1 Timothy 6.17-21 (Epistle)

17Îndeamnă pe bogaţii veacului acestuia să nu se îngâmfe şi să nu-şi pună nădejdea în nişte bogăţii nestatornice, ci în Dumnezeu, care ne dă toate lucrurile din belşug, ca să ne bucurăm de ele. 18Îndeamnă-i să facă bine, să fie bogaţi în fapte bune, să fie darnici, gata să simtă împreună cu alţii, 19aşa ca să-şi strângă pentru vremea viitoare, drept comoară, o bună temelie, pentru ca să apuce adevărata viaţă. 20Timoteie, păzeşte ce ţi s-a încredinţat; fereşte-te de flecăriile lumeşti şi de împotrivirile ştiinţei, pe nedrept numite astfel, 21pe care au mărturisit-o unii, şi au rătăcit cu privire la credinţă. Harul să fie cu voi! Amin.

Luke 20.9-18 (Gospel)

9Apoi a început să spună norodului pilda aceasta: „Un om a sădit o vie, a arendat-o unor vieri şi a plecat într-o altă ţară, pentru o vreme îndelungată. 10La vremea roadelor, a trimis la vieri un rob, ca să-i dea partea lui din rodul viei. Vierii l-au bătut şi l-au trimis înapoi cu mâinile goale. 11A mai trimis un alt rob; ei l-au bătut şi pe acela, l-au batjocorit şi l-au trimis înapoi cu mâinile goale. 12A mai trimis un al treilea rob; ei l-au rănit şi pe acela şi l-au scos afară. 13Stăpânul viei a zis: „Ce să fac? Am să trimit pe fiul meu preaiubit; poate că îl vor primi cu cinste.” 14Dar vierii, când l-au văzut, s-au sfătuit între ei şi au zis: „Iată moştenitorul; veniţi să-l ucidem, ca moştenirea să fie a noastră.” 15Şi l-au scos afară din vie şi l-au omorât. Acum, ce le va face stăpânul viei? 16Va veni, va pierde pe vierii aceia, şi via o va da altora.” Când au auzit ei cuvintele acestea, au zis: „Nicidecum!” 17Dar Isus i-a privit drept în faţă şi a zis: „Ce înseamnă cuvintele acestea care au fost scrise: „Piatra pe care au lepădat-o zidarii a ajuns să fie pusă în capul unghiului”? 18Oricine va cădea peste piatra aceasta va fi zdrobit de ea: şi pe acela peste care va cădea ea, îl va spulbera”.

Holy Prophet Zephaniah (Sophonias) (7th c. BC)

He is ranked ninth among the Minor Prophets. He lived in Jerusalem in the reign of King Josiah (640-609), and according to some was the great-grandson of King Hezekiah. His name means “The Lord Protects” or “The Lord’s watch-post.”

Our Venerable Father John the Silent, Bishop of Colonia (558)

He was born into a Christian family at Nikopolis in Armenia. When he was eighteen his parents died, and with twelve other young men he established a small monastery. After a few years, much against his will he was made Bishop of Colonia, but he continued to live the ascetic life of a monk. After nine years of service as bishop, discouraged by the worldliness and intrigue around him, he secretly left for Jerusalem to live as a monk. He was divinely guided to the monastery of St Sabas, who received him and, knowing nothing of his rank, assigned him a lowly place among the new monks. Saint John cheerfully undertook whatever task was given to him and served the other monks in humility and silence. After completing his novitiate he was given a cell where he lived in total silence, fasting five days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays he joined the brethren for prayer, Communion and meals; but even at these times the other monks were edified by his silence and unceasing compunction. Saint Sabas desired to make him a priest and took him to be ordained by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Saint John asked the Patriarch for a private meeting and explained that he could not be ordained because he was already a bishop. The Patriarch returned St John to St Sabas, telling him only that it was impossible for him to ordain John, who should be allowed to live in silence and solitude. Saint Sabas was perplexed (thinking that some sin prevented the monk from being ordained), but soon received a revelation of John’s true rank.

After many years of reclusion, St John withdrew further to a cave in the desert for nine years. He became known as a divinely-enlightened counselor and a wonderworker, and cheerfully received all who came to him for guidance or prayer. In 509 he returned to the monastery, where he lived as an anchorite in his cell, communicating with the world only through one of his disciples. For many years he lived only on thin porridge, into which he would mix ashes. One day a disciple saw him pouring ashes into his food, and John abandoned the practice, not wanting to be known for the practice of any virtue.

Once he asked God for a sign revealing whether he would be granted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Taking a fig-seed, he placed it on a bare rock outside his cell. Without soil or water, the seed brought forth a plant, put forth leaves and flowers, and produced three figs, which St John shared with his disciples. The Saint then made ready for death. He reposed in peace, at the age of 104.