September 7/20

Monday
Eph. 4:25-32
Mark 6:54-7:8
For Tuesday:
Eph. 5:20-26
Mark 7:5-16

Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Martyr Sozon of Cilicia (304) (Eph. 6:10-17; John 15:17-16:2). Apostles Evodus (Euodias) (66) and Onesiphorus (67), of the Seventy. Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea in Cappadocia (ca. 130). St. Cloud (Clodoald), abbot of Nogent-sur-Seine near Paris (560). St. Cassia (Cassiane) the Hymnographer (9th c.). St. Luke and St. Peter the Cappadocian, abbots of the monastery of the Deep Stream (10th c.). St. John, archbishop and wonderworker of Novgorod (1186). Hieromartyr Macarius of Kanev, archimandrite of Obruch and Pinsk (1678). St. Macarius of Optina (1860). New Hieromartyr Priest John Maslovsky of Verkhne-Poltavka, Amur (1921). New Hieromartyrs Eugene (Zernov), metropolitan of Nizhni-Novgorod, and priest Stephen, and Monk-martyrs Eugene, Nicholas and Pachomius (1937). Repose of Metropolitan Isidore (Nikolsky) of St. Petersburg (1892).

Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse

Thursday. [Eph. 4:14-19; Mark 11:27-33]

   The Saviour proves that He was sent from heaven using the testimony of John the Forerunner. They were silent, for there was nothing to say to the contrary, yet they did not believe. Another time He proved the same thing through His deeds, and they thought up a new twist: [He casteth out devils] by the prince of the devils (Mt. 9:34, Mk. 3:22). But when this twist was exposed to be completely inappropriate, they again were silent, but nevertheless did not believe. Thus unbelievers never believe no matter what you tell them and how convincingly you prove the truth. They cannot say anything to the contrary, while nevertheless they do not believe. One might say that their mind is paralyzed, since they reason sensibly about other things. Only when the issue touches upon faith do they become confused in their concepts and words. They also become confused when they present their outlooks as a substitute for the tenets of faith given by God. Here their doubt raises such a buttress that it is like a firm cliff. If you hear their entire theory through, you will see that a child could figure out that this is a spider’s web; but they do not see it. O unfathomable blindness! One can explain the obstinacy of unbelievers as their not wanting to believe, but where does this come from? Where does it get such power that it makes a sensible man consciously cling to an illogical form of thoughts? This is darkness. Is it not from the father of darkness?

Friday. [Eph. 4:17-25; Mark 12:1-12]

   In the parable about the vineyard is depicted the Old Testament Church and God’s care for it. The New Testament Church succeeded the Old, and so this parable can be applied to it as well. Since each Christian is also a living church of God, it can be applied to him as well. The latter is more needful for us. What is the vineyard? It is the soul that has received remission of sins, the grace of rebirth, the gift of the Holy Spirit as a promise of the heritage of the eternal kingdom, the word of God, the holy mysteries, a guardian angel. Who are the husbandmen? Consciousness and freedom. They receive the gifts and give a commitment to cultivate them and bear fruit to the Lord. Who are the careless husbandmen? Those who want to use the advantages of being a Christian as befits the external order of their lives, but do not bring worthy spiritual fruits to the Lord. Who are those sent from the Lord? The conscience and the fear of God, the word of God, teachers and pastors by whom the Lord wants to give understanding to the careless. Those who do not want to change themselves do not heed them; some drive them away and try to muffle their voice. Others even start to war against the Lord Himself, when they reject faith in Him in various forms. In the end, they will be miserably destroyed (cf. Mt. 21:41).

Friday. [I Pet. 1:1–2, 10–12; 2:6–10; Mark 12:1–12]

On the day of Theophany it is shown in action that the Divine economy of our salvation is accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ according to the goodwill of the Father, in the communion of the Holy Spirit. But now, through the word of the Apostle, it is suggested to us that the salvation of each person according to that Divine economy of God happens in no other way than through the operation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,  According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:2). God the Father, having foreseen the man who would believe, meets him with His goodwill, and calls him to salvation through the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, having called him to faith and strengthened him in it, sprinkles the believer with the blood of the Lord and Saviour in the Sacrament of Baptism. Through this, the Holy Spirit, receiving entrance into him, Himself abides in him and helps him in every way possible to provide for his salvation. Let us praise, hymn, and magnify the Most Holy Trinity, the good Maker of our salvation. Giving all diligence, let us hurry to adorn ourselves with every virtue, in the image of Him Who created and recreated us; that we not be shown to be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord, and bar ourselves from entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord (II Pet. 1:5, 8, 11) to which we are called.