Romans 14.9-18 (Epistle)

9Jer zato Hristos i umrije i vaskrse i oživlje da oblada i mrtvima i živima. 10A ti zašto osuðuješ brata svojega? Ili ti zašto ukoravaš brata svojega? Jer æemo svi iziæi na sud pred Hrista. 11Jer je pisano: tako mi života, govori Gospod, pokloniæe mi se svako koljeno, i svaki jezik slaviæe Boga. 12Tako æe dakle svaki od nas dati Bogu odgovor za sebe. 13Zato da ne osuðujemo više jedan drugoga, nego mjesto toga ovo gledajte da ne postavljate bratu spoticanja ili sablazni. 14Znam i uvjeren sam u Hristu Isusu da ništa nije pogano po sebi, osim kad ko misli da je što pogano, onome je pogano. 15A ako je brat tvoj jela radi žalostan, veæ se ne vladaš po ljubavi: ne gubi jelom svojijem onoga za kojega Hristos umrije. 16Gledajte dakle da se ne huli na vaše dobro. 17Jer carstvo Božije nije jelo i piæe, nego pravda i mir i radost u Duhu svetome. 18Jer koji ovijem služi Hristu ugodan je Bogu i mio ljudima.

Matthew 12.14-16, 22-30 (Gospel)

14A fariseji izišavši naèiniše vijeæu o njemu kako bi ga pogubili. No Isus doznavši to ukloni se odande. 15I za njim idoše ljudi mnogi, i iscijeli ih sve. 16I zaprijeti im da ga ne razglašuju: 22Tada dovedoše k njemu bijesna koji bješe nijem i slijep; i iscijeli ga da nijemi i slijepi stade govoriti i gledati. 23I divljahu se svi ljudi govoreæi: nije li ovo Hristos, sin Davidov? 24A fariseji èuvši to rekoše: ovaj drukèije ne izgoni ðavola do pomoæu Veelzevula kneza ðavolskoga. 25A Isus znajuæi misli njihove reèe im: svako carstvo koje se razdijeli samo po sebi, opustjeæe; i svaki grad ili dom koji se razdijeli sam po sebi, propašæe. 26I ako sotona sotonu izgoni, sam po sebi razdijelio se; kako æe dakle ostati carstvo njegovo? 27I ako ja pomoæu Veelzevula izgonim ðavole, sinovi vaši èijom pomoæu izgone? Zato æe vam oni biti sudije. 28A ako li ja Duhom Božijim izgonim ðavole, dakle je došlo k vama carstvo nebesko. 29Ili kako može ko uæi u kuæu jakoga i pokuæstvo njegovo oteti, ako najprije ne sveže jakoga? i onda æe kuæu njegovu oplijeniti. 30Koji nije sa mnom, protiv mene je; i koji ne sabira sa mnom, prosipa.

St Thomas of Mt Maleon (10th c.)

He was a renowned general, known for his great size and courage, his many victories against barbarian enemies, and his considerable wealth. But, forsaking wealth and reputation to follow Christ, he retired to the desert to live in asceticism. The Prophet Elias appeared to him and, accompanied by a pillar of fire, led him to Mount Maleon, near the Holy Mountain. There he lived in solitude, giving his days and nights to prayer. Like so many who seek to hide their holiness from the world, he was discovered, and people began to come to him for healing of their ailments and those of their loved ones. The saint healed countless ailments, drove out demons, cured the blind, and made water to pour forth from barren earth. In prayer he appeared as a pillar of fire. He reposed in peace, and his relics continued to be a powerful source of healing.

Holy Martyr Kyriake of Nicomedia (289)

Dorotheos and Eusebia, a devout, aging Christian couple who lived in Anatolia, had no children. After many years, their fervent prayers for a child were answered, and they were blessed with a daughter, whom they named Kyriake (‘Sunday’ in Greek) because she was born on the Lord’s day. The child grew up beautiful in body and soul and, though she had many suitors, chose to consecrate herself entirely to God and remain single. One of her suitors, angered at her refusal, denounced her and her parents to the Emperor Diocletian. Dorotheos and Eusebia were subjected to cruel tortures, then sent into exile, where they died under further torture. Kyriake was sent to Maximian, Diocletian’s son-in-law, for trial. By his orders, she was subjected to a horrifying series of torments; but Christ Himself appeared to her in prison, healing and comforting her. Many pagans came to believe in Christ when they saw her miraculously saved from death by fire or from wild beasts; all of these were beheaded. Kyriake told Apollonius, the general who supervised her tortures: ‘There is no way that you can turn me from my faith. Throw me into the fire — I have the example of the Three Children. Throw me to the wild beasts — I have the example of Daniel. Throw me into the sea — I have the example of Jonah the Prophet. Put me to the sword — I will remember the honored Forerunner. For me, to die is life in Christ.’ Apollonius then ordered that she be beheaded. At the place of execution, she raised her hands in prayer and gave up her soul to God before the executioner could take her life.

Note: St Kyriake is also known as Dominica or Nedelja, Latin and Slavonic words for ‘Sunday’.