1 Corinthians 7.12-24 (Epistle)

12A ostalima govorim ja a ne Gospod: ako koji brat ima ženu nekrštenu i ona se privoli življeti s njim, da je ne ostavlja. 13I žena ako ima muža nekrštena i on se privoli življeti s njom, da ga ne ostavlja. 14Jer se posveti muž nekršten ženom krštenom, i posveti se žena nekrštena od muža krštenoga; jer inaèe djeca vaša bila bi neèista, a sad su sveta. 15Ako li se nekršteni razdvaja, neka se razdvoji; jer se brat ili sestra u takovom dogaðaju ne zarobi; jer nas na mir dozva Gospod Bog. 16Jer šta znaš, ženo, da ako muža spaseš? ili šta znaš, mužu, da ako ženu spaseš? 17Samo kao što je Bog razdijelio svakome, i kao što je svakoga pozvao Gospod onako neka živi. I tako zapovijedam po svijem crkvama. 18Je li ko pozvat obrezan, neka se ne gradi neobrezan; ako li je ko pozvat neobrezan, neka se ne obrezuje. 19Obrezanje je ništa, i neobrezanje je ništa; nego držanje zapovijesti Božijeh. 20Svaki neka ostane u onome zvanju u kome je pozvan. 21Jesi li pozvan rob, ne brini se; nego ako i možeš svoj biti, još radije budi. 22Jer koji je pozvan u Gospodu rob, slobodnjak je Gospodnji, tako i koji je pozvan slobodnjak, rob je Hristov. 23Kupljeni ste skupo, ne budite robovi ljudima. 24Svaki, braæo, u èemu je ko pozvan u onome neka ostane pred Gospodom.

Matthew 14.35-15.11 (Gospel)

35I poznavši ga ljudi iz onoga mjesta, poslaše po svoj onoj okolini, i donesoše k njemu sve bolesnike. 36I moljahu ga da se samo dotaknu skuta od njegove haljine; i koji se dotakoše ozdraviše.

1Tada pristupiše k Isusu književnici i fariseji od Jerusalima govoreæi: 2Zašto uèenici tvoji prestupaju obièaje starijeh? Jer ne umivaju ruku svojijeh kad hljeb jedu. 3A on odgovarajuæi reèe im: zašto i vi prestupate zapovijest Božiju za obièaje svoje? 4Jer Bog zapovijeda govoreæi: poštuj oca i mater; i koji opsuje oca ili mater smræu da umre. 5A vi kažete: ako koji reèe ocu ili materi: prilog je èim bih ti ja mogao pomoæi; 6Može i da ne poštuje oca svojega ili matere. I ukidoste zapovijest Božiju za obièaje svoje. 7Licemjeri! dobro je za vas prorokovao Isaija govoreæi: 8Ovi ljudi približavaju se k meni ustima svojijem, i usnama poštuju me; a srce njihovo daleko stoji od mene. 9No zaludu me poštuju uèeæi naukama i zapovijestima ljudskima. 10I dozvavši ljude, reèe im: slušajte i razumijte. 11Ne pogani èovjeka što ulazi u usta; nego što izlazi iz usta ono pogani èovjeka.

Our Holy Father Sisoës the Great of Egypt (429)

One of the greatest of the Desert Fathers, he lived in asceticism at Scetis in Egypt. After the death of St Anthony the great, Abba Sisoës became a hermit in Anthony’s cave, saying “Thus in the cave of a lion, a fox makes his dwelling.” In his own lifetime he was granted the grace to heal the sick, drive out unclean spirits, and even raise the dead.

As his death approached after a long life in the desert, his brethren gathered around him. His face began to shine, and he said, “See, Abba Anthony is here!” then, “See, the choir of the prophets is here!” Seeing that he seemed to be speaking with someone, his brethren asked him who it was. He replied, “The Angels are here, and I am asking them for time to repent.” Amazed, they asked him what he could have to repent of, to which he replied, “Brethren, I do not know if I have even begun to repent.” Finally, his face became as bright as the sun, and he said, “See, the Lord is here, and He says, ‘Bring Me the vessel of the desert.’” With this, he gave his soul up to God, and his entire dwelling was filled with light and sweet fragrance.

Some of his teaching, as told in the Prologue: “St Sisoës taught his monks: ‘When temptation comes to a man, that man must give himself over to the will of God, and acknowledge that the temptation comes upon him because of his sins. If something good comes to pass, he must acknowledge that it comes about by the providence of God.’ A monk asked him: ‘How can I please God and be saved?’ The saint replied: ‘If you desire to please God, withdraw from the world, separate yourself from the earth, leave aside creation and draw near to the Creator, unite yourself to God with prayers and tears, and you will find rest in this world and in the next.’ A monk asked Sisoes: ‘How can I acquire humility?’ The saint replied: ‘When a man learns to regard every man as better than himself, he thus acquires humility.’ Ammon complained to Sisoes that he could not memorise the wise sayings that he had read, to be able to quote them in conversation with others. The saint replied: ‘It is not necessary. That which is necessary is to acquire purity of mind and to speak from this purity, placing one’s hope in God.’”

Holy Martyrs Marinus and Martha, and those with them (269)

Marinus and Martha were wealthy Persians; but they sold all their goods and traveled to Rome with their sons Audifax, Habakkuk, Valentine, and Cyrinus, in order to venerate the holy relics of the apostles and martyrs. When the Emperor Claudius asked them why they had come so far, at such cost, to seek the dead in Rome, they answered ‘We are servants of Christ, and are come to venerate the holy apostles whose immortal souls are alive with God, that they may be our intercessors with Christ our God.’ All of them were sentenced to interrogation and to death if they would not deny Christ. Valentine, who was a priest, was handed over to a General named Asterius. When Valentine healed Asterius’ daughter, who had been blind for two years, Asterius and his entire household accepted Christ and were baptised by Valentine. All of them, along with Marinus and Martha and their family, underwent torture and death for the sake of Christ.