation of souls.
What an extraordinary life the apostles had as the Lord’s conscripts! Peter the “Rock” (Πέτρος/Πέτρα) became the leader of the early Church in Jerusalem, then he became a major missionary leader and later the patron of the Church of Rome. Andrew also became known as a missionary leader and the patron of the Church of Constantinople according to tradition. John, the Beloved Disciple, was a leader in the Church of Ephesus and his legacy includes the Gospel of John which is the most profound book of the entire Bible. All the apostles, whether they gained pre-eminence or not, served as faithful bearers of Chris’s new era, His new outlook, His new way of life.
Christ has continued His saving work throughout history, calling people from all walks of life to be His helpers. St. Efrosynos was a cook. St. Demetrios was a teacher. St. Silouan was a farmer and later a monastic. St. Lydia was a business woman. St. Priscilla was a housewife and a missionary. St. Pelagia was a hermit. St. Helen was an empress. All had their own personalities, talents, peculiarities, limitations. They lived in different places and various circumstances. But all became co-workers of Christ by their faithful response to His call to live and work as the light and salt of the earth.
This week’s calendar reminders:
Monday 12/16: Matins 8:30am
Tuesday 12/17: no services or events
Wednesday 12/18: Yale Russian Chorus concert - 7pm
Thursday 12/19: Matins 8:30 am; Men’s Group 7pm
Friday 12/20: Paraklesis to the Theotokos 8:30am
Saturday 12/21: Catechumen Class 4:30pm; Choir Rehearsal 5pm; Great Vespers 6 pm
Sunday 12/22: Divine Liturgy 9:15am
