Occurring Scripture for the
Hour of Matins
Sunday
Lesson i
The beginning of the Apocalypse of Blessed John the Apostle
Apocalypse
1:1-6
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave unto Him, to make known to His servants the things which must
shortly come to pass: and signified, sending by His angel to His servant
John, Who has given testimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus
Christ, whatsoever he has seen. Blessed is he, that reads
and hears the words of this prophecy; and keeps those things which are
written in it; for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which
are in Asia. Grace be unto you and peace from Him that is, and that was, and
that is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before His throne,
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of
the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth, who has loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us a kingdom, and
priests to God and His Father, to Him be glory and empire for ever and ever.
Amen.
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 1:7-11
Behold, He comes with the
clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also that pierced Him. And all
the tribes of the earth shall bewail themselves because of Him. Even so.
Amen. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end," says the Lord God,
who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. I John, your
brother and your partner in tribulation, and in the kingdom, and patience in
Christ Jesus, was in the island, which is called Patmos, for the word of
God, and for the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying: "What thou see,
write in a book, and send to the seven churches which are in Asia, to
Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and
to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 1:12-19
And I turned to see the
voice that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks: And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like
to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about
the paps with a golden girdle. And His head and His hairs were white, as
white wool, and as snow, and His eyes were as a flame of fire, and His
feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And His voice as the
sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars. And from
His mouth came out a sharp two edged sword: and His face was as the sun
shining in His power. And when I had seen Him, I fell at His feet as dead.
And He laid His right hand upon me, saying: "Fear not. I am the First and
the Last, And alive, and was dead, and behold I am living for ever and ever,
and have the keys of death and of hell. Write therefore the things which
thou has seen, and which are, and which must be done hereafter."
Lesson iv
A Sermon of Blessed Saint Augustine, Bishop
Sermon CIIIL on the Season
In these holy days of the Lord's resurrection, let
us treat as far as we are able, of that gift of the resurrection of the
body. For this is our faith, this gift is promised us in the Body of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him we have the first example. He willed, not only
to tell us of our future hope, but to show it to us. He came to the
disciples, and they were terrified when they saw Him, and supposed that they
seen a spirit, yet He gave them proof of the firmness of His body.
Lesson v
He spoke to them, not only with His word for their
ears, but also with His form for their eyes. He proved his identity, not
only by appearing before them, but also offering Himself to be touched and
handled, for He said, "Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in
your hearts ? Behold my hands and my feet; handle me , and see, for a spirit hath
not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (cf. Luke 24:38-39).
Lesson vi
It is a greater miracle that so many men are born
every day, who have not already existed, than that some of them, who do
already exist, should rise from the dead, and yet this is not considered a
miracle at all, but it is taken for granted. Christ is risen: it is a certain
fact. He was body; He was flesh; He hung on the cross; He gave up the ghost;
His flesh was laid in the sepulcher. He who lived in it, showed that flesh
to be living. Why are you amazed? Why do you not believe? It is God who has
done this.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to
John
John 16:16-22
At that time Jesus said to His
disciples: "A little while, and now you shall not see Me; and again a little
while, and you shall see Me: because I go to the Father." Then some of
the disciples said one to another: "What is this that He says to us: 'A
little while, and you shall not see Me; and again a little while, and you
shall see Me,' and, 'because I go to the Father?'" They said therefore:
"What is this that He says, 'A little while?' we
know not what He is saying." And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask
Him; and He said to them: "Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I
said: 'A little while, and you shall not see Me; and again a little while,
and you shall see Me?' Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament
and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but
your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor,
has sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she has brought forth the child, she remembers
no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also
you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall
rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you. "
An Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Tract 101 on John
This
little while is the whole duration of this present world. In the same sense
this same Evangelist says in his Epistle (cf. 1 John 2:18), It is the last time. The
words, because I go to the Father, refer to the first clause of the text,
namely, A little while and ye shall not see Me, and not to the latter
clause, that is, and again a little while, and ye shall see Me. By His going
to the Father He was about to bring it to pass that they should see Him no
more. And thus it was that He said, not that He was about to die, and that
after His death they should not see Him until He rose again, but that He was
going to the Father, which He did when, after that He was risen again and
had manifested Himself to them for forty days, He ascended up into heaven.
Lesson viii
But now, to those who were looking at Him in
the Body, He said, "A little while, and ye shall not see Me, a little while,"
and they who now saw Him clad in a dying nature, should see Him so no more,
because He was about to go to the Father. But He said: "And again a little
while, and ye shall see Me," and these words are a promise to the Universal
Church, just as are those others: "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world" (cf. Matthew 28:20) Our Lord delays not His promised coming. Again a little
while, and we shall see Him. We shall see Him. And when we shall see Him,
then we shall beg, we shall ask no more; for no desire will be unsatisfied,
and no riddle unsolved.
Lesson ix
This little while seems a very long while to us
now, while as it is still going on, but when it is over we shall feel indeed
how truly it is but a little while. Therefore, may our rejoicing never be
like the rejoicing of that world whereof it is said: "The world shall
rejoice." A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, and yet, while
hitherto our gladness is still coming to the birth through throes of sorrow,
let us not be altogether sorrowful, but, as the Apostle has said it:
"Rejoicing in hope : patient in tribulation" (Romans 12:12). "A woman,
when she is in travail has sorrow,
because her hour is come : but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world."
And so will it be with us. And with that let me end my discourse. The next
passage is one of extreme difficulty; nor is it possible to treat it
briefly, if, (with the will of God,) it is to be treated satisfactorily.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, Who show to those in
error the light of Thy truth, with the intent that they may return into the
way of righteousness: grant all those whot are admitted into the
fellowship of the Christian Religion, that they may put aside all those things that are
contrary to their profession, and pursue all such things as are agreeable to
the same. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Commemoration of the Octave of Saint Joseph:
Antiphon: Joseph, Son of David, * fear not to take unto
thee Mary for thy wife; for That Which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Alleluia.
V. Thou hast given me the shield of Thy salvation, alleluia.
R. And Thy right hand has supported me. Alleluia.
Let up pray:
God, Who in Thine unspeakable foreknowledge
chose Thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of Thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with Thee, we who on
earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be aided by his prayers to
Thee on our behalf;
Monday
Lesson i
A reading from the Apocalypse of Blessed
John the Apostle
Apocalypse 2:1-71
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus
write: These things says He, who holds the seven stars in his right hand,
who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: "I know thy
works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou cannot bear them that
are evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not,
and have found them to be liars: And thou have patience, and have endured
for my name, and have not fainted. But I have something against thee,
because thou have left thy first love. Be mindful therefore from
whence thou have fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to
thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do
penance. But to thy credit, thou hate the deeds of the Nicolaites,
which I also hate. He, that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says
to the churches: "To him, that overcomes I will give to eat the fruit of the tree of
life, which is in the paradise of my God."
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 2:8-11
And to the angel of the church
of Smyrna write: These things says the First and the Last, who was dead,
and is alive: "I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou are rich:
and thou are blasphemed by them who say they are Jews and are not, but are
the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shall suffer.
Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried:
and you shall have tribulation for ten days. Be thou faithful until death:
and I will give thee the crown of life. He, that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches: 'He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt
by the second death.'"
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 2:12-17
And to the angel of the
church of Pergamus write: These things, says He, that hath the sharp two
edged sword: "I know where thou dwell, where the seat of Satan is: and
thou hold fast My name, and hast not denied My faith. Even in those days
when Antipas was My faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan
dwells. But I have a few things against thee: because thou hast there
those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a
stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat, and to commit
fornication: Thou have also those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites. In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee
quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He, that
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sas to the churches: 'To him that overcomes, I will give the hidden manna, and will give him a white counter,
and in the counter, a new name written, which no man knows, but he that
receives it.'"
Lesson iv (In places where the Octave of Saint Joseph is
observed)
An Homily of Saint Bernard, Abbot
II on "Missus est"
Mary was espoused to Joseph, or rather, as the Evangelist Luke says : "To a
man whose name was Joseph" (Luke 1:27). He is called a man, not because he was her
husband, but because he was a person of manliness. And again, the same is
said by the Evangelist Matthew, to wit : "Joseph the husband of Mary"
(Matthew 1:16): and :
"Joseph her man" (cf. Matthew
1:19): for he rightly calls Joseph by this title of manliness,
for so Joseph was expected to be, that his virtuous manhood might be given
in marriage to Mary. And we must conclude that he is here called what he
was, a man ; and further, that he was called her man because it was
necessary that he should be publicly accepted as her man. And likewise, he
was found worthy to be called the father of the Savior, not that he was,
but that he was publicly accepted as such, as the Evangelist himself says:
"And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as it was
supposed) the son of Joseph" (Luke 3:23).
Lesson v
Without doubt, good and faithful was this Joseph
who espoused the Mother of the Savior. I say to you, he is that
faithful and wise servant whom the Lord made ruler over His household.
For the Lord appointed him to be the comfort of His Mother, the keeper of
His own body, and, in a word, His chief and most trusty helper on earth in
the carrying out the eternal counsels. Add to this that he is said to have
been of the house of David, as he truly was. For this Joseph was a true son
of a race of kings, noble in descent, nobler yet in mind. A true son of
David, not so much according to the flesh as in faith, holiness, and
devotion. Who, like another David, the Lord found to be a man after His own
heart, to whom He therefore safely entrusted the most hold and hidden secret
of his heart. To whom also, like another David, He showed the uncertain and
hidden things of His wisdom, and granted that he should not be ignorant of a
mystery which was known to none of the princes of this world.
Lesson vi
Lastly, there was given to him not only to see
and hear, him whom many kings desired to see yet saw not, and to hear yet
heard not, but even to carry him in his arms, to kiss him with his lips, to
clothe him and to guard him. We must believe that Mary too, like Joseph, was
descended from the house of David. For she would not have been espoused to a
man of the house of David, if she had not herself been of the house of
David. Both therefore were of the house of David. But in Mary the truth,
which the Lord had sworn to David, was fulfilled ; whereas to Joseph it was
therefore given to know and bear witness unto the fulfillment of the promise.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to
Luke
Luke 3:21-23
Now it came to pass, when all the
people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was
opened; And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon
Him; and a voice came from heaven: "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am
well pleased." And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty
years; being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who
was of Mathat....
An Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Exposition on Luke, Book III
That Matthew should trace the lineage of Christ through Solomon, and
Luke through Nathan, would seem to indicate that the one desired to show
the royalty of Christ's descent, and the other the priestliness thereof. We
need not infer from this that one is more accurate than the other. On the
contrary, each agrees with the other, with an equal good faith and
veracity. For He was indeed, according to the flesh, of both a royal and a
priestly family, a King sprung from kings, a Priest from priests. But the
voice from heaven is speaking of divine things rather than of human. So
then, as it is written : "The King shall rejoice in God" (Psalm 62-12): that is, in God's
strength, from which come to him the judgments of His royal Father ; and
likewise, He is that Priest of whom it is written : Thou art a Priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedech" (Psalm 109:4).
Lesson viii
Therefore both Evangelists keep well
within the truth. For Matthew establishes descent through the kings ; whereas
Luke, by tracing through the priests the lineage transmitted to Christ from
God, manifested His more sacred origin. And from this we perceive the
significance of the symbol used for this Evangelist ; namely, the
sacrificial calf, for everywhere he brings forward the mystery of the
sacrificial priesthood. Nor need it surprise us that Luke gives many more
generations from Abraham to Christ than doth Matthew, since we can recognize
that the line of descent is led through different persons. It may be that
some lived long lives, whilst persons of the other line died young. For we
are used to seeing many old men living with their grandchildren, and others
dying soon after the birth of their children.
Lesson ix
We notice also a further difference. Saint
Matthew said that Jacob, the son of Matthan, was the father of Joseph.
Whereas Luke said that Joseph, to whom Mary was espoused, was the son of
Heli, and that Heli was the son of Matthat. How then could Joseph have had
two fathers, that is Heli and Jacob? Perchance he is called the son of two
men, because one was his father according to nature, whereas the other
became his father according to the Law. The particulars of the Law regarding
the raising up of seed to a dead brother were not understood by the Jewish
people as a promise to us that the seed of the dead should be perpetuated
for ever. But in so far as they read it only according to the letter, they
failed to grasp its revelation of spiritual truth. For the living brother
that raised up seed unto his dead brother, is not to be considered a brother
after the flesh, but only according to the purity of his motives. And on
that account, perchance we read : "But no man may deliver his brother, nor
make agreement unto God for him (for it cost more to redeem their souls, so
that he must let that alone for ever): yea, though he live long, and see not
the grave. For the man Christ Jesus was not our natural brother, but the
Mediator between God and man, whereby he hath engendered in us the grace of
the resurrection unto perpetual life.
Commemoration of the Octave of Saint Joseph:
Antiphon: Joseph, Son of David, * fear not to take unto
thee Mary for thy wife; for That Which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Alleluia.
V. Thou hast given me the shield of Thy salvation, alleluia.
R. And Thy right hand has supported me. Alleluia.
Let up pray:
God, Who in Thine unspeakable foreknowledge
chose Thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of Thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with Thee, we who on
earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be aided by his prayers to
Thee on our behalf;
Tuesday
Lesson i
A reading from the Apocalypse of Blessed
John the Apostle
Apocalypse 4:1-5
After these things I looked, and behold
a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were,
of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up here, and I will show thee the
things which must be done hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit:
and behold there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one
sitting. And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine
stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an
emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the
seats, four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in white garments, and on
their heads were crowns of gold. And from the throne proceeded lightening,
and voices, and thunder; and there were seven lamps burning before the
throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 4:6-8
And in the sight of the throne
was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal; and in the midst of the
throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes
before and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion: and the
second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having
the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an
eagle flying. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and
round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and
night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and
who is to come."
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 4:9-11
And when those living
creatures gave glory, and honor, and benediction to him that sits on the
throne, who lives for ever and ever; the four and twenty ancients fell
down before Him that sits on the throne, and adored him that lives for ever
and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "Thou art
worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honor, and power: because thou
have created all things; and for thy will they were, and have been
created."
Lesson iv (In places where the Octave of Saint Joseph is
observed)
An Homily of Saint Bernard, Abbot
II on "Missus est"
It is written: "Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and
not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away
privately" (Matthew 1:19). Being a just man, he was rightly unwilling to expose her. For as he
would not have been a just man if he had connived at known guilt, so he
would have been even less just if he had condemned proven innocence. Being a
just man, therefore, and not willing to make her a public example, he was
minded to put her away privately. Why did he wish to put her away? On this
point hear, not my opinion, but that of the Fathers. Perchance Joseph wished
to put her away for the same reason of reverence that made Peter seek to put
away the Lord, when he said: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O
Lord" (Luke 5:8): just as the centurion also sought to keep the Lord away
from his house, when he said: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come
under my roof" (Matthew 8:8).
Lesson v
In like manner Joseph may have held himself to be
sinful and unworthy, in such wise that he thought he ought no longer to
enjoy the familiar companionship of her whose marvelous dignity filled him
with awe. Perchance he saw and trembled at the unmistakable signs of the
divine presence; and, since he could not fathom the mystery, he was minded
to put her away. Peter trembled at the greatness of the divine power. The
Centurion trembled at the presence of the divine Majesty. Joseph too, being
but a man, was filled with awe at the strangeness of this mystery. Do thou
wonder that Joseph judged himself unworthy of the companionship of this
pregnant Virgin, when thou hear that Saint Elizabeth too was filled with
reverence and trembling at her presence? For she said: "Whence is this to
me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43).
Lesson vi
And so Joseph was minded to put her away. But
why privately, and not publicly? Lest perhaps enquiry should be made about
this separation, and he should be asked for reasons. What should a just man
reply to a stiff-necked people, a faithless and perverse generation? If he
were to have said what he thought, and what he had proved, concerning her
purity, would not all the cruel and unbelieving amongst the Jews have soon
laughed him to scorn, and stoned her to death? How would they have believed
in the Truth lying silent in her womb, when they afterwards despised the
Truth preaching in the temple? What would they have done to Him before his
appearance in the flesh, when afterwards they laid impious hands on Him in
spite of his signs and wonders? The just man, therefore, was right in
wishing to put her away privately, lest he should be thought to lie, or to
defame an innocent woman.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to
Luke
Luke 3 21-23
Now it came to pass, when all the
people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was
opened; And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon
Him; and a voice came from heaven: "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am
well pleased." And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty
years; being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who
was of Mathat....
An Homily of Saint John Damascene
On the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, III
Matthew begins his Gospel with the words:
"The book of the
generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." But he
doth not stop here. In fact, he continues his genealogy down to the very
Spouse of the Virgin. Luke, on the other hand, after relating the
manifestation of the Savior at his baptism, makes a digression in his
account, and writes thus: "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years
of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, which was the son of Matthat:" and so on, in an ascending line, going
up even to Seth: which was the son of Adam, which was the Son of God. Thus
after reckoning up Joseph's genealogy in this fashion, we are shown clearly
at the same time how Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, was herself also of the
same lineage as Joseph. For the Mosaic Law strongly forbade marriages
between the different tribes, in order that the hereditary rights of one
tribe might not pass into another.
Lesson viii
Note that there was good reason for these
following things: namely, that the birth of Christ by the power of the Holy
Ghost was kept secret from the people; and that Joseph stood to Jesus in the
place of a father; and that on that account, as was truly fitting, he was
counted the father of the Child. Otherwise, it would have seemed that the
Child had no father, because he had no recorded descent from his father's
side. Therefore it was of the utmost importance that the Evangelists should
record Joseph's lineage. Had they not done so, but had given the Child's
lineage on his mother's side, they would have done unseemly, and gone
contrary to the usage of divine Scripture. It was therefore fitting that
they should give the lineage of Joseph from David, for the reason which we
have already given of the kinship between her and her husband. They thereby
attest that the Virgin Mary was of the lineage of David.
Lesson ix
It is indeed clear to all that Joseph
was endued with righteousness, and led a life in accordance with the Law.
Therefore, living by what the Law prescribed, he certainly would not marry a
wife sprung from any other but his own tribe. If, then, Joseph belonged to
the tribe of Judah, and came of the seed and family of David, is it not a
matter of course that Mary should come from the same? Therefore it is that
her husband's descent is recorded. For if, according to the Apostle's
saying, the head of the woman is the man, does it not follow in consequence
that when the descent of the head is registered, that of the body in
included in that of the head? I think it is thus clearly shown that the Evangelists
purposely chronicle Joseph's genealogy, so that, in consequence, it would be
understood that the Virgin was also sprung of the family of David; thereby
implying the surpassing wonder that it was the Christ, before all ages the
Son of God, who was born of her.
Commemoration of the Octave of Saint Joseph:
Antiphon: Joseph, Son of David, * fear not to take unto
thee Mary for thy wife; for That Which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Alleluia.
V. Thou hast given me the shield of Thy salvation, alleluia.
R. And Thy right hand has supported me. Alleluia.
Let up pray:
God, Who in Thine unspeakable foreknowledge
chose Thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of Thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with Thee, we who on
earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be aided by his prayers to
Thee on our behalf;
Wednesday
Lesson
i
A reading from the Apocalypse of Blessed John the Apostle
Apocalypse 5:1-7
And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne, a book written
within and without, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel,
proclaiming with a loud voice: 'Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose
the seals thereof?" And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth,
nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it. And I wept much,
because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it. And one of
the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the
Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals
thereof. And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four
living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it
were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits
of God, sent forth into all the earth.7 And He came and took the book out of
the right hand of Him that sat on the throne.
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 5:8-10
And when He had opened the
book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down
before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of
odors, which are the prayers of saints: And they sung a new canticle,
saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof; because Thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God, in Thy blood,
out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us
to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 5:11-14
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of
many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the
ancients; and the number of them was thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
"The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive
power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
benediction." And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and
under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them: I
heard all saying: "To him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb,
benediction, and honor, and glory, and power, for ever and ever." And the
four living creatures said: "Amen." And the four and twenty ancients fell down
on their faces, and adored him that lives for ever and ever.
Lesson iv
(In places where the Octave of Saint Joseph is observed)
A Sermon of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Book 1 on Marriage and Concupiscence, c. 11
The Angel did not speak falsely when he said to
Joseph : Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife. She is called wife
because of the mutual confidence established between them at the time of her
espousal, although he had not known her carnally, nor was he ever so to do.
And the name of wife was not lost or rendered untrue because there had not
been any carnal intercourse, and would not be in the future. She was, in
fact, The Virgin ; and therefore she was holier and a more wonderful source
of joy to her husband just because she became a mother without a man's
intervention. Thus he knew her to be like unto himself in faithfulness,
unlike him as regards her Offspring. On account of his faithful union, both
of them merited the name of Christ's parents. And not only is she called His
Mother, but he also is called His father, as being the husband of his
Mother, not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. But even
though he was a father only in spirit, whilst she was Mother according to
the flesh, yet they both were the parents of His humility, not of His glory
; of His infirmity, not of His divinity.
Lesson v
For the Gospel doth not lie, when it says :
"And
Joseph and his Mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him"
(Luke 2:33).
And in another place : "His parents went to Jerusalem every year"
(Luke 2:41). And a
little further on : "And his Mother said unto him ; Son, why hast thou thus
dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing" (Luke
2:48). But, to show that, apart from them, He had a Father who begat him without a mother,
he answered them : "How is it that ye sought Me? Know ye not that I must be
about my Father's business?" And, as a set-off to this, lest anyone might
think that by these words He denied his parents, the Evangelist immediately
adds: "And they understood not the saying which He spoke unto them ; and
He
went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them" (Luke
2:51) To
whom was He subject but to his parents? And Who was thus subject but Jesus
Christ, who, "being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
to God?" ( Philippians 2:6).
Lesson vi
Why therefore was He subject to them who were so
far below the form of God, except that He humbled himself, taking upon
himself the form of a servant, of which form they were the parents? But
truly, neither of them would have attained unto the parenthood of this form
of a servant, except they had become respectively husband and wife, albeit
without any carnal intercourse. And hence, when the ancestors of Christ are
recounted in direct line of succession, the genealogy was fittingly traced
down to Joseph. Otherwise, it would have been a slur upon the male sex,
which is wont to be accorded the greater dignity. At the same time the truth
did not suffer, for both Joseph and Mary were of the seed of David, from
which it was prophesied that Christ should come. Note how thus all the good
things of marriage are found in these parents of Christ : offspring,
fidelity, the marriage bond. The offspring we know, was the Lord Jesus
himself ; their fidelity is proved because there was no adultery ; the
marriage bond, because there was no divorce.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to
Luke
Luke 3 21-23
Now it came to pass, when all the
people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was
opened; And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon
Him; and a voice came from heaven: "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am
well pleased." And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty
years; being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who
was of Mathat....
An Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Sermon 36 for the time, on the Baptism of Christ
The day of his baptism is, as it were, a second birthday of the
Savior. For we know that He was born with signs and wonders like to those of
His baptism, and that in the latter is a great mystery like to His birth.
For God said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew
3:17). This
second birth is indeed more glorious than the first. For then, He was born
in silence, and without witnesses. Now, the Lord is baptized with a
proclamation of His divinity. Then, Joseph, who was supposed to be His
father, denied that he was. Now, His true Father, who was not believed to be
so, proclaims Himself so to be. Then, the Mother was enduring suspicion,
because no father was acknowledged. Now she that bore Him is honored because
the Divinity makes Him known as His Son.
Lesson viii
I say that the second birth was more glorious
than the first. For now, the God of majesty proclaims Himself as His
father. Then, the carpenter Joseph was so accounted. And although it was the
Holy Ghost through whom the Lord was born and baptized, yet the Father,
whose voice was heard from heaven, is greater than the father who labored
on earth. Therefore Joseph the workman on earth was supposed to be the
father of the Lord and Savior. But God, the true Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, is also a workman, and cannot be excluded from those who work at the
carpenter's trade.
Lesson ix
For he is the artificer who has wrought
the fabric of this world with power not only wondrous but ineffable. Like a
wise architect He erected the heavens on high; He laid the
foundations of the earth; He constrained the sea within its beaches. He is
the artificer who, in due measure, lowers the pinnacles of pride and brings
to the surface the bedrock of humility. He is the artificer who chips off
the unnecessary substance in our behavior, and preserves whatever is useful.
He is the artificer whose axe, as John the Baptist warns us, is laid to the
root of our tree. So every tree, which measures not up to his standard of
due growth, is cut down at the roots, and used as fuel for the fire. But
that which measures up rightly, according to his rule and standard, is
squared and fitted by his divine workmanship.
Let us pray:
God, Who in Thine unspeakable foreknowledge did choose thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most
holy Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with Thee, we
who on earth do reverence him for our defender, may worthily be helped by
the intercession of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who live and reign.
Thursday
Lesson i
A reading from the Apocalypse of blessed
John the Apostle
Apocalypse 15:1-4
And I saw
another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven
last plagues. For in them is filled up the wrath of God And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled
with fire, and them that had overcome the beast, and his image, and the
number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God:
And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of
the Lamb, saying: "Great and wonderful are Thy works, O Lord God Almighty;
just and true are Thy ways, O King of ages. Who shall not fear Thee, O
Lord, and magnify thy name? For Thou only art holy: for all nations shall
come, and shall adore in Thy sight, because Thy judgments are manifest."
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 15:5-8
And after these things I
looked; and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven
was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven
plagues, clothed with clean and white linen, and girt about the breasts with
golden girdles. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven
angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, Who lives for ever and
ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty of God, and
from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven
plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 16:1-6
And I heard a great voice out
of the temple, saying to the seven angels: "Go, and pour out the seven vials
of the wrath of God upon the earth." And the first went, and poured out his
vial upon the earth, and there fell a sore and grievous wound upon men, who
had the character of the beast; and upon them that adored his image. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, and there
came blood as it were of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.
And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of
waters; and there was made blood. And I heard the angel of the waters
saying: "Thou are just, O Lord, who are, and who were, the Holy One, because
Thou hast judged these things: For they have shed the blood of saints and
prophets, and Thou have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Friday
Lesson i
A reading from the Apocalypse of Blessed
John the Apostle
Apocalypse 19:1-5
After these things I heard, as it were,
the voice of many people in heaven, saying: "Alleluia. Salvation, and glory,
and power is to our God. For true and just are His judgments, Who hath
judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and
hath revenged the blood of His servants, at her hands. And again they said:
"Alleluia. And her smoke ascends for ever and ever." And the four and twenty
ancients, and the four living creatures fell down and adored God Who sits upon the throne, saying:
"Amen; Alleluia." And a voice came out from
the throne, saying: "Give praise to our God, all ye his servants; and you
that fear him, little and great."
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 19:6-10
And I heard, as it were, the
voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the
voice of great thunders, saying, "Alleluia: for the Lord our God the
Almighty has reigned. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to Him; for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has prepared herself. And it is
granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering
and white. For the fine linen are the justifications of saints." And he said
to me: "Write: 'Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the
Lamb.'" And he said to me: "These words of God are true." And I fell down
before his feet, to adore him. And he said to me: "See thou do it not: I am
thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, who have the testimony of Jesus.
Adore God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 19:11-16
And I saw heaven opened,
and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and
True, and with justice does He judge and fight. And his eyes were as a
flame of fire, and on His head were many diadems, and He had a name written,
which no man knows but Himself. And He was clothed with a garment
sprinkled with blood; and His name is called, the Word of God. And the
armies that are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth proceeded a sharp two edged
sword; that with it He may strike the nations. And He shall rule them with a
rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of
God the Almighty. And He has on His garment, and on His thigh written:
"King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."
Saturday
Lesson i
A reading from the Apocalypse of Blessed
John the Apostle
Apocalypse 22:1-7
And he showed me a river of water of
life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the
tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month, and
the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall
be no curse any more; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it,
and His servants shall serve Him. And they shall see His face: and His name
shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more: and they shall not
need the light of the lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God
shall enlighten them, and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said
to me: "These words are most faithful and true. And the Lord God of the
spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which
must be done shortly." And, "Behold I come quickly. Blessed is he that keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 22:8-12
And I, John, who have heard
and seen these things. And after I had heard and seen, I fell down to adore
before the feet of the angel, who showed me these things. And he said to me:
"See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the
prophets, and of them that keep the words of the prophecy of this book.
Adore God." And he said to me: "Seal not the words of the prophecy of this
book: for the time is at hand. He that hurts, let him hurt still: and he
that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is just, let him be
justified still: and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still. Behold,
I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according
to his works."
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 22:13-21
"I am Alpha and
Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are they
that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb: that they may have a right
to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. Outside are dogs,
and sorcerers, and unchaste, and murderers, and servers of idols, and every
one that loves and makes a lie. I, Jesus, have sent My angel, to
testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and stock of
David, the bright and morning star." And the spirit and the bride say: "Come. And he
that hears, let him say: 'Come.' And he that thirsts, let him come: and he
that will, let him take the water of life, freely. For I testify to every
one that hears the words of the prophecy of this book: "If any man shall add
to these things, God shall add unto him the plagues written in this book.
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy
city, and from these things that are written in this book. He
that gives testimony of these things, says, "Surely I come quickly: Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus." The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.