Occurring Scripture for the
Hour of Matins
Ferias of the Fifth Full Week after Epiphany
Fifth
Sunday after Epiphany
Lesson i
The beginning of the first Epistle of blessed Paul the
Apostle to Timothy
1 Timothy 1:1-4
Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ, according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus
our hope: To Timothy,
his beloved son in faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and
from Christ Jesus our Lord. As I desired you to remain at Ephesus when
I went into Macedonia, that you might charge some not to teach otherwise, Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies: which furnish
questions rather than the edification of God, which is in faith.
Lesson ii
1 Timothy 1:5-11
Now the end of the commandment is charity,
from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith. From
which things some going astray, are turned aside unto vain babbling:
Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither the things they
say, nor what they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man
use it lawfully: Knowing this, that the law is not made for the just
man, but for the unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners,
for the wicked and defiled, for murderers of fathers, and murderers of
mothers, for manslayers, For fornicators, for those who defile themselves with
mankind, for man-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and whatever
other thing is contrary to sound doctrine, Which is according to the
gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which hath been committed to my
trust.
Lesson iii
1 Timothy 1:12-16
I give thanks to him who
hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he hath
counted me faithful, putting me in the ministry; Who before was a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and contumelious. But I obtained the mercy of God, because I did
it ignorantly in unbelief. Now the grace of our Lord hath abounded
exceedingly with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. A faithful
saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into this
world to save sinners, of whom I am the greatest. But for this cause have I
obtained mercy: that in me first Christ Jesus might show forth all patience,
an example for those who shall believe in him unto life everlasting.
Lesson iv
From the Sermons of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Number 8, On the words of the Apostles
This is a saying made for man, and worthy of all
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Listen
to the words of the Gospel: "The Son of man [has] come to seek, and to save that
which was lost" (Luke 19:10). If man had not been lost, the Son of man would not have
come. Therefore, man had been lost; God came to us made Man, and man was found;
man had perished by his own free will, God made Man came by grace which sets free.
Lesson v
Do you ask how free-will avails
to evil? Call to mind a sinner: Do you ask what God made Man availed to
help? Consider in Him the grace that sets free. There is no example which so shows what
avails the free will of man, when it is taken possession of by pride, to
use it without God's help, of evil is there no greater and plainer example,
than the first man. The first man fell and where had he been if the second
Man had not come? As the first was man, so was the second Man, and therefore
is this saying a saying. made for man.
Lesson vi
Neither is there any
example that shows what we receive of
the tenderness of the grace and the abundance of the all-powerful might of God, as
the Man Who is the Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. For
what do we say, my brethren? I speak to them that have been raised in the
Catholic Church, or who have been reconciled to that Church. We know and
hold that the Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, as
touching on His Manhood, is of the same nature as we. For our flesh is not
of one nature, and His Flesh of another nature, neither our soul of one
nature and His Soul of another nature. He took upon Himself the same nature
which He had freely ordained to save.
Nocturn III
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according
to Matthew
Matthew 13:24-30
At that time, Jesus said to the people
a parable: "The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds
in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and
over sowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade
sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle.
And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him: 'Sir, did
you not sow good seed in thy field? whence then has it cockle?' And he said
to them: 'An enemy has done this.' And the servants said to him: 'Do you
want us to go and gather it up?' And he said: 'No, lest perhaps
gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.
Allow both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will
say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to
burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.'"
An homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Quest. Evang. Matthew xi., Book
4.
When the Shepherds of the Church wax careless, and since the Apostles
sleep the sleep of death, there comes the devil, and sows those whom the Lord called a
"seed of evil-doers." Now, are these "seed of evil-doers" the
heretics, or Catholics of bad lives? It is possible to call even the
heretics a "seed of evil-doers" because they have sprung up from the seed of
the Gospel, and been begotten in the Name of Christ, though afterwards they
have turned after crooked ways and lying doctrines.
Lesson viii
But whereas it is written that they were sown in the midst
of the wheat, we ought perhaps to understand that they are of one communion
with the righteous. Nevertheless, inasmuch as the Lord said, "The field is
the world" [verse 38], (and not, the Church,) we may well understand that the seed of
evil doers are the heretics, since in this world they are mingled together
with the good, not in one common Communion, but only under one common name
of Christian. But they which are of one faith with the good seed, and yet
are themselves worthless, may more fitly be likened to straw than to tares,
since the straw springs from one soil and one root with the good ear.
Lesson ix
However, as touching the net cast into the sea, and
enclosing a great multitude of fishes, both bad and good, we may well
understand that by the bad are meant Catholics of bad lives. For the sea is
one thing whereby we may understand to be signified the world; and the net
another, which seems to signify our faith, or the Communion of one Church.
Between heretics and sinful Catholics there is this difference, that
heretics believe a lie, and sinful Catholics believe the truth, but live not
as they believe.
Collect:
Let us pray:
In Thine infinite goodness, we beseech
Thee, O Lord, to watch over Thy household, that even as it relies solely
upon the hope of Thy heavenly grace, so it may ever be defended by Thy
protection.
Monday
Lesson i
A reading from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle
to Timothy
1 Timothy 3:1-7
A faithful saying: "if a man desires
the office of a bishop, he desires a good work." It behooves,
therefore, a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober,
prudent, of good behavior, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, Not
given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but
One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with
all chastity. But if a man knows not how to rule his own house, how
shall he take care of the church of God? Not a neophyte: lest being
puffed up with pride, he falls into the judgment of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Lesson ii
1 Timothy 3:8-13
Deacons in like manner chaste, not
double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:
Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience. And let these also
first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime. The women
in like manner chaste, not slanderers, but sober, faithful in all things.
Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule well their children, and
their own houses. For they that have ministered well, shall purchase to
themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in
Christ Jesus.
Lesson iii
1 Timothy 3:14-16; 4:1
These things I write to you, hoping
that I shall come to thee shortly. But if I tarry long, that you may
know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And
evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the
flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, has been preached
unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory. Now the
Spirit manifestly says, that in the last times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils,
Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared,
Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be
received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the
truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected
that is received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word
of God and prayer.
Tuesday
Lesson i
Here begins the second Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to
Timothy
2 Timothy 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle
of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which
is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and
peace, from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord. I give
thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that
without ceasing, I have a remembrance of you in my prayers, night and day. Desiring to see
you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled
with joy, Calling to mind that faith which is in you unfeigned, which
also dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and I am
certain that in you also.
Lesson ii
2 Timothy 1:6-9
For which cause I admonish
you, that you
stir up the grace of God which is in you, by the imposition of my hands.
For God has not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and
of sobriety. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner: but labor with the gospel, according to the power
of God, Who has delivered us and called us by His holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the times of the world.
Lesson iii
2 Timothy 1:10-13
But is now made manifest by the
illumination of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has destroyed death, and has
brought to light life and incorruption by the Gospel: Wherein I am
appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles. For
which cause I also suffer these things: but I am not ashamed. For I know
Whom I have believed, and I am certain that He is able to keep that which I
have committed to Him, against that day. Hold the form of sound words,
which you have heard of me in faith, and in the love which is in Christ
Jesus.
Wednesday
Lesson i
A reading from the second Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Timothy
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Know also this,
that, in the last days, shall come dangerous times. Men shall be lovers of
themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
ungrateful, wicked, Without affection, without peace, slanderers,
incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, Traitors, stubborn, puffed up,
and lovers of pleasures more than of God: Having an appearance indeed of
godliness, but denying the power thereof. Now these avoid.
Lesson ii
2 Timothy 3:6-9
For of these sort are they who creep into
houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are led away with
divers desires: Ever learning, and never attaining to the knowledge of the
truth. Now as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the
truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they
shall proceed no farther; for their folly shall be manifest to all men, as
theirs also was.
Lesson iii
2 Timothy 3:10-13
But you hast fully known
my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,
Persecutions, afflictions: such as came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, and
at Lystra: what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord
delivered me. And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall
suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse:
erring, and driving into error.
Thursday
Lesson i
Here begins the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Titus
Titus 1:1-4
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of
Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of God and the
acknowledging of the truth, which is according to godliness: Unto the hope
of life everlasting, which God, Who does not lie, has promised before the
times of the world: But has in due times manifested his word in
preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our
Savior: To Titus my beloved son, according to the common faith, grace and
peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Savior.
Lesson ii
Titus 1:5-9
For this cause I left you
in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and should ordain
priests in every city, as I also appointed you: If any be without crime,
the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or
unruly. For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not
proud, not subject to anger, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of
filthy lucre: But given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy,
continent: Embracing that faithful word which is according to doctrine,
that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine, and to convince the
gainsayers.
Lesson iii
Titus 1:10-15
For there are also many disobedient,
vain talkers, and seducers: especially they who are of the circumcision:
Who must be reproved, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they
ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of them a prophet of their
own, said, "The Cretins are always liars, evil beasts, slothful bellies."
This testimony is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be
sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments
of men, who turn themselves away from the truth. All things are clean
to the clean: but to them that are defiled, and to unbelievers, nothing is
clean: but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
Friday
Lesson i
A reading from the second Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Titus
2
Titus
2:15;3:1-2
These things speak, and exhort and rebuke with all authority.
Let no man despise you. Admonish them to be subject to princes and
powers, to obey at a word, to be ready to every good work. To speak evil
of no man, not to be litigious, but gentle: showing all mildness towards all
men.
Lesson ii
2 Titus 3:3-7
For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous,
erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy,
hateful, and hating one another. But when the goodness and kindness of God
our Savior appeared: Not by the works of justice, which we have done, but
according to His mercy, He saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and
renovation of the Holy Ghost; Whom He has poured forth upon us
abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior: That, being justified by
His
grace, we may be heirs, according to hope of life everlasting.
Lesson iii
2 Titus 3:8-11
It is a faithful saying: and these
things I will have you affirm constantly: that they, who believe in God, may
be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and profitable to
men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions,
and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain. A man
that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid:
Knowing that he, that is such an one, is subverted, and sins, being
condemned by his own judgment.
Saturday
Lesson i
Here begins the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to
Philemon
Philemon 1-6
Paul, a prisoner of Christ
Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow laborer;
And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and
to the church which is in your house: Grace to you and peace from God
our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God,
always making a remembrance of you in my prayers. Hearing of your
charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the
saints: That the communication of your faith may be made evident in the
acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.
Lesson ii
Philemon 7-14
For I have had great joy and
consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been
refreshed by you, my brother. Wherefore though I have much confidence
in Christ Jesus, to command you that which is to the purpose: For
charity sake I rather beseech, whereas you are such a one, as Paul an old
man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ. I beseech you for my
son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus, who has heretofore been
unprofitable to you, but now is profitable both to me and to you, whom
I have sent back to thee. Do receive him as my own bowels. Whom I
would have retained with me, that in your stead he might have ministered to
me in the bands of the Gospel:
Lesson iii
Philemon 15-19
But without your counsel I
would do nothing: that your good deed might not be as it were of necessity,
but voluntary. For perhaps he departed for a season from you, that you
might receive him again for ever: Not now as a servant, but instead of
a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to you
both in the flesh and in the Lord? If therefore thou count me a
partner, receive him as myself. And if he has wronged you in any
thing, or is in your debt, put that to my account. I Paul have written
it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to you, that you owe me
your own self also. Yea, brother. May I enjoy you in the Lord. Refresh
my bowels in the Lord.
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.