Hebrews 5.11-6.8 (Epistle)

11Za kojega bismo vam imali mnogo govoriti što je teško iskazati; jer ste postali slabi na slušanju. 12Jer vi koji bi valjalo da ste uèitelji po godinama, opet trebujete da uèite koje su prva slova rijeèi Božije; i postadoste da trebate mlijeka, a ne jake hrane. 13Jer koji se god hrani mlijekom, ne razumije rijeèi pravde, jer je dijete. 14A savršenijeh je tvrda hrana, koji imaju osjeæanja dugijem uèenjem obuèena za razlikovanje i dobra i zla.

1Zato da ostavimo poèetak Hristove nauke i da se damo na savršenstvo: da ne postavljamo opet temelja pokajanja od mrtvijeh djela, i vjere u Boga, 2Nauke krštenja, i metanja ruku, i vaskrsenija mrtvijeh, i suda vjeènoga. 3I ovo æemo uèiniti ako Bog dopusti. 4Jer nije moguæe one koji su jednom prosvijetljeni, i okusili dara nebeskoga, postali zajednièari Duha svetoga, 5I okusili dobre rijeèi Božije, i sile onoga svijeta, i otpali, 6Opet obnoviti na pokajanje, jer sami sebi nanovo raspinju i ruže sina Božijega. 7Jer zemlja koja pije dažd što èesto na nju pada, i koja raða povræe dobro onima koji je rade, prima blagoslov od Boga; 8A koja iznosi trnje i èièak, nepotrebna je i kletve blizu, koja se najposlije sažeže.

Luke 20.1-8 (Gospel)

1I kad on u jedan od onijeh dana uèaše narod u crkvi i propovijedaše jevanðelje, doðoše glavari sveštenièki i književnici sa starješinama, 2I rekoše mu govoreæi: kaži nam kakvom vlasti to èiniš? Ili ko ti je dao vlast tu? 3A on odgovarajuæi reèe im: i ja æu vas upitati jednu rijeè, i kažite mi: 4Krštenje Jovanovo ili bi s neba ili od ljudi? 5A oni pomišljahu u sebi govoreæi: ako reèemo s neba, reæi æe: zašto mu dakle ne vjerovaste? 6Ako li reèemo: od ljudi, sav æe nas narod pobiti kamenjem; jer svi vjerovahu da Jovan bješe prorok. 7I odgovoriše: ne znamo otkuda. 8A Isus im reèe: ni ja vama neæu kazati kakvom vlasti ovo èinim.

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.