| August 15, 2025 - Dormition of the Mother of God |
Epistle: Philipians (2: 5 - 11)
Brothers and Sisters! Your attitude must be that of Christ: Though he was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross! Because of this, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every other name, so that at Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: ‘Jesus Christ is Lord!’
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Gospel: Luke (10:38 -42; 11: 27-28)
At that time Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and listened to his words. Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to him and said, “Lord, are you not concerned that my sister has left me to do the household tasks all alone? Tell her to help me.” The Lord in reply said to her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things; one thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it.” While he was saying this a woman from the crowd called out, “Blest is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” “Rather,” he replied, “blest are they who hear the word of God and keep it.”
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| May 11, 2025 - Sunday of Paralytic |
EPISTLE: Acts (9: 32 - 42)
In those days Peter was making numerous journeys, he went -- among other places -- to God’s holy people living in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you! Get up and make your bed.’’ The man got up at once. All the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon, upon seeing him, were converted to the Lord. Now in Joppa there was a certain woman convert named Tabitha (in Greek Dorcas, meaning a gazelle). Her life was marked by constant good deeds and acts of charity. At about that time she fell ill and died. They washed her body and laid it out in an upstairs room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples who had heard that Peter was there sent two men to him with the urgent request, “Please come over to us without delay.’’ Peter set out with them as they asked. Upon his arrival they took him upstairs to the room. All the widows came to him in tears and showed him the various garments Dorcas had made when she was still with them. Peter first made everyone go outside; then he knelt down and prayed. Turning to the dead body, he said, “Tabitha, stand up.’’ She opened her eyes, then looked at Peter and sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her to her feet. The next thing he did was to call in those who were believers and the widows to show them that she was alive. This became known all over Joppa, and because of it, many came to believe in the Lord.
Gospel: John 5: 1 - 15
At that time Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Pool there is a place with the Hebrew name Bethesda. It’s five porticoes were crowded with sick people lying there blind, lame or disabled, waiting for the movement of the water. For from time to time an angel of the Lord used to come down into the pool; and the water was stirred up, so the first one to get in was healed of whatever sickness he had had. There was one man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus, who knew he had been sick a long time, said when he saw him lying there, “Do you want to be healed?’’ “Sir,’’ the sick man answered, “I do not have anyone to plunge me into the pool once the water has been stirred up. By the time I get there, someone else has gone in ahead of me.’’ Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk!’’ The man was immediately cured; he picked up his mat and began to walk. The day was a sabbath. Consequently, some of the Jews began telling the man who had been cured, “It is the sabbath, and you are not allowed to carry the mat around.’’ He explained, “It was the man who cured me who
told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ‘‘ “This person who told you to pick it up and walk,’’ they asked, “who is he?’’ The man who had been restored to health had no idea who it was. The crowd in that place was so great that Jesus had been able to slip away. Later on, Jesus found him in the temple precincts and said to him: “Remember, now, you have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you.’’ The man went off and informed the Jews that Jesus was the one who had cured him.
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September 14, 2025 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross |
Epistle: 1 Corinthians (1: 18-24 )
Brothers and Sisters!
The message of the cross is complete absurdity to those who are headed for ruin, but to us who are experiencing salvation it is the power of God. Scripture says, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and thwart the cleverness of the clever.” Where is the wise man to be found? Where the scribe? Where is the master of worldly argument? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into folly? Since in God’s wisdom the world did not come to know him through “wisdom,” it pleased God to save those who believe through the absurdity of the preaching of the gospel. Yes, Jews demand “signs” and Greeks look for “wisdom,” but we preach Christ crucified --- a stumbling block to the Jews and an absurdity to Gentiles; but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
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Gospel: John 19: 6 - 11; 13-20; 25 - 28; 30-35
At that time, after the high priests and elders decided to put Jesus to death, they led him to Pilate saying, “Take him! Take him! Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said, “Take him and crucify him yourselves; I find no case against him.” “We have our law,” the Jews responded, “and according to that law he must die because he made himself God’s Son.” When Pilate heard this kind of talk, he was more afraid than ever. Going back into the praetorium, he said to Jesus, “Where do you come from?” Jesus would not give him any answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate asked him “Do you not know that I have the power to release you and the power to crucify you?” Jesus answered: “You would have no power over me whatever unless, it were given you from above. That is why he who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin.” Hearing these words, Pilate then brought Jesus outside and took a seat on a judge's bench at the place called the Stone Pavement -- Gabbatha in Hebrew. (It was the Preparation Day for Passover, and the hour was about noon.) He said to the Jews, “Look at your king!” At this they shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” “What!” Pilate exclaimed, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests replied, “We have no king but Caesar.” In the end, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus was led away, and carrying the cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him, and two others with him, one on either side. Jesus in the middle. Pilate had an inscription placed on the cross which read ‘Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.’ This inscription, in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, was read by many of the Jews, since the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, there is your son.” In turn he said to the disciple, “There is your mother.” From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his care. After that, Jesus realizing that everything was now finished, bowed his head, and delivered over his spirit. Since it was the Preparation Day the Jews did not want to have the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, for that sabbath was a solemn feast day. They asked Pilate that the legs be broken and the bodies be taken away. Accordingly, the soldiers came and broke the legs of the men crucified with Jesus, first of the one, then of the other. When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. This testimony has been given by an eyewitness, and his testimony is true.
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TBA, 2025 - TBA |
EPISTLE: TBA
Gospel: TBA
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