Sunday, November 8th, is the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost. On this day we commemorate:
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel
Saint Alexander of Guria
Readings for Sunday, November 8th:
-
2
For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
3
how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
4
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
5
For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.
6
But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him?
7
You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands.
8
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
10
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
-
16
He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
17
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
-
4
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7
that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
-
41
And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house,
42
for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.
43
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,
44
came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
45
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
46
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”
47
Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
48
And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49
While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”
50
But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
51
When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.
52
Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.”
53
And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
54
But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”
55
Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.
56
And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.
The Holy Scriptures are part of the Church’s Holy Tradition. Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of blessed memory wrote:
In the words of Father Alexander Schmemann, “A Christian is the one who, wherever he looks, finds everywhere Christ, and rejoices in Him.” This is true in particular of the biblical Christian. Wherever he looks, on every page, he finds everywhere Christ.
See Metropolitan Ware’s article How to Read the Bible for more on an Orthodox approach to scripture.