Hebrews 5.11-6.8 (Epistle)

11Asupra celor de mai sus avem multe de zis şi lucruri grele de tâlcuit, fiindcă v-aţi făcut greoi la pricepere. 12În adevăr, voi, care de mult trebuia să fiţi învăţători, aveţi iarăşi trebuinţă de cineva să vă înveţe cele dintâi adevăruri ale cuvintelor lui Dumnezeu şi aţi ajuns să aveţi nevoie de lapte, nu de hrană tare. 13Şi oricine nu se hrăneşte decât cu lapte nu este obişnuit cu cuvântul despre neprihănire, căci este un prunc.

14Dar hrana tare este pentru oamenii mari, pentru aceia a căror judecată s-a deprins, prin întrebuinţare, să deosebească binele şi răul. 1De aceea, să lăsăm adevărurile începătoare ale lui Hristos şi să mergem spre cele desăvârşite, fără să mai punem din nou temelia pocăinţei de faptele moarte şi a credinţei în Dumnezeu, 2învăţătura despre botezuri, despre punerea mâinilor, despre învierea morţilor şi despre judecata veşnică. 3Şi vom face lucrul acesta, dacă va voi Dumnezeu. 4Căci cei ce au fost luminaţi odată – şi au gustat darul ceresc, şi s-au făcut părtaşi Duhului Sfânt, 5şi au gustat Cuvântul cel bun al lui Dumnezeu şi puterile veacului viitor – 6şi care totuşi au căzut, este cu neputinţă să fie înnoiţi iarăşi şi aduşi la pocăinţă, fiindcă ei răstignesc din nou, pentru ei, pe Fiul lui Dumnezeu şi-L dau să fie batjocorit. 7Când un pământ este adăpat de ploaia care cade adesea pe el şi rodeşte o iarbă folositoare celor pentru care este lucrat, capătă binecuvântare de la Dumnezeu. 8Dar, dacă aduce spini şi mărăcini, este lepădat şi aproape să fie blestemat şi sfârşeşte prin a i se pune foc.

Luke 20.1-8 (Gospel)

1Într-una din acele zile, când învăţa Isus norodul în Templu şi propovăduia Evanghelia, au venit deodată la El preoţii cei mai de seamă şi cărturarii cu bătrânii 2şi I-au zis: „Spune-ne, cu ce putere faci Tu aceste lucruri sau cine Ţi-a dat puterea aceasta?” 3Drept răspuns, El le-a zis: „Am să vă pun şi Eu o întrebare. Spuneţi-Mi: 4Botezul lui Ioan venea din cer sau de la oameni?” 5Dar ei cugetau astfel între ei: „Dacă răspundem: „Din cer”, va zice: „Atunci de ce nu l-aţi crezut?” 6Şi dacă răspundem: „De la oameni”, tot norodul ne va ucide cu pietre; căci este încredinţat că Ioan era un proroc.” 7Atunci au răspuns că nu ştiu de unde venea botezul lui Ioan. 8Şi Isus le-a zis: „Nici Eu n-am să vă spun cu ce putere fac aceste lucruri.”

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.