1 Thessalonians 5.9-13, 24-28 (Epistle)

9Fiindcă Dumnezeu nu ne-a rânduit la mânie, ci ca să căpătăm mântuirea, prin Domnul nostru Isus Hristos, 10care a murit pentru noi, pentru ca, fie că veghem, fie că dormim, să trăim împreună cu El. 11De aceea mângâiaţi-vă şi întăriţi-vă unii pe alţii, cum şi faceţi în adevăr. 12Vă rugăm, fraţilor, să priviţi bine pe cei ce se ostenesc între voi, care vă cârmuiesc în Domnul şi care vă sfătuiesc. 13Să-i preţuiţi foarte mult, în dragoste, din pricina lucrării lor. Trăiţi în pace între voi. 24Cel ce v-a chemat este credincios şi va face lucrul acesta. 25Fraţilor, rugaţi-vă pentru noi. 26Spuneţi sănătate tuturor fraţilor, cu o sărutare sfântă. 27În Domnul, vă rog fierbinte ca epistola aceasta să fie citită tuturor fraţilor. 28Harul Domnului nostru Isus Hristos să fie cu voi cu toţi! Amin.

Luke 20.19-26 (Gospel)

19Preoţii cei mai de seamă şi cărturarii căutau să pună mâna pe El chiar în ceasul acela, dar se temeau de norod. Pricepuseră că Isus spusese pilda aceasta împotriva lor. 20Au început să pândească pe Isus; şi au trimis nişte iscoditori care se prefăceau că sunt neprihăniţi ca să-L prindă cu vorba şi să-L dea pe mâna stăpânirii şi pe mâna puterii dregătorului. 21Iscoditorii aceştia L-au întrebat: „Învăţătorule, ştim că vorbeşti şi înveţi pe oameni drept şi că nu cauţi la faţa oamenilor, ci-i înveţi calea lui Dumnezeu în adevăr. 22Se cuvine să plătim bir cezarului sau nu?” 23Isus le-a priceput viclenia şi le-a răspuns: „Pentru ce Mă ispitiţi? 24Arătaţi-Mi un ban. Al cui chip şi ale cui slove sunt scrise pe el?” „Ale cezarului”, au răspuns ei. 25Atunci El le-a zis: „Daţi, dar, cezarului ce este al cezarului, şi lui Dumnezeu ce este al lui Dumnezeu.” 26Nu L-au putut prinde cu vorba înaintea norodului; ci, miraţi de răspunsul Lui, au tăcut.

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.