Ephesians 4:17-25 Luke 6:17-23

Philippians 1:1-7 Luke 7:36-50

Philippians 3:1-8 Luke 9:49-56

1 Thessalonians 2:9-14 Luke 13:1-9

1 Timothy 1:18-20, 2:8-15 Luke 20:1-8

Hebrews 4:1-13 Mark 10:2-12

Hebrews 11:8, 11-16 Mark 12:1-12

James 3:1-10 Luke 17:26-37

Titus 1:15-2:10 Luke 20:19-26

Hebrews 8:7-13 Mark 8:11-21

James 2:1-13 Mark 10:23-32

1 Peter 2:21-3:9 Mark 12:13-17

1 John 1:8-2:6 Mark 13:31-14:

Genesis 1:14-23 Proverbs 1:20-33

Genesis 5:32-6:8 Proverbs 6:20-7:1

Genesis 9:8-17 Proverbs 12:8-22

Genesis 22:1-18 Proverbs 17:17-18:5

Exodus 1:1-20 Job 1:1-12

Acts 2:38-43 John 3:1-15

Acts 14:6-18 John 7:14-30

Acts 23:1-11 John 16:15-23

Romans 7:14-8:2 Matthew 10:9-15

Romans 11:25-36 Matthew 12:1-8

Romans 16:17-24 Matthew 13:10-23

1 Corinthians 7:35-8:7 Matthew 15:29-31

1 Corinthians 11:31-12:6 Matthew 18:1-11

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Matthew 21:43-46

2 Corinthians 5:10-15 Mark 1:9-15

Galatians 6:2-10 Luke 8:22-25

Philippians 1:8-14 Luke 11:34-41

Why is the Ascension of our Lord so important? Is it an event that concerns Jesus only, as Lord over all, OR is it an event that also concerns us? YES! Come explore the mystery as we look to the Old Testament for light on this!

Edith Humphrey takes us to Isaiah 8:13-18 and Psalm 107:23-31 for insight into St. Paul’s teaching on the people of God as the Temple, and Jesus’ rescue of the faltering apostle Peter on the water. Christ our God is the foundation of the Temple and the foundation of our faith, and issues an astonishing call—that we become signs in this age, showing forth His nature!

This week’s readings for divine liturgy correct any notion we might have that the physical, material world does not matter. While the physical is ordered under the spiritual realm by God, it is also meant to be taken up into it, transformed. We see this careful balance and valuing of the spiritual and material worlds in the lives of the Theotokos and St. Edith of Wilton, as well as in the Old Testament narratives of the “fiery serpent” and the promised “new heavens and new earth.”

To err is human and to forgive is divine, but our readings for this coming Sunday, illumined by the prophets, show us that the proclamation of forgiveness is now a human responsibility. The God-Man demonstrates that God has bestowed this divine characteristic, part of His glory, to those who are his sons and daughters. God forgives, and we forgive. (Matthew 9:1-8; Romans 12:6-14; Jeremiah 31:27-34; Jonah 3:1-10)

We reflect back upon the Psalm “By the Waters of Babylon,” heard by many of us in the past three weeks, as a preparation for Great Lent. Its troublesome final verse is read with the help of other portions of Scripture, St. John Chrysostom, Cassiodorus and others, so that we can understand why the psalm retains a valuable place in our worship together.

We are helped to reflect upon that mysterious tour of Christ (from the heavens, to the grave, and back to glory) described in the Tone 8’s Resurrectional Hymns by looking to Psalm 67/68:17-19, Ephesians 4:7-11, John 20:19-31, and 1 Corinthians 3:9-17.

The apostle’s appeal for unity is beautifully exemplified in the life of Joseph, and poignantly pictured in the Psalm about oil on Aaron’s beard. May God’s appeal, pattern, and picture help us to unity in this time of disagreement. (Ephesians 4:1-6, Genesis 37-50, Psalm 132/3)

This week we consider the message of the risen Jesus to the church as Smyrna, and are encouraged by a generous God who makes us His confidants, so that we will be prepared for all that comes our way. We are helped in this by looking at Genesis 15 and Daniel 1.

We hear Jesus’ words to Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) in the light of the prophets Amos (2:4-12, 5:16-20, 6:1) and Isaiah (42:3), considering that divine warnings are meant to lead to repentance, and that we are invited to participate in the strengthening help that Christ gives His Church.

This week we consider Jesus’ strengthening words to Philadelphia in Rev 3:7-13, seeking to understand the meaning of the crown, the pillars, and the name of New Jerusalem by reference to various passages in the New Testament and the fathers, and by looking back to Ex 19:6, 1 Kings 7:21, Zec 4, Hos. 2:24 and Is 44:5.

This week we read Revelation 7, which offers a double vision of God’s people, with the help of OT lists of the tribes, and the wisdom of the Venerable Bede. I hope that my friends will not mind that I move, from our analysis of this Scriptural vision of the faithful, to a glimpse at my own imaginative work. Beyond the White Fence is a children’s book (for ages 8-13), scheduled to be published at the end of September by Ancient Faith Ministries. It, too, invites us to a larger vision of reality, by which our daily lives, in their terror or monotony, are put in perspective. Listeners are invited, if close to Pittsburgh, to a book launch on Sat Oct 9 at 3:00 p.m., hosted by St. Nicholas McKees Rocks.

We look to John’s intriguing vision of the Temple and the two witnesses in Revelation 11:1-14, aided by the visions of two earlier prophets in Ezekiel 40 and Zechariah 4. John’s images help us to understand that the bitter-sweet scroll pertains to us, and our witness in a God-defying world, as we follow the slaughtered-standing Lamb wherever He goes.

This week we consider Revelation 16 as an intensification of Exodus 7-12, looking to Haggai 2:6-7, and various other NT passages, as well as some Church fathers, in our reading of this sobering passage.

The final section of the book of Revelation leads us to a sense of deep mystery, yet satisfaction. We read Rev 22:8-21 in the light of Deut 30:19; Genesis 1-3; Deut 30:19; Daniel 8:26, 12:14.

The song of Jonah (Jonah 2:2-9), Old Testament Canticle 6, is notable for its poignancy and substance. We read it with reference to Jesus’ words in Matthew12:39-41 and with help from these Old Testament passages: Job 41, Psalm 104/LXX 103:26, Psalm 139/LXX 138: 8-12, and Psalm 148:7.

This week we revel in the colors, sounds, and wonder of Old Testament Canticle 8 (Dan 3:57-88 LXX). In this exuberant song of praise, we bring the whole cosmos before God, and enter into the praise that flows in different ways from everything that He has created.

Psalm 3, sung during Sunday Matins, is full of various “arising” actions. We understand its drama in the light of David’s trouble with his son Absalom (2 Sam/Kgdms 15-18), the Psalm that Jesus prayed from the cross, Isaiah 60, and some wise ancient commentators.

We read the tone four Antiphons, alongside Psalms 128-130 (MT 129-131), as illumined by Isaiah 42:6-7, 1 Peter 4:12-14, and St. John Cassian. Here is wise instruction on humility and God’s willingness to illumine those who keep their eyes on Him.

This week we do an overview of the delightful story of Tobit, concentrating on its supporting characters, and stressing God’s unexpected provisions for us on the natural level.

Bearing the Saint, Chapter nine, by Donna Farley (Conciliar Press, 2010).