اول تسالونیکیان ۵.۹-۱۳, ۲۴-۲۸ (رساله)

۹زیرا خدا ما را نه برای غضب، بلکه برای کسب نجات به واسطۀ خداوندمان عیسی مسیح تعیین کرده است، ۱۰که به‌خاطر ما مرد، تا چه بیدار باشیم و چه خفته، با او زندگی کنیم. ۱۱پس یکدیگر را تشویق و تقویت کنید، چنانکه اکنون نیز می‌کنید. ۱۲حال ای برادران، تقاضا می‌کنیم آنان را که در میان شما زحمت می‌کشند و از جانب خداوند رهبران شما بوده، پندتان می‌دهند، گرامی بدارید، ۱۳و با محبت، کمال احترام را به سبب کاری که انجام می‌دهند، برایشان قائل باشید. و با یکدیگر در صلح و صفا زندگی کنید. ۲۴او که شما را فرا می‌خواند، امین است و این را خواهد کرد. ۲۵ای برادران، برای ما دعا کنید. ۲۶با بوسه‌ای مقدّس همۀ برادران را سلام گویید. ۲۷در حضور خداوند، شما را قسم می‌دهم که این نامه را برای همۀ برادران قرائت کنید. ۲۸فیض خداوند ما عیسی مسیح با شما باد. آمین.

لوقا ۲۰.۱۹-۲۶ (انجیل)

۱۹علمای دین و سران کاهنان چون دریافتند این مَثَل را دربارۀ آنها می‌گوید، بر‌ آن شدند همان دم او را گرفتار کنند، امّا از مردم بیم داشتند. ۲۰پس عیسی را زیر نظر گرفتند و جاسوسانی نزد او فرستادند که خود را صدیق جلوه می‌دادند. آنها در پی این بودند که از سخنان عیسی دستاویزی برای تسلیم او به قدرت و اقتدار والی بیابند. ۲۱پس جاسوسان از او پرسیدند: «استاد، می‌دانیم که تو حقیقت را بیان می‌کنی و تعلیم می‌دهی، و از کسی جانبداری نمی‌کنی، بلکه راه خدا را به‌درستی می‌آموزانی. ۲۲آیا پرداخت خَراج به قیصر بر ما رواست یا نه؟» ۲۳امّا او به نیرنگ ایشان پی برد و گفت: ۲۴«دیناری به من نشان دهید. نقش و نام روی این سکه از آنِ کیست؟» ۲۵پاسخ دادند: «از آنِ قیصر.» به آنها گفت: «مال قیصر را به قیصر بدهید و مال خدا را به خدا!» ۲۶بدین‌سان، نتوانستند در حضور مردم او را با گفته‌هایش به دام اندازند، و در شگفت از پاسخ او، خاموش ماندند.

نبی صفنیا

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.”

پدر قابل احترام ما یوحنا خاموش, اسقف کولونیا (۵۵۸)

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.