Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Week of the Fourth Sunday after Easter
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
A reading from the epistle of Saint James the Apostle
James 1:1-6James the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into diverse temptations; knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. And patience has a perfect work; that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing. But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all men abundantly, and Who does not upbraid; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, without wavering.
Lesson ii
James 1:6-11For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind. Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is inconstant in all his ways. But let the brother of low condition glory in his exaltation: And the rich, in his being low; because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away. For the sun rose with a burning heat, and parched the grass, and its bloom fell off, and the beauty of its shape perished: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Lesson iii
James 1:12-16Blessed is the man that endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he shall receive a crown of life, which God has promised to them that love Him. Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and He tempts no man. But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured. Then when concupiscence has conceived, it brings forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begets death. Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren.
Lesson iv
From the exposition of Saint Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr
On the Good of Patience. Sermon 3, at the beginning.In speaking of patience, beloved brethren, and in preaching on its benefits and advantages, how can I better begin than by pointing out the fact that now, just for you to listen to me, I see that patience is necessary, as you could not even do this, namely, listen and learn, without patience. For only then is the word of God and way of salvation effectively learned, if one listens with patience to what is being said. Dearly beloved brethren, there are diverse paths of heavenly wisdom, wherein we are invited to walk, if we would reach, in the end, the reward which God has prepared to crown hope and faith—but I find no path more conducive to life, nor more sure toward glory than this, that while we humbly strive, in all fear, and in all godliness, to obey the commandments of the Lord, we should set our chief guard in an unceasing watch over our patience. The philosophers also say that they take this path, but their patience is as much a sham as their wisdom is a cheat, for who can be wise or patient who knows nothing of God's wisdom or God's patience.
Lesson v
But as for us, dearly beloved brethren, we are the real philosophers, whose wisdom lies not in words but in deeds, and is manifested not in appearances but in the truth. We are they whose knowledge has the inward consciousness, not the idle boasting, of strength. We are not speakers of high-sounding words, but we live our lives as servants and worshipers of God, of His patience, as the teaching authority of the high places speaks thereof, ye may attend upon the services of that spiritual Rock. For it is this virtue in common with God to us: from there begins with the patience, and the declaration of the head of the clarity of the body takes up from there. Yea, God is Himself the Source, the Fountain, and the Greatness of patience, and it behooves man to love what is beloved of God. That good thing which he loves is commended unto him of God's Majesty. If God be our Lord and Father, let us follow after the example of our Lord and Father's patience, since it is the duty of servants to be obedient, and of sons not to be said to be degenerate.
Lesson vi
By our patience God draws us toward Himself, and keeps us His Own. Patience soothes anger, bridles the tongue, governs the mind, keeps peace, sets rules of self-control, breaks the onset of lust, stills the swelling of temper, puts out the fire begotten of hatred, makes the rich meek, and relieves the need of the poor. Patience guards in virgins their blessed wholeness, in widows their careful purity. in such as be married their single-hearted love one toward the other. Patience teaches those who are successful to be lowly-minded, those who are unfortunate to be brave, and all to be gentle when they are wronged and insulted. Patience makes a man quick to forgive them that trespass against him, and if he have trespassed against anyone, long and humbly to ask his pardon. Patience fights temptations, bears persecution, and endures until the end in suffering and in the uplifting of our testimony. Patience is the moat that guards the stout foundations of the castle of our Faith.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John
John 16:5-14"But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to Him that sent Me, and none of you ask Me: Where go Thou? But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart. But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I do not go, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment. Of sin: because they believed not in Me. And of justice: because I go to the Father; and you shall see Me no longer. And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged. I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will teach you all truth. For He shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall show you. He shall glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall show it to you.
A Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
LXXXXIV on John.The Lord Jesus told His disciples what things they should suffer after that He was gone away from them, and then He said: "These things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you ; but now I go My way to Him That sent Me." Let us first see whether it had been that He had not told them before this what they were to suffer in time coming. That He had done so amply before the night of the last Supper, is testified by the three first Evangelists, but it was when that Supper was ended that, according to John, He said : "These things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you."
Lesson viii
Are we then to try and loose the knot of this difficulty by asserting that, according to these three Evangelists, it was on the eve of the Passion, albeit before the Supper, that He had said these things unto them, and therefore not at the beginning, when He was with them, but when He was about to leave them, and go His way to the Father And in this way we might reconcile the truthfulness of what this Evangelist said here "These things I said not unto you at the beginning" with the truthfulness of the other three. But this explanation is rendered impossible by the Gospel according to Matthew, who tells us how that the Lord spoke to His Apostles concerning their sufferings to come, not only when He was on the point of eating the Passover with them, but at the very beginning, when the names of the twelve are first given, and they were sent forth to do the work of God.
Lesson ix
It would seem then that when He said: "These things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you," He meant by " these things," not the sufferings which they were to bear for His sake, but His promise of the Comforter Who should come to them, and testify while they suffered (Ibid xv: 26, 27). This Comforter then, or Advocate, (for the Greek word " Parakletos " will bear either interpretation,) would be needful to them when they saw Christ no more, and therefore it was that Christ spoke not of Him " at the beginning " (of the Gospel Dispensation) while He Himself " was with " His disciples, because His visible Presence was then their sufficient Comfort.
Let us pray O God, of Whom it comes that the minds of Thy faithful people be all of one will, grant unto the same Thy people that they may love the thing which Thou command, and desire that which Thou dost promise, that so, amid the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint James the Apostle
James 1:17-20Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. For of His own will He has begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of His creatures. You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man works not the justice of God.
Lesson ii
James 1:21-24Therefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your selves. For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a mirror. For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was.
Lesson iii
James 1:25-27But he that has looked into the perfect law of liberty, and has continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed. And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.
Lesson i
A Reading from the letter of Saint James the Apostle
James 2:1-4My brethren, do not mix the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with the respect of persons. For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire, And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool: Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?
Lesson ii
James 2:5-9Hearken, my dearest brethren: has not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God promised to them that love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do the rich not oppress you by might? and do they not draw you before the judgment seats? Do they not blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you? If then you fulfill the royal law, according to the scriptures, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"; you do well. But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.
Lesson iii
James 2:10-13And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, becomes guilty of all. For He that said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," said also, "Thou shalt not kill." Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty. The merciless will be judged mercilessly; And mercy exalts itself above judgment.
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint James the Apostle
James 2:14-17What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he has faith, but has not works? Shall faith be able to save him? And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: And one of you say to them: "Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled"; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
Lesson ii
James 2:18-22But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without works; and I will show thee, by works, my faith. Thou believe that there is one God. Thou believe well: the devils also believe and yet they tremble. But would thou like to know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? See thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?
Lesson iii
James 2:23-26And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice" (Genesis 15:16), and he was called the friend of God. Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way (cf. Josue 6:17, 25)? For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint James the Apostle
James 3:1-3Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you would receive the greater judgment. For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body. For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Lesson ii
James 3:4-6Behold also ships, whereas they are great, and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, with whatever force of the steersman wills. Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasts great things. Behold how small a fire kindles a great wood. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
Lesson iii
James 3:6-10The tongue is placed among our members, which defile the whole body, and inflame the circle of our mortality, being set on fire by hell. For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and has been tamed, by the nature of man: But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.9 By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint James the Apostle
James 4:1-4From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscence, which war in your members? You covet, and have not: you kill, and envy, and can not obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not; because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscence. Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becomes an enemy of God.
Lesson ii
James 4:5-10Or do you think that the scripture says in vain: To envy does the spirit covet which dwells in you? But He gives greater grace. Wherefore He said: God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into sorrow. Be humbled in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Lesson iii
James 4:11-15Detract not one another, my brethren. He that detracts his brother, or he that judges his brother, detracts the law, and judges the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, and one Judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver. But who art thou that judge thy neighbor? Behold, now you that say: "Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and there we will spend a year, and will traffic, and make our gain." Whereas you know not what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a vapor which appears for a little while, and afterwards shall vanish away. For that you should say: "If the Lord will, and if we shall live, we will do this or that."
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint James the Apostle
James 5:1-6Go to now, rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days. Behold the hire of the laborers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, cries: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter.6 You have condemned and put to death the Just One, and He resisted you not.
Lesson ii
James 5:7-11Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and latter rain. Be you therefore also patient, and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge stands before the door. Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labor and patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we account them blessed who have endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have read, in that story, how kind and merciful the Lord is in rewarding us.
Lesson iii
James 5:12-16But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be, yea, yea: no, no: that you fall not under judgment. Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing. Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man avails much.
