Ephesians 2.19-3.7 (Epistle)

19Tako dakle više nijeste tuði i došljaci, nego živite sa svetima i domaæi ste Bogu, 20Nazidani na temelju apostola i proroka, gdje je kamen od ugla sam Isus Hristos, 21Na kome sva graðevina sastavljena raste za crkvu svetu u Gospodu; 22Na kome æete se i vi sazidati za stan Božij u duhu.

1Toga sam radi ja Pavle sužanj Isusa Hrista za vas neznabošce, 2Buduæi da èuste službu blagodati Božije koja je meni dana meðu vama, 3Da se meni po otkrivenju kaza tajna; kao što gore napisah ukratko, 4Odakle možete èitajuæi poznati moj razum u tajni Hristovoj, 5Koja se u drugijem naraštajima ne kaza sinovima èovjeèijim, kako se sad otkri svetijem njegovijem apostolima i prorocima Duhom svetijem; 6Da neznabošci kroz jevanðelje postanu sunašljednici i sutjelesnici i zajednièari u obeæanju njegovom u Hristu Isusu, 7Kojemu postadoh sluga po daru blagodati Božije, koja mi je dana po èinjenju sile njegove.

Luke 3.23-4.1 (Gospel)

23I taj Isus imaše oko trideset godina kad poèe; i bješe, kao što se mišljaše, sin Josifa sina Ilijna, 24Sina Matatova, sina Levijna, sina Melhijna, sina Janejeva, sina Josifova, 25Sina Matatijna, sina Amosova, sina Naumova, sina Eslijna, sina Nangejeva, 26Sina Maatova, sina Matatijna, sina Semejina, sina Josifova, sina Judina, 27Sina Joanina, sina Risina, sina Zorovavelova, sina Salatiilova, sina Nirijna, 28Sina Melhijna, sina Adijna, sina Kosamova, sina Irova, 29Sina Josijna, sina Eliezerova, sina Jorimova, sina Matatova, sina Levijna, 30Sina Simeunova, sina Judina, sina Josifova, sina Jonanova, sina Eliakimova, 31Sina Melejina, sina Mainanova, sina Matatina, sina Natanova, sina Davidova, 32Sina Jesejeva, sina Ovidova, sina Voozova, sina Salmonova, sina Naasonova, 33Sina Aminadavova, sina Aramova, sina Esromova, sina Faresova, sina Judina, 34Sina Jakovljeva, sina Isakova, sina Avraamova, sina Tarina, sina Nahorova, 35Sina Seruhova, sina Ragavova, sina Falekova, sina Everova, sina Salina, 36Sina Kainanova, sina Arfaksadova, sina Simova, sina Nojeva, sina Lamehova, 37Sina Matusalina, sina Enohova, sina Jaredova, sina Maleleilova, sina Kainanova, 38Sina Enosova, sina Sitova, sina Adamova, sina Božijega.

1Isus pak pun Duha svetoga vrati se od Jordana, i odvede ga Duh u pustinju,

Martyrs Sophia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love, at Rome (137)

Sophia was a widow in Rome in the time of the Emperor Hadrian, and raised her three daughters in the Faith. When the four of them were brought before the persecutors, Faith was twelve years old, Hope was ten, and Love was nine. Ordered to make sacrifice to the goddess Artemis, all of them humbly refused. All three daughters were tortured, then executed, before their mother’s eyes. Sophia buried their bodies and mourned at their grave for three days and nights, then fell asleep in peace. For her steadfastness and solidarity with her daughters’ sufferings she is counted as a martyr along with them. Sophia means “wisdom” in Greek; the three daughters’ names in Greek are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape; in Russian, Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov. They are represented on many icons.

Our Holy Father Lambert, Bishop of Maastricht (705)

He was born to a noble family in Maastricht (in modern-day Netherlands). When his spiritual father Bishop Theodard was killed in 671, St Lambert was elected Bishop of Maastricht despite his youth. He was loved by his flock for his holiness, ascetic labors and almsgiving, but was driven from his see in 675 after his patron King Childeric II was assasinated. He withdrew to the Monastery of Stavelot where he lived for seven years as one of the brethren, claiming no privileges despite his office. Once, getting up to pray during the night, he accidentally disturbed the monastic silence. The Abbot called out for whoever was responsible to do penance by standing barefoot in the snow before a cross outside the monastery church. In the morning the Abbot was dismayed to see the Bishop standing barefoot, covered with snow, before the cross, his face shining. The Abbot sought to apologize, but Lambert replied that he was honored to serve God like the Apostles, in cold and nakedness.

When King Pepin of Heristal took power in 681, he restored Lambert to his see, despite the Saint’s desire to remain in obscurity. The holy bishop renewed his pastoral labors with vigor, visiting the most distant parishes and preaching the Gospel to the pagans who still inhabited the area, despite danger and threats. But when King Pepin put away his wife and replaced her with his concubine Alpais, St Lambert was the only Bishop who dared to rebuke him. For this he incurred the wrath of Alpais, who ordered his death. His assassins carried out their evil commission, even though they found a cross shining above the humble dwelling where he was staying.

Saint Lambert is one of the best-loved Saints of the Netherlands and Belgium, where many parish churches are dedicated to him. His relics are now in the Belgian city of Liège.