Occurring Scripture for the
Hour of Matins
Ferias of the Second Full Week after
Epiphany
Sunday
Nocturn I
Lesson i
Here begins the second epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
2 Corinthians 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother: to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the
saints that are in all Achaia: Grace unto you and peace from God our
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
Who comforts us in all our tribulation; that we also may be able to
comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also
are exhorted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so
also by Christ does our comfort abound.
Lesson ii
2 Corinthians 1:6-7
Now whether we are in
tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we are
comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we are exhorted, it is for your exhortation and
salvation, which works the enduring of the same sufferings which we also
suffer. That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are
partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.
Lesson iii
2 Corinthians 1:1-5
For we would not have you ignorant ,brethren,
of our tribulation, which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of
measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life. But we had
in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but
in God who raises the dead. Who has delivered and does deliver us out
of such great dangers: in Whom we trust that He will yet also deliver us.
You helping further in prayer for us: that for this gift obtained for us, by
the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many in our behalf.
Nocturn II
Lesson iv
A sermon of Saint John Chrysostom
Preface for the letters of Saint
Paul
As I listen intently to the reading of St. Paul's Epistles, often two
or three times a week, whenever we commemorate the holy martyrs, I am filled
with joy, delighting in the sound of that spiritual trumpet. And as I
recognize the voice of a friend, I am roused, and enkindled with love so
that I almost seem to see him present, and to hear him speaking. But
nevertheless I am grieved, and am troubled, that all do not know this great
man as he deserves to be known. Indeed, many are so ignorant that they do
not even know how many epistles he wrote. But this ignorance is not due to a
want of intelligence on their part, but because they will not carefully
study the writings of this great man.
Lesson v
For what we know, if we know anything, we do not know it
owing to any superlative talent or penetration, but, being strongly drawn
towards this great man, we never cease from reading his works. For so it is
that those who love any one usually know better than others what he has
done, because they take the trouble to learn all about him. The blessed Paul
himself shows that this is so, when he says to the Philippians (1:7): "As it is
meet for me to think this for you all: for that I have you in my heart; and
in my bands, and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel."
Lesson vi
And if you also will diligently attend to the reading, you
will have no need of other instruction. Most true are those words of Christ:
"Seek and you shall find: knock and it shall be opened unto you"
(Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9). For the
rest, since many of those who are assembled here are charged with the care
of a wife, and with providing for a family, and with the bringing-up of
children, and therefore cannot devote themselves wholly to this study; let
them at least bestir themselves to receive what others have gathered;
showing as much eagerness in listening to what is said about him as in
acquiring wealth. For though it is unseemly to demand from you no more than
this, yet it is to be wished that you do this at least.
Nocturn III
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according
to John
John 2:1-11
At that time, there was a marriage in
Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was
invited, and His disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the
mother of Jesus said to Him: They have no wine. And Jesus said to her:
"Woman, what is that to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come." His
mother said to the waiters: "Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye." Now
there were set there six water pots of stone, according to the manner of the
purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus said to them:
"Fill the water pots with water." And they filled them up to
the brim. And Jesus said to them: "Draw out now, and carry to the
chief steward of the feast." And they carried it. And when the chief
steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the
waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward called the
bridegroom, and said to him: "Every man at first sets forth good wine, and
when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But you have kept the
good wine until now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of
Galilee; and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
An homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Tract IX on John
Even setting aside any mystical interpretation, the fact that the Lord
was pleased to be asked, and to go to a marriage, shows plainly enough that
He is the Author of marriage, and blesses it. There were yet to be those of
whom the Apostle has warned us as forbidding to marry; who say that
marriage is a bad thing in itself, and a work of the devil. (Cf.
1 Timothy 4:1-5) Yet we read in
the Gospel that when the Lord was asked, Is it lawful for a man to put away
his wife for every cause? He answered that it was not lawful, except it were
for fornication. In which answer ye will remember that He used these words:
"What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6;
Mark 10:9).
Lesson viii
They who are well instructed in the Catholic religion know that God is
the Author and Blesser of marriage; and that, whereas joining together in
marriage is of God, divorce is of the devil. But it is lawful for a man to
put away his wife in case of fornication, For by not keeping a wife's faith
to her husband she herself has first willed not to be wife. They also who
have made a vow of their virginity to God and have thereby attained to an
higher degree of honour and holiness in the Church, are not unmarried, for
they are a special part of the marriage of the whole Church, which is the
Bride of Christ.
Lesson ix
The Lord, being asked, went to the marriage, to strengthen
the marriage tie, and to shed light on the hidden meaning of matrimony. In
that marriage feast the Bridegroom to whom it was said, "You have kept
the good wine until now," was a figure of the Lord Christ, Who has kept until
now the good wine, namely the Gospel.
Monday
Lesson i
From he epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
2 Corinthians 3:1-3
Do we begin again to
commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to
you, or from you? You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is
known and read by all men: Being manifested, that you are the epistle
of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the
heart.
Lesson ii
2 Corinthians 3:4-8
And such confidence we have, through
Christ, towards God. Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of
ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God. Who also
has made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in
the spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. Now if
the ministration of death, engraved with letters upon stones, was glorious;
so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of
Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void (Cf. Exodus
34:29-35): How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in
glory?
Lesson iii
2 Corinthians 3:9-14
For if the ministration of condemnation
be glory, much more the ministration of justice abounds in glory. For
even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified, by reason of
the glory that excels. For if that which is done away was glorious,
much more that which remains is in glory. Having therefore such hope,
we use much confidence: And not as Moses put a veil upon his face,
that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that
which is made void. But their senses were made dull. For, until this
present day, the selfsame veil, in the reading of the old testament, remains
not taken away (because in Christ it is made void).
Tuesday
Lesson i
A reading from the second epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
For we know, if our
earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven. For in this also
we groan, desiring to be clothed with our habitation that is from heaven.
Yet so that we be found clothed, not naked. For we also, who are in
this tabernacle, do groan, being burdened; because we would not be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up
by life.
Lesson ii
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Therefore having always confidence,
knowing that, while we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
(For we walk by faith, and not by sight.) But we are confident, and have a good will to
be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord. And
therefore we labor, whether absent or present, to please him. For we
must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one
may receive the proper things of the body, according as he has done,
whether it be good or evil.
Lesson iii
2 Corinthians 5:11-15
Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord,
we use persuasion to men; but to God we are manifest. And I trust also that
in your consciences we are manifest. We commend not ourselves again to
you, but give you occasion to glory in our behalf; that you may have
somewhat to answer them who glory in face, and not in heart. For
whether we be transported in mind, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it
is for you. For the charity of Christ presses us: judging this, that
if one died for all, then all were dead. And Christ died for all; that
they also who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died
for them, and rose again.
Wednesday
Lesson i
A reading from the second epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
2 Corinthians 7:1-3
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God. Receive us. We have injured no man, we have corrupted no man, we have overreached no man. I speak not this to your condemnation. For we have said before, that you are in our hearts, to die together, and to live together.
Lesson ii
2 Corinthians 7:4-7
Great is my confidence for you,
great is my glorying for you. I am filled with comfort: I exceedingly abound
with joy in all our tribulation. For also when we had come into
Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we suffered all tribulation; combats
without, fears within. But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by
the coming of Titus. And not by his coming only, but also by the
consolation, wherewith he was comforted in you, relating to us your desire,
your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.
Lesson iii
2 Corinthians 7:8-10
For although I made you sorrowful by my
epistle, I do not repent; and if I did repent, seeing that the same epistle
(although but for a time) did make you sorrowful; Now I am glad: not
because you were made sorrowful; but because you were made sorrowful unto
penance. For you were made sorrowful according to God, that you might suffer
damage by us in nothing. For
the sorrow that is according to God works penance, steadfast unto
salvation; but the sorrow of the world works death.
Thursday
Lesson i
A reading from the second epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
2 Corinthians 10:1-3
Now I Paul myself beseech
you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ—I
who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent, am bold
toward you. But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am
present, with that confidence wherewith I am thought to be bold, against
some, who reckon us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though
we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
Lesson ii
2 Corinthians 10:4-7
For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of fortifications,
destroying counsels, And every height that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every understanding unto the
obedience of Christ; And having in readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled. See the things
that are according to outward appearance. If any man trust to himself, that
he is Christ's, let him think this again with himself, that as he is
Christ's, so are we also.
Lesson iii
2 Corinthians 10:8-12
For if also I should boast
somewhat more of our power, which the Lord hath given us unto edification,
and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed. But that I may
not be thought as it were to terrify you by epistles, "For his epistles indeed," say they,
"are weighty and strong;
but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible," Let
such a one think this, that such as we are in word by epistles, when absent,
such also we will be indeed when present. For we dare not
match, or compare ourselves with some, that commend themselves; but we
measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves with ourselves.
Friday
Lesson i
A reading from the second epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:1-4
If I must glory (it is not
expedient indeed), but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years
ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knows),
such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a
man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knows), That
he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not
granted to man to utter.
Lesson ii
2 Corinthians 12:5-9
For such an one I will glory; but for myself I
will glory nothing, but in my infirmities. For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for
I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above
that which he sees in me, or any thing he hears from me. And lest the
greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of
my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing thrice I
besought the Lord, that it might depart from me. And He said to me:
"My grace is sufficient for you; for power is made perfect in infirmity.
Lesson iii
2 Corinthians 12:9-11
Gladly therefore will I glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For
when I am weak, then am I powerful. I have become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been
commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above
measure apostles, although I be nothing.
Saturday
Lesson i
A reading from the second epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
2 Corinthians 13:1-4
Behold, this is the third
time I am coming to you: In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every
word stand. I have told before, and foretell, as present, and now
absent, to them that sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come
again, I will not spare. Do you seek a proof of
Christ that speaks in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty in you? For although he was crucified through weakness, yet
He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him: but we shall live
with Him by the power of God towards you.
Lesson ii
2 Corinthians 13:5-9
Try your own selves if you be in the
faith; prove ye yourselves. Know you not your own selves, that Christ Jesus
is in you, unless perhaps you be reprobates? But I trust that you
shall know that we are not reprobates. Now we pray God, that you may
do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which
is good, and that we may be as reprobates. For we can do nothing
against the truth; but for the truth. For we
rejoice that we are weak, and you are strong. This also we pray for, your
perfection.
Lesson iii
2 Corinthians 13:10-13
Therefore I write these things, being
absent, that, being present, I may not deal more severely, according to the
power which the Lord has given
me unto edification, and not unto destruction. For the rest, brethren,
rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind, have peace; and the
God of peace and of love shall be with you. Salute one another with a
holy kiss. All the saints salute you.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the
communication of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.
In an Office of three lessons, ii
and iii above are concatenated and the third is taken from the proper of
saints or the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.