Good morning … Great is His faithfulness…
Matins Gospel Reading: John 10:1-9
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."
According to the teachings of St. John Chrysostom, THE DOOR is God’s Word
Thieves and robbers are false teachers or deceivers who will lead you away from the truth in Christ…
(vv. 3-5): is telling us that Christ has intimate knowledge of us all, so the same is true for all pastors, teachers or anyone who proclaims the Word of God strive to know all their people by name, that is personally … by doing this we are endeavoring to understand each person's needs and situations, from greatest to least, possessing Christlike compassion for each one - ( Hebrews 4:15) - This is a mark of true leadership… (v.8): is pertaining to those who come claiming to be the messiah both before and after Christ…
Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 13:7-16
Daniel 3.26,27
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 13:7-16
Brethren, remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their lives, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited their adherents. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
(v. 9): STRANGE DOCTRINES: ξένος xénos, xen'-os; apparently a primary word; foreign (literally, alien, or figuratively, novel); by implication, a guest or (vice-versa) entertainer:—host, strange(-r). “FOREIGN” ones, not coming from the true Holy , Catholic , and Apostolic Church …
Catholic means “Universal” ….
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:14-19
The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Salt - (v. 13); light - (v. 14) go together and they are the roles we are supposed to live in society, just like disciples and apostles, we too are to persevere goodness … We are to preach and teach the goodness of God’s Word seasoned with salt … Salt is used to persevere and hold back decay, and according to the commentary of the Orthodox study Bible, to eat salt with someone was to be bound in loyalty … Christians we are the salt of the earth and we are to persevere God’s covenant by giving true flavor to the world … Let our lights shine, see my video for further discussions on all this morning's reads …
Morning Psalm Prayer: Psalm 3
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love Jared W. Campbell
Verse of the Day
1 Timothy 6:12
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses…
Along with today’s message stay the course … Keep fighting the good fight, it's a marathon not a sprint my brothers and sisters in Christ…
TOTAL TIME 21:16
Comments