Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Week of the Pentecost and its Octave
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Pentecost SundayLesson i
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John
John 14:23-31At that time Jesus said unto His disciples: "If any one loves me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and will make Our abode with him. He that loves Me not, keeps not My words. And the word which you have heard, is not Mine; but the Father's who sent Me. These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved Me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world comes, and in Me he has not any thing. But that the world may know, that I love the Father: and as the Father hath given me commandment, so do I: Arise, let us go hence."
An Homily of Pope Saint Gregory the Great
XXX on the GospelsDearly beloved brethren, our best way will be to run briefly through the words which have been read from the Holy Gospel, and thereafter rest for a while quietly gazing upon the solemn subject of this great Festival. This is the day whereon "suddenly there came a sound from heaven," and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles, and, for fleshly minds, gave them minds wherein the love of God was shed abroad and, while without "there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them," within, their hearts were enkindled. While they received the visible presence of God in the form of fire, the flames of His love enwrapped them. The Holy Ghost Himself is love whence it is that John says "God is love." Whoever therefore loves God with all his soul, already has obtained Him Whom he loves for no man is able to love God, if He have not gained Him Whom he loves.
Lesson ii
But, behold, now, if I shall ask any one of you whether he loves God, he will answer with all boldness and quietness of spirit "I do love Him." But at the very beginning of this day's Lesson from the Gospel, you have heard what the Truth said: "If a man love Me, he will keep My word." The test, then, of love, is whether it is showed by works. Hence the same John has said in his Epistle: "If a man say, I love God, and keeps not His commandments, He is a liar." (1 John 2:4). Then do we indeed love God, and keep His commandments, if we deny ourselves the gratification of our appetites. Whosoever still wanders after unlawful desires, such a one plainly does not love God, for he says, No, to that which God wills.
Lesson iii
"And My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him." O my dearly beloved brethren, think what a dignity is that, to have God abiding as a guest in our heart. Surely if some rich man or some powerful friend were to come into our house, we would hasten to have our whole house cleaned, lest, perchance, when he came in, he should see aught to displease his eye. So let him that would make his mind an abode for God, cleanse it from all the filth of works of iniquity. Behold, again, what said the Truth: "We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him." There are some hearts unto which God comes, but makes not His abode there. With a certain pricking they feel His Presence, but in time of temptation they forget that which has pricked them and so they turn again to work unrighteousness, even as though they had never repented.
Let us pray:
O God, Who on this day did teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by the sending to them the Light of Thine Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to find joy in His holy comfort. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lesson i
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John
John 3:16-21
At that time Jesus said to Nicodemus: "God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son; that whoever believes in Him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God did not send his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by Him. He that believes in Him is not judged. But he that does not believe, is already judged: because he believes not in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment: because the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light: for their works were evil. For every one that does evil hates the Light, and comes not to the Light, so that his works may not be reproved. But he that does truth, comes to the Light, that his works may be made manifest, because they are done in God.
An Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Twelfth Tract on JohnThe physicians try their best to heal the sick. He is his own destroyer who will not follow the orders of the physician. Into the world came the Savior. Why is He called the Savior of the world but because He came "into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved"? If thou will not be saved through Him, thou wilt be condemned by thine own self. And why do I say that thou will be condemned? Because it is written "He that believes in Him is not condemned." What then can thou hope that He will say of "him that believeth not," but that He will be condemned And indeed He doth say farther " He that believeth not is already condemned." He is already condemned, though the condemnation may not yet be openly pronounced.
Lesson ii
He is already condemned, for "the Lord knows them that are His" (2 Timothy 2:19). He knows them for whom is laid up the crown, and likewise them that are reserved unto the fire. His eye sees in the field of the world the distinction of the wheat and of the the tares; what is crop and what is cockle. "He that does not believe is already condemned." And why " Because he has not believed in the Name of the Only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation: that Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil." " Because their deeds were evil " but, my brethren, is there one man of whom God finds that his works are good No, not one. God finds all works to be (in themselves) bad. How then do we hear that there are some who do truth, and come to the Light? For these words come later: "But he that does truth, comes to the light."
Lesson iii
But the Lord said [of those, who are condemned already, because they believe not in Him] "They loved darkness rather than Light." And here He makes the great point [of difference between such, and them that do the truth.] There are many who have loved their sins, there are many who have confessed their sins, and he that confessed and denounces his sin, is working already with God. God denounces thy sins, and if thou denounce them likewise, then thou join thyself with God in His act. The man and the sinner are two different things. God made the man, and the man made the sinner. Put away thy work, and God will save His. It behooves thee to hate, in thyself, thine own work, and to love God's work. When thine own works begin to displease thee, then is it that thou begin to do well, because thou denounce thine own evil works. The first thing to do, if thou would do good works, is to acknowledge thine evil ones.
Let us pray:
O God, Who didst give Thine Holy Spirit unto Thine Apostles, grant unto thy people the effectual fruit of their Godly supplications, and as Thou hast given them faith, give them also peace. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.
Lesson i
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John
John 10:1-10At that time: Jesus said to the Pharisees: "Amen, amen I say to you: He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up another way, is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he has let out his own sheep, he goes before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But a stranger they do not follow, rather they fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers." This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them. Jesus therefore said to them again: "Amen, amen I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All others, as many as may be, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures. The thief comes for nothing other than to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly."
An Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Tract VL on John.In the words of the Gospel which are read today, the Lord has spoken unto us in parables, concerning His flock, and the Door whereby entry is made into their fold. The Pagans may therefore say, "We live good lives," but if they enter not in the Door, what does it profit them of which they boast? Good life is profitable to a man if it leads to life everlasting, but if he does not have life everlasting, what shall his good life profit him? Neither indeed can it be truly said that they live good lives, who are either so blinded as not to know, or so puffed up as to despise, the end of a good life. And no man can have a true and certain hope of life everlasting, unless he knows the true Life, Which is Christ, and enter in by that Door into the sheepfold.
Lesson ii
There are many such, who try to persuade men to live good lives but not to be Christians. These are they who would fain "climb up some other way," "to kill and to destroy," and are not as the Good Shepherd, Who has come to keep and to save. There have been philosophers who have treated many subtle questions of right and wrong, who have been the authors of many distinctions and definitions, who have completed many exceedingly clever arguments, who have filled many books, and have proclaimed their own wisdom with braying trumpets. These dared to say to men: "Follow us, embrace our school of thought, and you will find the secret of an happy life." But these were not of them who enter in by the Door, who came not to steal, nor to kill, nor to destroy.
Lesson iii
Concerning these, what shall I say? Behold, the Pharisees themselves read of Christ, and therefore talked of Christ they looked for His coming, and when He came, they knew Him not. They boasted that they themselves were among the Seers, that is, of the wise ones, and they denied Christ, and entered not in by the Door. Therefore they, if they led any away, led them away only to kill and to destroy, not to free them. So much for them. Now let us see if all they who boast the name of Christian enter in by the Door. Some there are, and their number cannot be reckoned, who not only boast that they themselves are among the Seers, but would fain appear as though their hearts were enlightened by Christ but they are heretics.
Let us pray O Lord, we beseech thee, that thy Holy Spirit may dwell in us in great power, mercifully cleansing our hearts, and shielding us from all harmful things. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.
Ember Wednesday
Lesson i
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John
John 6:44-52At that time Jesus said unto the multitudes of the Jews: "No man can come to me, unless the Father, who has sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets: 'And they shall all be taught of God' (cf. Isaias 54:13). Every one that has heard of the Father, and has learned, comes to me. Not that any man has seen the Father; but he who is of God, he has seen the Father. Amen, amen I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven; if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world."
An Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Tract XXVI on John.Think not that thou are drawn against thy will. The soul is drawn, not willingly only, but lovingly. Neither must we be afraid lest men who are great weighers of words, and very far from understanding the things of God, should catch us up upon this Gospel doctrine of the Holy Scriptures, and should say to us "How can my faith be willing if am drawn"? I answer: Thou art not drawn as touching thy will, but by pleasure. And, now, what is being drawn by pleasure? "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 36:4). There is pleasure in that heart to which the Bread that came down from heaven is sweet. The poet is allowed to say His special pleasure draws each, but pleasure, which so draws, is not a necessity, not a bond, but a delight. How much more strongly, may we say that men are drawn to Christ, who delight in truth, who delight in blessedness, who delight in righteousness, who delight in life everlasting, since truth and blessedness, and righteousness and everlasting life are all to be found in Christ? Or have the bodily senses pleasure, and the spiritual senses none? If the spiritual sense have no pleasures, wherefore is it written: "And the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the plenty of Thy house, and Thou shall make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life, and in Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 35:8-10).
Lesson ii
Give me a lover, and he will catch my meaning; give me a longer, give me an hungerer, give me a wanderer in this desert, a thirst and gasping for the fountains of the eternal Fatherland give me such a one, and he will catch my meaning. If I talk to some cold creature, he will not. Such cold creatures were they of whom it is written: "The Jews then murmured at Him because He said, I am the Bread Which came down from heaven. . And they said Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and Mother we know How is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven Jesus therefore answered and said unto them Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to Me, except the Father, Which hath sent Me, draw him." (John 6:41-44). But why does Christ speak of them whom the Father draws, since He Himself draws? Why was it His will to say "No man can come to Me except the Father draw him"? If we are to be drawn, let us be drawn by Him to Whom one that loved much said: "Draw me, we will run after the savor of thy good ointments" (Canticles 1:3). But let us consider, my brethren, what He meant, and understand it as well as we can. The Father draws to the Son those who believe in the Son, because they are persuaded that He has God as His Father. God the Father begets to Himself a coequal Son; and whosoever is persuaded, and realizes unto himself by faith, and thinks, that He in Whom he believes is equal to the Father, him the Father is drawing unto the Son.
Lesson iii
Arius, who believed that the Son was made, was not one of them whom the Father draws since whoever believes not that the Father is a Father by the begetting of a coequal Son, such a one knows not the Father. What say thou, O Arius? What say thou, O heretic? What is thy profession? What is Christ? "He is not," says Arius, "Himself True God." Then, O Arius, the Father has not drawn thee. Thou have not understood His dignity as a Father, to Whom thou deny His Son. Thou deny the existence of the Son of God, the Father draws thee not, and thou art not drawn to the Son, since the Son of whom thou speak is another son, [existing only in thine imagination,] and not the really existent Son. Photinus said Christ is a mere man, and not God at all. He who uttered those words was not one of them whom the Father draws. But whom has the Father drawn The Father drew him who said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16: 16). Show a sheep a green bough, and thou draw him. Let a boy see some nuts, and he is drawn by them. As they run, they are drawn, drawn by taste, drawn without bodily hurt, drawn by a line bound to their heart. If, then, among earthly things, such as be sweet and pleasant draw such as love them, as soon as they see them, so that it is truth to say, His special pleasure draws each, doth not that Christ, Whom the Father hath revealed, draw? What stronger object of love can a soul have than the Truth?
Let us pray O Lord, we beseech Thee, that the Comforter, Who proceeds from Thee, may enlighten our minds, and lead us into all truth, even as thy Son has promised unto us. Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Ghost ...
Lesson i
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 9: 1-6).Then calling together the twelve apostles, He gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And He said to them: Take nothing for your journey; neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. And whatever house you enter, abide there, and depart not from thence. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them. and going out, they went about through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.
An Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Book VI on Luke 9We learn from the commandments of the Gospel what manner of men they ought to be who preach the glad tidings of the kingdom of God "Take nothing for your journey neither staves nor scrip, neither bread neither money." Thus let the Apostle destitute of earthly help, and rich in faith, deem himself able to do all the more, as he needs all the less. Those who please may also put upon these words a spiritual interpretation in that a man may be said to put away the encumbrances of the body, not only by abdicating power, and casting away riches, but also by denying the very body itself its pleasures. The first general commandment given to the Apostles concerning their manners was to be bringers of peace, (cf. Matthew 10:12-13), and to be no gadders about, but keepers of the laws of guests. To wander from house to house, and to abuse the rights of hospitality, are things alien to a preacher of the kingdom of heaven.
Lesson ii
But as the kindness of hospitality is to be met with courtesy, so also is it said " Whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet, for a testimony against them." By this is taught that hospitality merits a good reward, since not only do we bring peace to such as receive us, but also, if they be shadowed by some earthly vanities, these defects are taken away, where enter the feet of them that bear the glad tidings of Apostolic preaching. It is well written in Matthew 10:11 "Into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy and there abide till ye go thence" thus avoiding any possible need of going from house to house. But no such selection is commanded to him that gives hospitality, lest his hospitality itself should be lessened, while he picks his guests.
Lesson iii
This passage, taken according to the plain meaning, is a sacred commandment touching the religious duty of hospitality, but its heavenly words likewise hint at a mystery. When the house is chosen, it is asked if the master thereof be worthy. Let us see if this be not perchance a figure of the Church, and her Master, Christ. What worthier house can the Apostolic preacher enter, than the Holy Church? Or what host is more to be preferred before all others, than Christ, Whose custom it is to wash the feet of His guests, indeed, Who suffers not that any whom He receives into His house should dwell there with foul feet, but, defiled as they are by their former wanderings, deigns to change them into new and clean living men. He Alone is He, from Whose house no man ought ever to go forth, nor change His roof for any other shelter, for unto Him it is well said "Lord, to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe" (John 6:69).
Let us pray O God, Who on this day did teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thine Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.
Ember Friday
Lesson i
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 5: 17-26It came to pass on a certain day, as He sat teaching, that there were also Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, that were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was to heal them. And behold, men brought a man in a bed, who had the palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before Him. And when they could not find a way to bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up upon the roof, and let him down through the tiles with his bed into the midst before Jesus. Whose faith when He saw, He said: "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" And when Jesus knew their thoughts, answering, he said to them: "What is it you think in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Thy sins are forgiven thee'; or to say, 'Arise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (He said to the man sick of the palsy,) 'I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.'" And immediately rising up before them, he took up the bed on which he lay; and he went away to his own house, glorifying God. And all were astonished; and they glorified God. And they were filled with fear, saying: "We have seen wonderful things today."
An Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Book V on Luke 5"And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy." The healing of this paralytic was not idle, nor its fruits limited to himself. The Lord healed him, before he could ask, not because of the entreaties of others, but for example's sake. He gave a pattern to be followed, and sought not the intercession of prayer. In the presence of the Pharisees and doctors of the law, which had come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem, many sick folk were healed, but among them is specially described the healing of this paralytic. First of all, as we have before said, every sick man ought to engage his friends to offer up prayers for his recovery, that so the tottering framework of this our life, and the distorted feet of our works, may be righted by the healing power of the word from heaven.
Lesson ii
To lift our minds to heaven, even though they are dulled by sickness, we need "stretcher bearers." With their aid and good example the mind is apt to follow their example. With the help of such friends he can be brought and laid on the ground before the Feet of Jesus, and seem worthy of a glance from the Lord for the Lord looks upon such as lie lowly before Him, "for He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden" (Luke 1:48). "And when He saw their faith, He said unto him Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." Great is the Lord, Who, for the sake of some, forgives the sins of others; Who tries some; and pardons the wanderings of others. Why should thy colleague, O man, be inadequate for thee, if God's servant has won power to intercede, and even a right to obtain, with God?
Lesson iii
O Thou that judge, learn to forgive. Thou that art sick, learn to pray. If thou doubt of the pardon of thy sins, because of their grievousness, get to the Church, that she may pray for thee, and that the Lord, at her behest, may grant to her petitions what He refuses to thine. And although we are bound to accept this history as one of fact, and to believe that the body of the paralytic was healed yet remember thou also his inward cure, unto whom his sins were forgiven. The Jews said: "Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And in these words they confessed the Godhead of Him Who forgave the sins of the paralytic, and themselves condemned their own unbelief in Him Whose work they acknowledged, but Whose Person they denied.
Let us pray.
O most merciful God, we beseech Thee to grant unto Thy Church that, as she is gathered by the Holy Ghost, seh may never be troubled by then assaults of her enemies. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.Ember Saturday
Lesson i
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 4:38-44At that time Jesus rose up out of the synagogue, and went into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever, and they besought Him for her. And standing over her, He commanded the fever, and it left her. And immediately rising, she ministered to them. And when the sun was down, all they that had any sick with divers diseases, brought them to Him. But He laying His hands on every one of them, healed them. And devils went out from many, crying out and saying: "Thou art the Son of God." And rebuking them He suffered them not to speak, for they knew that He was Christ. And when it was day, going out He went into a desert place, and the multitudes sought Him, and came unto Him: and they stayed Him that He should not depart from them. To whom He said: "To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God: for therefore am I sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
An Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Book IV on Luke 4Observe how long-suffering is the Lord our Redeemer! Neither moved to anger against them, nor sickened at their guilt, nor outraged by their attacks, did He leave the Jews' country. Rather, forgetting their iniquity, and mindful only of His mercy, He strove to soften their hard and unbelieving hearts, sometimes by His teaching, and sometimes by freeing some of them, and sometimes by healing them. Saint Luke does well to tell us first of the man who was delivered from an unclean spirit, and then of the healing of a woman. The Lord indeed came to heal both sexes, but that must be healed first which was created first, and then she whose first sin arose rather from fickleness of heart than from perversity.
Lesson ii
That the Lord began to heal on the Sabbath-day showed how the new creation begins where the old creation left off. It shows, moreover, that the Son of God, "Who is come not to destroy the law but to fulfill the law" (cf. Matthew 5:17), is not under the law, but above the law. Neither was it by the law, but by the Word, that the world was created, as it is written "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made" (Psalm 32:6). The law, then, is not destroyed, but fulfilled, in the Redemption of fallen man. Whence also the Apostle said: "Put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4: 22-24).
Lesson iii
It was well that He began to heal on the Sabbath, that He might show Himself to be the Creator, weaving in one with another of His works, and continuing that which He had already begun, even as a workman, being to repair a house, begins not to take down that which is old from the foundations, but from the roof. Thus the Lord begins to lay to His hand again, in that place where last He lifted it; then He begins with lesser things, that He may go on to the greater. Even men are able to deliver other men from evil spirits, though only with the word of God; to command the dead to rise again is for God's power alone. Perhaps, also, this woman, the mother-in-law of Simon and Andrew, was a figure of our own nature, stricken down with the great fever of sin, and burning with unlawful lusts after various objects. Nor would I say that the passion which rages in the mind is a lesser fire than that fever which burns the body. Covetousness, and lust, and uncleanness, and vain desires, and strivings, and anger; these be our fevers.
Let us pray.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully to pour into our hearts Thy Holy Spirit, Whose Wisdom has created us, and Whose Providence governs us. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.
