1 Timothy 3.1-13 (Epistle)

1Istinita je rijeè: ako ko vladièanstva želi dobru stvar želi. 2Ali vladika treba da je bez mane, jedne žene muž, trijezan, pametan, pošten, gostoljubiv, vrijedan da uèi; 3Ne pijanica, ne bojac, ne lakom, nego krotak, miran, ne srebroljubac; 4Koji svojijem domom dobro upravlja, koji ima poslušnu djecu sa svakijem poštenjem; 5A ako ko ne umije svojijem domom upravljati, kako æe se moæi starati za crkvu Božiju? 6Ne novokršten, da se ne bi naduo, i upao u sud ðavolji. 7A valja da ima i dobro svjedoèanstvo od onijeh koji su napolju, da ne bi upao u sramotu i u zamku ðavolju. 8Tako i ðakoni treba da budu pošteni, ne dvojezièni, ne koji mnogo vina piju, ne lakomi na dobitak pogan, 9Koji imaju tajnu vjere u èistoj savjesti. 10A i ovi da se kušaju najprije, pa onda da služe, ako su bez mane. 11Tako i žene treba da su poštene, ne koje opadaju, trijezne, vjerne u svemu. 12Ðakoni da bivaju jedinijeh žena muževi, koji dobro upravljaju djecom i svojijem domovima. 13Jer koji dobro služe oni dobivaju sebi dobar postup, i veliku slobodu u vjeri Isusa Hrista.

Luke 20.9-18 (Gospel)

9A narodu poèe kazivati prièu ovu: jedan èovjek posadi vinograd, i dade ga vinogradarima pa otide na podugo vremena. 10I u vrijeme posla k vinogradarima slugu da mu dadu od roda vinogradskoga; ali vinogradari izbiše ga, i poslaše prazna. 11I posla opet drugoga slugu; a oni i onoga izbiše i osramotivši poslaše prazna. 12I posla opet treæega; a oni i onoga raniše, i istjeraše. 13Onda reèe gospodar od vinograda: šta æu èiniti? Da pošljem sina svojega ljubaznoga: eda se kako zastide kad vide njega. 14A vinogradari vidjevši njega mišljahu u sebi govoreæi: ovo je našljednik; hodite da ga ubijemo da naše bude dostojanje. 15I izvedoše ga napolje iz vinograda i ubiše. Šta æe dakle uèiniti njima gospodar od vinograda? 16Doæi æe i pogubiæe ove vinogradare, i daæe vinograd drugima. A oni što slušahu rekoše: ne dao Bog! 17A on pogledavši na njih reèe: šta znaèi dakle ono u pismu: kamen koji odbaciše zidari onaj posta glava od ugla? 18Svaki koji padne na taj kamen razbiæe se; a na koga on padne satræe ga.

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.