Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will break in pieces the oppressor.

They shall fear You
As long as the sun and moon endure,
Throughout all generations.
He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,
Like showers that water the earth.
In His days the righteous shall flourish,
And abundance of peace,
Until the moon is no more.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,
And His enemies will lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
Will bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba
Will offer gifts.
Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;
All nations shall serve Him.

For He will deliver the needy when he cries,
The poor also, and him who has no helper.
He will spare the poor and needy,
And will save the souls of the needy.
He will redeem their life from oppression and violence;
And precious shall be their blood in His sight.

And He shall live;
And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him;
Prayer also will be made for Him continually,
And daily He shall be praised.

There will be an abundance of grain in the earth,
On the top of the mountains;
Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon;
And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

His name shall endure forever;
His name shall continue as long as the sun.
And men shall be blessed in Him;
All nations shall call Him blessed.

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Meditation: While Herod plots in vain to destroy Christ, the wise men seek Him, even as it is today. Since they had not seen the star since they were in the East, they rejoice now on seeing it again. See, it leads them to Christ, even as God leads all His people through external signs of His own choosing. For the star, like every faithful preacher of Christ, came and stood over where the young Child was. For the Apostle says, We preach not ourselves, but Christ. And the wise men rejoiced with exceedingly great joy when they saw the star; even as the preaching of the Holy Gospel always produces joy among the faithful. Now these wise men saw the young Child with Mary His mother, for this Child will never be found without His mother, that is, without the holy Church whom Mary portrays. And finding Him with her, they fell down and worshiped Him. So must the faithful ever bend the knee before His majesty, however lowly in appearance it may be. And they opened their treasures, to present gifts to Him, even as the hearts of the faithful must also be opened to give Him their most precious faith. For these gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, do they not honor His royalty and betoken His death? So does faith ever call Him Christ and rejoice in His cross.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Luke 3:10-14

So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”

So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Meditation: Those who heeded the preaching of John and repented also asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Now John refers them to the law of love, which, simply put, is that one ought to love God and his neighbor. So there is no place for greed: he who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none, likewise of food, money, and power. For love and greed are opposites, and where Baptism brings forth a new creation, greed gives way to love, and the beauty of Eden is restored. For paradise was lost when Adam and his wife lusted after a glory for themselves; but the new creation, unlike the old, is marked no more by lust, but by renewed contentment with what has been given. Yet John must exhort the people thus, for the question, What shall we do? indicates a weakness still present. For though the new creation needs not to ask what to do nor to be told, seeing it is already reborn in the image of God who is love, yet the flesh remains, which must be held in check. So must each consider his station in life, which God apportions to each, carrying it out in the fear of God.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Luke 3:15-20

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

Meditation: John’s vision is acute, for he knows that his baptism, simple though it be in appearance, precedes the baptism of fire which Christ will bring. Now this latter baptism is a baptism not of grace but of judgment, for John says, He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. Thus John also preaches repentance for the remission of sins, since sins bring condemnation. Therefore John’s baptism in water is the sure defense for the day of Christ’s subsequent baptism of judgment in fire, even as humble water is always stronger than a raging fire. So John not only preaches, but lives, and even rebukes the mighty Herod, heedless of Herod’s vain power. Herod’s judgment against Him is void; for it is the One with the winnowing fork to whose judgment all must bend. And as the people reason in their hearts about whether John is the Christ or not, even John, who stands in the same river as Christ, knows that he will be like Him in His resurrection. For as Christ and His baptized people are one, so let all ponder this unity of faith with Christ.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets:

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’ ”

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Meditation: The evangelist calls his Gospel the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which calls to mind the truth that this Gospel is a renewal of creation, whose account likewise opens with the words in the beginning. Moreover, this Gospel is only the beginning, since it has an unending continuation; for the Gospel of Christ is perpetually bearing fruit, and is eternal. So John baptizes in the wilderness, and by this water the dry ground becomes a fruitful paradise. John wears camel’s hair, for as the camel stores within itself water for life in the desert, so the faithful store Baptism’s water within themselves for this desert-world. John wears also a leather belt, token of the skins made for Adam and Eve; for Baptism is the true clothing and restoration of the innocence they lost. And John eats locusts and wild honey, for locusts are reminiscent of the plagues upon faithless Egypt, and the eating of them signifies the triumph of faith over all the ills which faithlessness has brought to pass; and the eating honey is reminiscent of that which Samson found within the roaring lion he slew, recalling the triumph of the Word of God over the devil.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Mark 1:9-11

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Meditation: Jesus, when baptized, saw the Spirit of God descending upon Him like a dove. This means that He, according to His own words, is pure in heart, for He said, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. And the voice which He heard corresponds well to the Spirit which He saw, for the voice declared, I am well pleased. Purity of heart is most pleasing to the Father. But see what transpires here: this well-pleasing One, who is pure in heart, is baptized in the Jordan. Therefore, He, as the hymnist puts it, sinless, sanctifies the wave; mankind from sin to cleanse and save. For He was not baptized for His own sake, who was without sin; He had nothing to gain from the water; rather, He implants His own purity there, in that water, in order that whoever else is baptized in this water might draw from it the purity now there. Well may everyone who is baptized therefore say, “The Father is now well pleased also with me, and I too have now been purified in heart, that I may see God.” For the beatific vision is guaranteed to all who live from the Jordan, that is, from Baptism; for this Water, being filled with the pure Christ, purifies the unclean.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Luke 3:21–22

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Meditation: St. Luke’s Gospel, unlike Matthew and Mark, does not tell us that it was Jesus who saw the Spirit descend, but rather, indicates that this was available to all sight, for the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form. For whereas the others thereby designate Jesus as the pure in heart who sees God, and therefore as the Christ, this hereby designates Him the Chosen One, and therefore the Christ. For the bodily form of the Spirit betokens the bodily form of the Incarnate One; and the opening of the heavens betokens the opening again of the gates of Eden which were once blocked by the angel, at the Fall of man. For the Christ is the Son of Man, He is the New Adam, not merely in the image of God, but being Himself the image of God. For whereas the first Adam was prime among all creatures, the Second Adam is no creature, but the Creator, ever blessed, the eternal Son of God. Moreover, since this opening of heaven occurred at His own Baptism, surely heaven is also opened in every Baptism in His name. And since the Spirit descended at His own baptism, surely the Spirit likewise descends on everyone baptized into Him.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Luke 3:23-38

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Meditation: Why is this St. Luke’s genealogy unlike St. Matthew’s? For whereas Matthew’s is ascending, this descends; and whereas Matthew’s springs from Abraham, this reaches to Adam; and whereas Matthew’s has forty names plus Jesus Himself, this has seventy-seven names, including Jesus’ name. Surely, it is because Matthew sees Jesus as the true Christ, come in the fullness of time, at the end of the ages; therefore Matthew’s names lead up to Christ, from Abraham; but Luke sees Jesus as the Second Adam, recapitulating the human race in Himself; so his names lead back from Christ, to Adam. Further, Matthew has forty names plus Jesus, making Him the One come only after all is fulfilled (as the number forty indicates), but Luke has seventy-seven names including Jesus, making Him the One who comes to forgive sins, to heal the breach, and thus to restore the Garden; for seventy-seven calls to mind the admonition of Jesus to Peter regarding unending forgiveness. So this genealogy returns creation to the source, that is, not only to Adam, but to God. So in Christ the Creator comes full circle back to His own creation, in the flesh.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Luke 2:41-52

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Meditation: See how His mother and Joseph did not find Jesus among relatives and acquaintances. Neither will we find Him there, for He says, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. And they sought Him three days without finding Him. Yet on the third day they did find Him, as it is written, Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. But where did they find Him? In the temple, of course, for He is Himself the true temple of God, as He said of His body, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. So they found the Temple within the temple on the third day, as they will find Him again in His Temple, that is, in the flesh, at His resurrection from the dead the third day. And He sits in the temple amid the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions; for He must ever question Israel whether there is faith or not, since without faith it is impossible both to please Him, and to answer His questions. But faith knows that Joseph is not the father of this Boy, the Virgin-born, who must obey His true Father, for He said, I must be about My Father’s business. What is His Father’s business? See, it is Jesus’ self-revelation and answers, to which we will all do well daily to attend.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. John 1:29-34

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Meditation: Behold how in Matthew and Mark, it is Jesus who sees the Spirit descend; in St. Luke, it is seen of all, but here it is John who sees. Why? Here, the evangelist wishes to give the testimony of John, the last of the prophets. For this evangelist is also the one through whom we learn of John’s cry, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!, which the Holy Liturgy ever repeats. So here is the fulfillment not only of John’s function as prophet, but indeed of the purpose for which all prophets were sent, indeed for which all the Scriptures are written. For not only John, but all point to Christ the Lamb; therefore not only does Christ come after John, but after all the prophets. But John did not know Him, that is, did not come to the conclusion of his prophetic role, until he baptized Him. So also, none of the prophets knew Him, that is, none yet saw the fulfillment of all their prophecy. Thus it is clear not only that all the Scriptures have been written for our learning, but that our learning must preeminently be of this Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. For where there is remission of sin, there is also life and salvation.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. John 1:35-42

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

Meditation: The two disciples here heeded the speaking of John. In their faithfulness to their teacher, they turned to Another, for the former had said, Behold the Lamb of God! So they followed Him, in submission to what their teacher said. Here is seen the true purpose of his office, that disciples whom he teaches might follow the One whom the office-bearer portrays. For no one who preaches Christ ought to gain followers for himself, else he is no true preacher of Christ. Next, when the disciples follow Christ, who asks them what they seek, they now call Him Rabbi, for they acknowledge Him to be their true Teacher, and say, Where are You staying? for they wish to stay with Him. So let all ask where Jesus is staying, where they might stay with Him, and know that He does not stay wherever their whims might suggest, but only at the place to which He Himself directs, saying, Come and see. Where, then, is He staying? Behold, this is learned upon heeding the preaching of Him, for where He is preached, there is the holy Christian Church, and when one comes to the Bride’s chamber, there in that place will the Bridegroom surely also be found.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. John 1:43-51

The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Meditation: Consider Nathanael, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit. When Philip found Nathanael, he said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote, which shows how Nathanael, like Philip, was looking for the redemption of Israel. For he did not see Moses and the prophets as ends in themselves (the Pharisees’ error), but as wanting fulfillment in Christ who was to come. Yet his vision is clearer still, for when he hears that Jesus is of Nazareth, he questions, knowing that the Christ will be the Son of David, of Judah. But Jesus now speaks to Nathanael, saying, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Does not the fig tree designate Israel? Did not Jesus curse a fig tree, token of the judgment that awaits the apostate nation? Yet, He says, I saw you there. Thus Jesus acknowledges the need for the fig tree, which is Israel, since salvation is of the Jews. Yet Israel is a corrupt tree, so it is also fitting that the Christ be associated, rather, with Nazareth, which means, the (fresh) root. And He says I, I saw you, so He must be true Christ, Very God of Very God, who sees all things. Thus Nathanael, according to his clarity of view, confesses Him the Son of God and King of Israel.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Luke 4:1-13

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written:

He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,’

and,

In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ”

Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Meditation: Why does St. Luke place the ordering of the three temptations of Christ differently than Matthew? For in Matthew there is first the temptation to make stones bread, second, to force the help of angels if He casts Himself down from the temple, and last, to worship the devil in exchange for all the world; but in Luke the second and third are reversed, that is, second is the temptation to worship the devil, and third, to cast Himself down expecting angels’ help. The reason for this difference becomes clear when it is remembered that while Matthew’s purpose is to show Jesus as the true Christ, the obedient Israelite, Luke’s is to show Jesus as the second, obedient Adam, in whom Paradise is restored. Thus for Luke the last and greatest temptation is for Christ to turn to angels for the bestowal of glory upon Him, bearing Him up in their hands, as it was with the first Adam to whom the (fallen) angel came as a serpent, offering to bestow glory in showing Him how to become like God. Yet Christ, who is greater than Adam, knows that this angel is a deceiver and will not do as he promises, being the father of lies. So Christ the Creator shows Himself the obedient Adam, and so fulfills by Himself Adam’s purpose as creature.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Mark 1:12-15

Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Meditation: The fulfillment of the time is indicated not only by Jesus’ words here, but by the fact that He was in the wilderness with the wild beasts. For does not wilderness itself betoken a ruined world? And do not wild beasts betoken creation run amok? For in the beginning, the beasts were not wild, but were brought to Adam to be named, and thus shown to be beneath the dominion of Adam. In the beginning, all creation was very good, so there was no wilderness, and there were no wild beasts, until the Fall of man, which also marked the onset of creation’s decay. But here we see Jesus, who comes to save the world from its ruin. So He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, in order that wilderness might again become garden; and He is with the wild beasts, in order that man might regain his lost dominion and image of God. So we see the wilderness restored here as a perfect garden, where Man stands with the beasts beneath his authority; the temptation of angels, which began in Eden, here at last ceases, and now they minister to him. Surely, therefore, the kingdom of God is at hand, and it has reclaimed creation for itself.

Psalm 72

Reading: St. Matthew 4:12-17

Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles:
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Meditation: Zebulun and Naphtali are a mystery, for Zebulun is named first (both here and in Jacob’s blessing of his sons), although Naphtali was older than Zebulun. Yet faith knows that the order of things must be reversed, in that the last shall be first, in Christ. So also, the name Naphtali means “wrestlings,” for by the birth of Naphtali, Rachel prevailed in her wrestlings with her sister, having done the work of providing Jacob with her maid instead of herself. Does this not suggest the honor which comes from work? But Zebulun means “honor,” for by Zebulun’s birth Leah’s lost honor as the preeminent mother is restored. So it is fitting that the younger Zebulun gain honor over the older Naphtali, in token that the honor of grace alone shall prevail over the honor gained by scheming or work. Moreover, the blessings Jacob gave to these two tribes also make this region a fitting place for Jesus to begin His preaching: Zebulun was to dwell at the seashore, a haven for ships, even as the preaching of Christ is ever the haven for the Ship of God, which is the Church; and Naphtali was called a deer let loose, giving beautiful words, for the words of grace from Christ’s mouth to let loose those held captive to sin, are they not beautiful?

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.”

Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
He turned the sea into dry land;
They went through the river on foot.
There we will rejoice in Him.
He rules by His power forever;
His eyes observe the nations;
Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
Who keeps our soul among the living,
And does not allow our feet to be moved.
For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

I will go into Your house with burnt offerings;
I will pay You my vows,
Which my lips have uttered
And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals,
With the sweet aroma of rams;
I will offer bulls with goats.

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!

(But if Last Sunday after Epiphany—before Septuagesima—skip to Transfiguration)

Psalm 66

Reading: St. John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Meditation: Behold the faithfulness of the blessed mother of our Lord. First, her love is manifested in that she lays her hosts’ need before her Son. Second, see the steadfast nature of her faith; for though Jesus seems to be treating her so roughly here, yet she refuses to believe otherwise than that He is good and does good. So sure she remains that she, rather than argue with Him, simply turns to the servants and says, Whatever He says to you, do it. See, Whatever! It does not matter to her, for she knows that whatever He says will be good. So does the Blessed Virgin well typify the Holy Christian Church, which likewise tells her faithful servants, the pastors, Whatever He says to you, do it. For so the Church in faithfulness must instruct those who will be her preachers: Do what Christ tells you! When the servants at this wedding did what He told them, water became fine wine, even as when the servants of Christ do what He tells them—when they administer rightly the Holy Sacrament—the finest of wines is provided to the guests, at the Holy Wedding of Christ and His Church. For what wine could be finer than that which is the blood of Christ?

Psalm 66

Reading: St. Matthew 4:18-25

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Meditation: Andrew and Peter leave their nets and follow Christ, for He said, I will make you fishers of men. Therefore as their new fishing will be for men, so also their new men will be fish, that is, those whose life is sustained in the waters of Baptism; and so their new nets will be their preaching of Christ, which will draw fish, that is, men, into the boat, that is, the Church, as it is written, Thou broughtest us into the net. And when James and John are called, they now leave their boat, and enter a new boat, namely the Church, buoyed and supported by the baptismal waters. So too they will now do the bidding of a new Father, as obedient sons whose fishing for men is done at His bidding, and in the stead of His only Son. For what happens as soon as Jesus calls these disciples? He begins to preach the gospel of the kingdom in their synagogues, for He is the Good Fisherman who comes to draw fish into His boat. So this is His design: He will preach first, and then, when He sends them into all the world, they will preach in His stead; or rather, He will fish first, and then they will fish after Him. For this is the meaning of His admonition to them: Follow Me.

Psalm 66

Reading: St. Matthew 5:1-10

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Meditation: Here are eight beatitudes describing those who, following Christ, will be like Him; and then one more aimed directly at His disciples, saying, Blessed are you. So the first are really describing Christ: poor in spirit, humbling Himself and being obedient unto death; mourning, weeping over Jerusalem and over all unbelief and sin; meek and inheriting the earth, through humility claiming the devil’s wilderness world and making it again God’s garden; hungry and thirsty for rightousness, hungering in the wilderness (for the word of God) and thirsty at the well of the Samaritan woman (for her faith); merciful, offering mercy to sinners by His self-sacrifice; pure in heart, or faithful, seeing God the Spirit descend upon Him in His baptism; the peacemaker, who makes peace between God and the world in Himself; and the persecuted, who will be crucified for the sin of the world. So all who follow Christ in faith will become like Him: poor in spirit, mourning sin; meek, desiring the righteousness of faith; merciful, pure and faithful in heart; peaceful; and persecuted. So then Jesus reassures His disciples that when they are persecuted for their faithfulness to Him, they are not what their persecutors think them, but possessors of great heavenly reward.

Psalm 66

Reading: St. Matthew 5:27-48 or 5:27-32,43-48

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

“Furthermore it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Meditation: Here Jesus is giving instructions for jurisdiction in His Church: on the one hand, pluck out a sinful eye, that is, do not abide impenitence among your members, lest the whole body be lost. So, simply put, excommunicate if you must! But on the other hand Jesus warns that wrongful divorce of one’s wife causes her to commit adultery, that is, hasty and erring excommunication forces one improperly cast out to stumble and lose faith. Moreover, the word of jurisdiction thus exercised need not be supported by oaths and curses; rather, anything more than the simple yes or no comes from evil, as it belies a lack of faith in the power of that jurisdiction. And again, having this power (of the Keys) is no entitlement to resist an evil person; rather, when suffering comes as a result of this faithful stewardship of the Keys, turn the other cheek. For it must be in love and not in hate that such jurisdiction is exercised; as God shows no favoritism, neither shall the Church be permitted to do so. In bearing a merciful heart toward all alike, therefore, she shall be perfect (in mercy) just as your Father in heaven is perfect (in mercy).

Psalm 66

Reading: St. Matthew 6:1-23 or 5-15

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Meditation: Jesus bids His disciples to call God Father, saying Your Father sees in secret, and pray to your Father in the secret place, and again, Your Father sees in secret, and teaching them to pray, saying, Our Father in heaven. This is indeed a great privilege, for is not Jesus the only Son of God, as we confess? Does not Jesus alone have the right to call God My Father, as He so often did? By what authority, then, do we now gain privilege to call God also our Father? See, by Jesus’ own authority. Indeed, in teaching this most excellent prayer, He is permitting His people to stand in His own place, and to pray His own prayer. For He Himself prayed Glorify Your name, and again, I thank You, Father, that Your have revealed these things to babes. And He called upon His Father in Gethsemane, saying, Not as I will, but as You will. And He also prayed when He broke bread and gave it to His disciples, saying, This is My body, that is, the Bread of Life, our true Daily Bread. And does not forgiveness of sins, help against temptation, and deliverance from evil come from Christ, especially in the blessed Sacrament? Surely, the highest privilege here is given to the baptized, who bear the name of Christ, that is, who stand in His place before God.

Psalm 66

Reading: St. Matthew 7:1-14

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Meditation: How is the plank removed from one’s own eye? Not by works, but by faith, for no amount of work can atone for sin, that is, for the plank in the eye; yet by faith we see; by faith the eye is made clear; by faith alone, therefore, sin is removed. So too it must be by faith and not by works that the speck is removed from the brother’s eye. How do you look at your brother, then? Do you see his speck? Then you are not looking with faith; rather, look with faith, with the same sight that sees the plank removed from your own eye, the sight granted by the mercy of Christ, and you will also see no speck remaining in your brother’s eye. For the same mercy which removes your sin also removes your brother’s sin; thus the same sight which believes your own sin is removed also sees the removal of your brother’s sin. This, then, is what Judge not means: no one who is bent on condemning his brother can escape his own condemnation. Thus, do not give what is holy to the dogs or swine, that is, do not condemn to hell one whom God has reckoned holy; for in having such a mind, you will likewise be trampled by the hordes of hell.

Psalm 66

Reading: St. Matthew 7:24-29

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Meditation: Who is the wise man who builds his house on the rock? Is it not Christ? For Christ is the Wisdom of God. And He it is who builds His house, that is, His Church, as He says, I will build My Church. And what, then, is the rock? As David declares, The LORD is my rock. So Christ builds His Church upon Himself. Now He declares that whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man. Therefore, he who hears Christ’s words gains faith, and through faith becomes exactly like Christ: thus the faithful of Christ become wise in the Wise Man; their houses become His House, which is Holy Christendom, built upon the Rock, upon Christ and His sayings; and thus they become rocks themselves, or living stones, as the Apostle calls them. What, then, are the rain, the floods, and the winds? Surely, Baptism is the very rain from heaven, and the flood of the Jordan, filled with the wind of the Holy Spirit. Yet Baptism kills and drowns the Old Adam; likewise affliction comes into the lives of those who have been baptized, that the Old Adam in them should daily drown and die. Then what? A new Man arises, that is, the resurrected Christ Himself, in us, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

The LORD reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!

Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.
His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.

Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
Who boast of idols.
Worship Him, all you gods.
Zion hears and is glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.
For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

(But if Last Sunday after Epiphany—before Septuagesima—skip to Transfiguration.)

Psalm 97

Reading: St. Matthew 8:1-13

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Meditation: Here are two fine examples for faith. First is the leper, whose prayer is so confident that Christ will do good, that he does not even prescribe the manner of help he wishes, does not even make this prayer a request at all, but simply says, Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. For this is what it means to be Lord: both to be able to do good, and to be trusted to do good without even needing a specific request. Surely, he fully expected Jesus’ reply: I am willing; be cleansed. For this man already knows His good and gracious will. Secondly there is a centurion, whose plea, like that of the leper, contains no specific request, but simply lays before Him the need, leaving completely to Him what He shall do with it. More than this, the centurion demonstrates his understanding that Jesus’ complete authority enables Him to do good by merely speaking the word. For the centurion both knows what it is to be under authority and to have authority of his own; thus what is evident here is his faith in Jesus’ complete authority over all evils. So great is his faith that Jesus Himself marvels! Surely, only what is worked by the Spirit could cause this.

Psalm 97

Reading: St. Matthew 8:14-22

Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”

And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Meditation: Peter’s wife’s mother lies sick with a fever, and Jesus, touching her hand, heals her, and she serves them. But is not Peter first among the Apostles, and their spokesman? We might therefore consider his wife to be also, in another sense, the Holy Christian Church, all the faithful of God, inasmuch as the Apostles will be those who stand in the place of Christ for His Church, which is the Bride of Christ. And if so, then His wife’s mother is, in another sense, the generations who went before, the faithful of all time prior. So this sick woman also fittingly portrays the sickness which had afflicted all of Israel, who had over the generations turned from the Christ for whom they should have been waiting. Far from being ready for His coming, they had turned far from Him when He came. Yet they could still be healed by His touch, if they, like this woman, would receive Him. For He had power also over demons, which, surely, had invaded all of Israel and led to such unbelief everywhere! But who must bring Him to them? See, it must be Peter, that is, one whom Jesus has sent to preach. For then will come faithful service to Him, who bids His disciples, saying, Follow me! Surely, to follow Him who is the Life is also to leave the dead.

Psalm 97

Reading: St. Matthew 8:28-34

When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”

And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.

Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

Meditation: How fitting, that Jesus should send demons into swine! For both swine and demons are unclean. As swine divide the hoof, yet without chewing the cud and so are forbidden meat for Israel, so the demons speak lies and falsehood, that is, they divide the word of God, yet without properly ruminating upon it, that is, without understanding. For the word of God must be rightly divided, as the Apostle says; therefore if wrongly divided, it becomes an unclean thing. And see how strong this mute demoniac was: no one could pass that way. Yet when Jesus Himself comes, He casts out the demon, and the mute now speaks. So also, no reason or strength is able to withstand the peril of demons which would possess the Church; only Christ Himself can cast them out; and when He does, behold, His people speak and confess Him. But why do the people here beg Jesus to leave? Was it not because they feared His power? And was this not so because they, like the demons who had gone into their swine, had nothing to do with Him? For in that they possessed these unclean herds, surely they were not submissive to the Scriptures which forbad this to Israel.

Psalm 97

Reading: St. Matthew 9:9-17

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Meditation: The Pharisees are old wineskins, for they do not receive Him who is our New Wine. So they scoff at Jesus who eats with sinners, and fail to see their own need for Him. Jesus invites John’s fasting disciples to drink this New Wine. For John himself had preached repentance, which is a return to God our Maker. He who thus returns has been renewed. For now that the New is come, the New is received by the new. As new wine requires new skins, so too what is needful for the reception of Christ is a new creation. For the things of God cannot be received by the flesh, to which they are folly. How, then, is the flesh renewed? Consider the new flesh of our Incarnate God. See, all who would eat and drink with Him must be in Him. This is why John baptized as well as preached repentance; for Baptism is entrance into Him. Baptism, according to Christ’s own words, is into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those who, like the Pharisees, see no need for this, being holy in themselves, will never be renewed. What will become of them, when Christ comes to judge the living and the dead? Shall they not burst, being old wineskins? Recall the traitor Judas, who burst asunder, a token of the end of all who do not receive Christ.

Psalm 97

Reading: St. Matthew 9:27-38

When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Meditation: How faithful are these two blind men, crying, Son of David, have mercy on us! Now this is the cry of faith, being an acknowledgement that He is the one whom David called Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, etc. And the Son of David, is He not the Prince of Peace, One greater than Solomon (which means peace)? And if He is One greater than Solomon, must not His temple be likewise greater than Solomon’s? What temple? Surely, His holy body, for He said, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Therefore His temple is greater, for all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily, as the Apostle says. And as Solomon’s temple was destroyed and rebuilt, so is Christ’s body destroyed in death and rebuilt in resurrection. So He is the Greater Son of David, the One coming after Solomon. This the blind men know, though they cannot see Him. For when Jesus ask if they believe, they reply, Yes, Lord. So their sight is with faith, and so they call out to Him for mercy. Now this cry is also contained in the Holy Liturgy of the Church, whose sight is likewise the sight of faith alone, seeing Christ as the Son of David.

Psalm 97

Reading: St. Matthew 10:1-16 or 1-7

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Meditation: Why did Jesus tell His disciples not to go into the way of the Gentiles, nor even a city of the Samaritans? Even Jesus Himself had gone there; in fact, He was brought up in Nazareth, in Galilee of the Gentiles. What does this mean? Compare this to the sending forth of these Apostles into all the world at the close of the Gospel. Did He not send them out, saying, I am with you always? And did He not say to them, He who receives you receives me? Surely, therefore, the Apostles’ very ministry shows forth Christ Himself. So Christ the King of the Jews must be born in Bethlehem of Judea, David’s city; and so also the apostolic ministry must be born in Judea, since the Apostles are Christ’s true ambassadors. For salvation is of the Jews, and only after having sprung forth from Judea can it go forth into all the world. And when does this happen? When Christ had first accomplished our salvation, only then did He send forth His preachers into all the world for the first time. Prior to this time, however, they must stay in the way of the Jews, even as Christ Himself had to be born in Judah. Otherwise, they would not be authentic; for this is truly the very reason God called the nation of Israel into being: to be the birthplace both of Christ and of His Gospel.

Psalm 97

Reading: St. Matthew 10:17—11:1 or 10:34-42

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

Meditation: How stern is Christ here! I did not come to bring peace, He says. But is He not the Prince of Peace? And did not the angels cry, Peace on earth? What, then, does this mean? And again, He says, I came to bring a sword. Is this not He who told Peter to put his sword into its sheath, and who said, My kingdom is not of this world? But here is the answer to the mystery: since His kingdom is not of this world, neither is His sword of this world, nor His peace. For His sword is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, as the Apostle also says; and His peace is, as He says, not as the world gives. So His peace, not born of negotiations, compromise, and a desire to appease men, is rather one which brings conflict, being foreign on earth among those who boast of themselves. This is because His peace is not between men and men, but between God and men. For this heavenly peace all earthly peace must be sacrificed if necessary. And since this is so, the heavenly-minded will fight with a heavenly and not an earthly sword, namely the word of God. Thus they may well be sorely afflicted on earth, where earthly swords fight against them; but they will still prevail with the heavenly sword, for the word of God must accomplish that for which it is sent.

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
The LORD has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Sing to the LORD with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the hills be joyful together
before the LORD,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
With righteousness He shall judge the world,
And the peoples with equity.

(But if Last Sunday after Epiphany—before Septuagesima—skip to Transfiguration.)

Psalm 98

Reading: St. Matthew 8:23-27

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Meditation: Here we see One greater than Jonah, asleep in the boat, while the men battle the waves and the sea in vain. And as Jonah stilled the sea when they awakened him, so does Christ. But how did Jonah still the sea? Was it not by consenting to be sacrificed for all the sailors, being thrown overboard? And how does Christ still the sea? Is it not likewise by consenting to be the one offered up for the sin of the world? Since He is the sin-bearer, therefore the curse is lifted, and creation must submit again to its Creator. Now the Creator commands the winds and the sea, and they obey Him. And as Jonah’s presence in the sea made it calm, so Christ’s presence in the sea of Baptism causes a great calm, yea, a great and mighty deliverance from all affliction. For sweet is the calm of Paradise the blessed, as the hymnist declares. But faith is required, for although they called out well to Him, saying, Lord, save us!, even as the Church herself cries out with the prayer of David, saying, Save me, O God, by thy name!, yet they also cried, saying, We are perishing!, which opposes their first cry, for salvation. So rather, let them (and us) be confident that He will do it.

Psalm 98

Reading: St. Matthew 11:11-24 or 11:11-19

“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:

‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

Meditation: No one has arisen who is greater than John the Baptist, but see how poor he looks! He wears humble garments, preaches in the wilderness, is imprisoned, and is martyred. Yet he is great, says Christ. See in this how deceiving appearances can be. For consider the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven: that One is greater than John. Who is He? Surely, the One who gave up the most, who is the most impoverished. Is this not Christ? And is He not greater than John? So in Christ is the fulfillment of all the prophets, of whom the last is John. Now those prophets were all poor and persecuted, like the One greater than them all, our Christ, whose humiliation theirs foretold. So John fasted but Christ ate and drank. For John and all the prophets looked ahead to what they did not yet have, namely, to the Coming One. But Christ is the Coming One, in whom all is fulfilled, therefore it is fitting that He eats and drinks, and that we eat and drink with Him in the Holy Sacrament. For He eats and drinks as the New Adam, and we in Him are in the New Paradise, where the Tree of Life is no more forbidden; so the Sacrament is eaten and drunk, for by eating and drinking we enjoy the jubilation of the New Adam at the Feast of Paradise restored.

Psalm 98

Reading: St. Matthew 12:1-21 or 12:1-8

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

Meditation: When David and those who were with him ate the showbread, they were surely showing forth Him who was to come. For here we see Jesus’ disciples plucking heads of grain and eating. And this is fitting, for the head of all grain is Christ; that is, the very purpose for which grain was created was that it might be made bread, whose chief use is for the Holy Supper, which is Christ. So let us eat the head of the grain, that is, let us partake in Christ the Bread of Life. For in Christ all is fulfilled. So too, the very purpose for which the priests were given to Israel was that they might work on the Sabbath, performing sacrifices, while everyone else rested. Now in this they did not profane the Sabbath, but showed forth its fulfillment in Christ, for they showed forth our High Priest, who did the work of offering himself to God for the sin of the world, that we might rest in Him who is our Sabbath. Moreover, the temple in which they offered the sacrifices foretells the temple of Christ’s body, in which He performed His sacrifice, for He is the One greater than the temple. So to remember the Sabbath Day is to believe Christ, the Lord and fulfiller of the Sabbath, and to rest in Him from the labor needed for salvation.

Psalm 98

Reading: St. Matthew 12:22-50 or 12:22-32

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Meditation: See how Jesus has entered the strong man’s house and plundered his goods: for He healed this demon-possessed man, who was blind and mute. This man was strong man’s goods, for he was possessed by the strong man; yet now the man is released from the strong man, for he speaks and sees. So therefore the strong man himself must be bound, else how could his goods be plundered? So the multitudes, being amazed, wondered, saying, Could this be the Son of David? But this must be the Son of David, for He has conquered all His foes and plundered their goods, even as David His father did. And since it is the work of the Holy Spirit to proclaim this truth, therefore whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit has no hope; for to speak against the Holy Spirit is to speak against His Gospel. Forgiveness, that is, release from the strong man’s lair, comes only through the Holy Spirit’s Gospel, which is that Christ has bound that strong man and plundered his goods. For He by suffering entered the strong man’s lair and chains, that He might burst forth therefrom in His resurrection.

Psalm 98

Reading: St. Matthew 13:1-23 or 3-11, 16-17

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Meditation: Blessed, said Jesus, are the eyes of His disciples, for they see; and their ears, for they hear. What do they see? They see Him who is Himself the Sower, sowing His good seed even as He speaks. And what do they hear? They hear His blessed words, which are His seeds. Assuredly, many prophets and righteous men desired to see and hear this, and did not. For this Sower, was He not long foretold and awaited? Did He not, ever since He walked in the Garden, in the beginning, say that He would come and save His people? For Israel was His Vineyard, which He Himself planted; though He was not yet seen. How could He be seen, being the Immortal and Invisible God? Yet now He is seen, for now is the appointed time, when He has become flesh, and in the flesh is therefore now seen. Yet His flesh was not only visible but mortal, as we all are mortal; and for this reason He was rejected by many, who also killed Him. So it is that though He is truly the Sower and truly sows, yet to have blessed eyes is not merely to see this Man with the natural eyes (for everyone could see Him with the eyes), but also to see with the eyes of faith, that is, to know who He is, and knowing Him, to become the good crop in the good ground of God, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Psalm 98

Reading: St. Matthew 14:1-36 or 14:22-34

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”

And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

Meditation: As the sea roared and the fullness thereof, Jesus walked on the sea in the fourth watch of the night, even as He does in the preaching of His fourfold Gospel of baptismal grace. And when the disciples cried out for fear, He spoke to them to comfort them, even as He has also sent the Comforter, that is, the Holy Ghost, to speak to His people today when they are afraid, and comfort them with His mercy. Yet Peter still will not believe His word, saying, If it is you. If? Why does he doubt? Still his faith is little, so when he is commanded to come, though he walks on the water, yet not for long, for he saw the wind and the waves. So he who is of little faith must pray, saying, Lord, save me! And though his faith is little, the Lord does save him. See how good this Lord is, therefore; for although faith be weak and small, yet He hears this prayer for salvation and will save. And so when they got into the boat, the contrary wind ceased; even as when Christ brings His little faithful into His boat which is the Holy Christian Church, there is the calm and comfort of the Gospel of mercy and salvation; and as they worshiped Him there, so do we worship Him in the Church, and confess that He is truly the Son of God.

Psalm 98

Reading: St. Matthew 15:1-20 or 10-20

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and your mother’; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Meditation: Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees, and they become offended. For He said that what came out of their mouths has defiled them. They who prided themselves in their strict adherence to the code of ritual cleanness were in fact defiled and unclean. So Jesus answers His disciples who are troubled by the displeasure of the Pharisees, saying, Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. So then, they have condemned Him, saying that His disciples transgress, and He has condemned them, calling them hypocrites. Whose condemnation shall stand, and who is truly condemned? Behold the Tree of Life here, whom the Father has planted: even though He be crucified and die, yet He will not be uprooted, but as the autumn and winter give way to the third season (springtime) and new birth, so also He rises again the third day. What then shall be said of the others? They are blind leaders of the blind, who shall fall into a ditch. What ditch? Surely, the ditch from which their roots have been uprooted, the ditch of the grave and hell. Let us therefore beware the leading of blind guides whom the Father has not planted, that is, who are not called and ordained to proclaim the Gospel.

The LORD reigns;
Let the peoples tremble!
He dwells between the cherubim;
Let the earth be moved!
The LORD is great in Zion,
And He is high above all the peoples.
Let them praise Your great and awesome name—
He is holy.

The King’s strength also loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt the LORD our God,
And worship at His footstool—
He is holy.

Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
And Samuel was among those who called upon His name;
They called upon the LORD, and He answered them.
He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar;
They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.

You answered them, O LORD our God;
You were to them God-Who-Forgives,
Though You took vengeance on their deeds.
Exalt the LORD our God,
And worship at His holy hill;
For the LORD our God is holy.

(But if Last Sunday after Epiphany—before Septuagesima—skip to Transfiguration.)

Psalm 99

Reading: St. Matthew 13:24-30

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Meditation: Tares and wheat look very much the same outwardly, but inwardly there is much difference, for the former are weeds and the latter a good crop. So is it also where the people of God congregate. Among them are those who are not truly people of God at all, but only outwardly appear so. How has this happened? Surely, the enemy has done this; for the devil’s aim is always to ruin the work of God. Therefore the existence of tares among the wheat, or of hypocrites among the faithful, is evidence that the devil is at work. But shall the hypocrites be rooted out? Not until the harvest, lest the wheat be destroyed. So Jesus tells His disciples to let the Pharisees alone, who masquerade as holy men. They shall not be punished for their folly until the Day of Judgment. So therefore we find that still today there are hypocrites among the faithful; these too shall not be punished for their hypocrisy until that Day; for now is the Day of salvation, when the call for repentance still sounds forth, that they may yet believe and be saved.

Psalm 99

Reading: St. Matthew 15:29-39

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”

Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”

And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

Meditation: Behold the nature of Jesus’ compassion: He gives voice to the mute, limbs to the maimed, strength for the lame to walk, and sight to the blind. Surely He is the One come to restore fallen creation, therefore; for when God created the heavens and the earth, behold, it was very good; yet infirmities are not good. Infirmities show that a breach was made in the good creation of God. So here we see God the Creator (for compassion is truly an attribute of God), restoring what has fallen. So also, He gives the voice of singing to His people that they might declare His praises; and He gives them arms and legs that they might do the works of faith; He strengthens the weak knees that they might walk on the Way of salvaltion, and gives His people the sight of faith. Not only so, but He will also restore every physical infirmity as well in the Day of His return. For He demonstrates His restoration of creation here, that we may know that this shall be fully accomplished on that Day. So too, He continues to feed His multitudes today, in the Holy Supper. And the baskets of remaining fragments, are there not seven, the number of creation? And the number of those who ate four thousand, a thousand times the number of the Gospel in which creation is renewed?

Psalm 99

Reading: St. Matthew 16:1-12 or 16:5-12

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Meditation: What is the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? It is their doctrine; and what is their doctrine? Is it not their vainglory and self-praise? Did they not hate Jesus because He called them evil? So He tells His disciples to be wary of their leaven. For the pure Loaf is unleavened, that is, it is full of sincerity and truth. This is Christ Himself, who is our Loaf, who said, I am the Bread of Life. See how pure He is: He who is worthy of all glory lays it all aside, in order that He might give Himself to His people for salvation; for though He was rich yet He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich. And so it is He who is the Bread of Life who is found feeding multitudes with bread in the wilderness. See, He is Bread and He gives bread. How little the disciples understood, if they thought that the Pharisees were givers of bread as well! For they were not givers but takers; whereas Christ who is our Loaf gives Himself for us and for our salvation, that we may feast at His table and receive what He so freely gives.

Psalm 99

Reading: St. Matthew 16:21-28

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Meditation: See how faithful Peter seems to be: he desires that nothing evil happen to his dear Christ; yet Christ in reply calls him Satan! So let us learn from this how necessary it is to heed His words when He speaks to us, and never suppose that our own notions of religion will suffice, however pure they may seem to us. For surely reason would never chide Peter for his objection to the thought that Jesus must be killed; does this not mean that he loves Jesus? And ought he not love Jesus? Certainly so! Yet his love must be constrained by His words, else it is a vain love, indeed even born of Satan. For Christ said He must go to Jerusalem; Peter’s objection to this in fact is a rejection of this word of Christ. Not only so, but Christ continues: “Not only I must take My cross; you, Peter, must also take yours. For if you will follow Me, you must be willing to suffer for it, even as I must suffer for the world.” So the reward according to works is this: that those whose faith in Him is according to His word will also love Him rightly, that is, according to His words, and this will be demonstrated by the taking up of their crosses.

Psalm 99

Reading: St. Matthew 17:9-27 or 17:22-27

Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

He said, “Yes.”

And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Meditation: Again Jesus tells His disciples that He must be betrayed and killed, and the third day He will be raised up; and this time there is no objection, for they have heeded His prior rebuke against such objections; so they are exceedingly sorrowful. They do not understand why this must be, that it is in order to gain and purchase for Himself a kingdom, and raise up in His kingdom sons and heirs. This He does freely, out of pure mercy, for He is not constrained against His own will to suffer. No more is He constrained against His will to pay the temple tax, for the sons of the kingdom are free from it, as He says. Yet He pays it anyway, so as not to offend those who are charged to collect this tax. So here is Christian liberty at work: as Christ is free, as Lord of all and made to serve no one, yet He freely pays the tax, serves all, and even suffers crucifixion for all. How fitting therefore that the tax should be paid from the mouth of a fish, for as fish signify the faithful of God who likewise live in waters (of Baptism), so the coin out of its mouth signifies offerings freely given. And when the faithful freely serve, without constraint, it is because the life of Christ who freely served is lived in them, even as Christ told Peter to offer the coin for Me and you.

Psalm 99

Reading: St. Matthew 19:1-15 or 19:13-15

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

Meditation: The kingdom of heaven consists of such as are little children, says Jesus. Therefore little children cannot be forbidden entry, but rather, Baptism must be permitted them. For here Jesus laid His hands on them and prayed, designating them as the ones most fittingly being with Him. Since this is so, therefore all the faithful must consider themselves as little children, which is why the Apostle St. John in his epistles addresses the people of the Church as little children. Children, because they must know their mother, the Church; little, because humility of heart is needed for everyone. So also Christ, after His resurrection, stood on the shore and called to His disciples in the boat, saying, Children, have you any food? For as Christ Himself became a little Child for us and for our salvation, so must we all become little children if we would become like Him. As He laid no claim to the honor which was due Him, but humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, so let us not lay claim to the honor of adulthood in His sight, but say with the Psalmist, Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty. My soul is even as a weaned child.

Psalm 99

Reading: St. Matthew 20:7-34 or 20:17-28

They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Meditation: Here Jesus tells His disciples yet a third time that He must suffer. Thrice He tells them, for He is the triune God, and the third day He will rise. But the flesh is weak, so we find two of His disciples attempting through their mother to gain honor instead: they wish to sit on His right and left hand in His kingdom. So also, Jesus tells them not only that He must suffer, but that they themselves must suffer. For they must drink the cup that He will drink. What cup? Surely, the cup of wrath which the Father gives Him. How is this so? See, He also calls this a baptism, saying, You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; for the baptized faithful must ever see their Baptism as an entry into life through death. So although these men were already baptized (under John), yet their baptismal life was one in which they must daily drown and die, that a new man must daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever. So also with all those who follow Christ. They are baptized in His name, and therefore endure also the baptism of suffering for His sake—through much tribulation we enter the kingdom of heaven—that they might also share in His resurrection.

I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.

You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old,
The years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night;
I meditate within my heart,
And my spirit makes diligent search.

Will the Lord cast off forever?
And will He be favorable no more?
Has His mercy ceased forever?
Has His promise failed forevermore?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?

And I said, “This is my anguish;
But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
I will remember the works of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were afraid;
The depths also trembled.
The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;
Your arrows also flashed about.
The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known.
You led Your people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 77

Reading: St. Matthew 17:1-9

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

Meditation: Consider well the transfiguration of our Lord, for there you see the true state of all flesh before God in Christ. For all flesh is grass, as the Psalmist says, and withers and decays; yet in the Incarnation, God has joined Himself to human flesh and filled human flesh with His own Godhead as the Apostle says, in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Now since this is so, what can be said of those who have received the body of Christ? Shall they not also be transfigured, as He was? Shall they not rise and live in glory with Moses and Elijah and all the company of heaven? Verily, Moses was assumed into heaven, as was Elijah; see therefore what has become of them: they dwell bodily where Christ is now ascended, in token of the assumption that all of our bodies shall receive at the Last Day. Yet that Day is not yet; therefore let us hear Him, as the voice from the cloud commanded. For He is the One of whom Moses had said, Him you shall hear, and whom Elijah portrayed with all the prophetic wonders he worked. Now the One whom Moses and the prophets foretold is come. Yet He is come not to receive glory but to exchange it; thus, when He comes down from the mount, He will suffer, that we may be glorified in Him.

Psalm 77

Reading: St. Matthew 21:10-46 or 21:12-17

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.’ ”

Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”

And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to Him, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

Meditation: Now see what Jesus does: He drives thieves out of the temple and replaces them with children. For there were in the temple money changers and those who sold doves; in the temple! But the temple is the place of sacrifice, whose seat is the Mercy Seat, showing forth the lovingkindness and Gift of God, whereas the money changers gave nothing but only took; and doves ought not be sold there, for the dove signifies the Spirit of God, which cannot be bought but is freely given. Behold, those who would replace true worship with buying and selling are doing the very opposite of that which the temple was meant to signify; for God is the Giver of every good and perfect Gift. They exalt themselves, therefore; let us, rather, humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. Yea, let us become as little children, as these children now found in the temple crying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Yet we ought know that this will bring upon us the indignation of the chief priests and scribes even of today, whose god is their belly, a god who always takes and never gives. So it is that the mouths of babes perfect praise, for babes are the best at receiving good things.

Psalm 77

Reading: St. Matthew 23:1-39 or 23:27-33

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

“Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ”

Meditation: Behold how Jesus fights: with a sharp, two-edged, piercing, terrible swift sword, that is, with the Sword of the Spirit, which is His word. With His tongue He strikes the scribes and Pharisees in all their hypocrisy, exposing their lawlessness. With His mouth the Lion of Judah devours His enemies and bites through to the quick. But we do not see the wounds He inflicts, because of His humililty. For Christ’s meekness is not a meekness of words; see, His words are fierce against His enemies. Yea, He will not strike at all with the might of men, but will instead submit to crucifixion and death. But let him who is wise make no mistake. The words from His armory, though they carry no immediate physical harm, do contain the full authority of divine weight and judgment. So He says, Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? For they rejected John and his Baptism, by which one may flee from the coming wrath, as John had said. And if they rejected that, they must at last suffer the weight of the judgment pronounced here, for surely, there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins, but a certain and fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Psalm 77

Reading: St. Mark 1:16-45 or 1:21-28

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

Meditation: How did the scribes teach? Not as Christ, for they were amazed that Christ taught with authority, and not as the scribes. For their teaching was void and barren, being devoid of Christ. So also today, whoever teaches the Scriptures without bringing Christ out from that treasury, is not teaching with authority, and has no approval from God to teach. Such are in fact in league with unclean and demonic spirits such as was seen in this man in the synagogue, who cried, Let us alone! But Christ, though elsewhere He bids His disciples to let the blind guides alone, will not let leave unpunished this treachery and wickedness. For while the voice from the cloud had said, Hear Him!, many teachers ignore this voice and preach rather the doctrines of their own malicious choosing; so now Christ shows what will become of all such teachers and scribes when He rebukes this unclean spirit and forces him out. For when He said, Be quiet, and come out of him, the spirit first convulsed the man and cried out with a loud voice, and was then forced out; so too, Christ commands that preachers should preach what He has commanded, and for awhile there will be false preachers, yet they too will be forced out by His judgment, when at last all evil is trodden underfoot.

Psalm 77

Reading: St. Mark 2:1-28 or 2:13-17

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”

And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Meditation: When Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, surely, He became unclean. Were not the people of God to be separate and holy? Surely, therefore, He became unclean by associating with these men. Yet did He not also become unclean when He was baptized in the Jordan? For to that same water all Jerusalem came, confessing their sins. Therefore as their sins were washed in the baptismal Jordan, surely, when He who was holy went into that water, He received what was washed from them. Indeed, even to be found with those who came for Baptism was an affront even to John, who knew He was holy, the pure Lamb of God. But the Lamb is here for substitution and sacrifice; therefore He stands among sinners, in order that sinners may stand with Him who is holy; as it is written, The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Behold how this Physician heals: He lifts the malady of sin from sinners and places it upon Himself, that He might destroy it with the fuller’s soap of crucifixion and death, rising again the third day.

Psalm 77

Reading: St. Mark 3:1-35 or 3:31-35

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.

And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”

But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Meditation: Who is Jesus’ brother and sister and mother? Whoever does the will of God. What is the will of God? Is it not, as the voice from the cloud of transfiguration had said, to hear Christ? Hear Him, then, and you will be His brother and sister and mother. For the brethren of Christ become like Him in every respect, being sons of God through the faith His word gives. The sisters of Christ become also His Bride, as it is written in the Song of Songs, my sister, my bride. For He is wedded to this Bride also in blood, in the same baptismal womb. Therefore He becomes one flesh with her by virtue both of Baptism and the Holy Supper, being both Sister and Bride. And the Mother of Christ is also the Holy Christian Church, out of whose baptismal womb new children are daily brought forth, who will nurse at her breasts the pure milk of the word of God, as St. Peter also says. But none of these will be Jesus’ father, for Jesus has no earthly father, and neither will they; rather, all will cry out to the Father in heaven, saying, Our Father, etc.

Psalm 77

Reading: St. Mark 5:1-20

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?”

And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

Meditation: Behold the great difference between the demoniac who is healed and those who dwelt in the region, into whose swine Jesus sent the demons. The latter entreated Him to depart from their region; but the former begged Christ that He might be with him. So it is also today: those who do not have Christ desire that He would depart; while those who have Him, who recognize the healing mercy He has given them, desire that they might remain with Him. Did not Peter desire to make booths on the mount of transfiguration? Did not even the disciples on the Emmaus road bid Him to abide with them? Yet Jesus did not permit this man, but sent him back home to his friends to declare to them how the Lord was compassionate to him. Such an affirmation this would be, from one who prior could not be tamed or shackled even with chains! For such is the way of Christ: He leaves His enemies without excuse. How could they deny what He had done to one they once knew as mad? Let us therefore not deny but confess Christ before men, and then He will confess us before His Father, and shall surely abide in the eternal habitations with us.