Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Third Week of September
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
Here begins the Book of Tobias
Tobias 1:1-4Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is in the upper parts of Galilee above Naasson, beyond the way that leads to the west, having on the right hand the city of Sephet,) When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, even in his captivity, did not forsake the way of truth, But every day gave all he could get to his brethren his fellow captives, that were of his kindred. And though he was younger than any of the tribe of Nephtali, he did nothing childish,
Lesson ii
Tobias 1:5-10Moreover when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam king of Israel had made, he alone fled the company of all, and went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and there adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully all his first-fruits, and his tithes, so that in the third year he gave all his tithes to the proselytes, and strangers. These and such like things did he observe when but a boy according to the law of God. But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own name, And from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and to abstain from all sin.
Lesson iii
Tobias 1:11-15And in the captivity he with his wife and his son and all his tribe came to the city of Ninive, (When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept his soul and never was defiled with their meats. And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, God gave him favor in the sight of Salmanasar the king. And he gave him leave to go whithersoever he would, with liberty to do whatever he had a mind. He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and gave them wholesome admonitions.
Lesson i
From the Book of Tobias
Tobias 2:1-4But after this, when there was a festival of the Lord, and a good dinner was prepared in Tobias's house, He said to his son: "Go, and bring some of our tribe that fear God, to feast with us." And when he had gone, returning he told him, that one of the children of Israel lay slain in the street. And he immediately leaped up from his place at the table, and left his dinner, and came fasting to the body: And taking it up carried it privately to his house, that after the sun was down, he might bury him cautiously.
Lesson ii
Tobias 2:8-12And when he had hid the body, he ate bread with mourning and fear, Remembering the word which the Lord spoke by Amos the prophet: "Your festival days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning" (cf. Amos 8:10). So when the sun was down, he went and buried him. Now all his neighbors blamed him, saying: "Once already commandment was given for you to be slain because of this matter, and you scarcely escaped the sentence of death, and now you bury the dead again? But Tobias fearing God more than the king, carried off the bodies of them that were slain, and hid them in his house, and at midnight buried them. Now it happened one day, that being wearied with burying, he came to his house, and cast himself down by the wall and slept, and as he was sleeping, hot dung out of a swallow's nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind. Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job.
Lesson iii
Tobias 2:13-18For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of blindness had befallen him, [14] But continued immoveable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life. [15] For as the kings insulted over holy Job: so his relations and kinsmen mocked at his life, saying: "Where is thy hope, for which thou gavest alms, and buriedst the dead?" But Tobias rebuked them, saying: "Speak not so: For we are the children of the saints, and look for that life which God will give to those that never change their faith from him.
Lesson i
From the Book of Tobias
Tobias 2:19-21Now Anna his wife went daily to weaving work, and she brought home what she could get for their living by the labor of her hands. And it came to pass, that she received a young kid, and brought it home: And when her husband heard it bleating, he said: "Take heed, lest perhaps it be stolen: restore it to its owners, for it is not lawful for us to eat or to touch any thing that comes to us by theft."
Lesson ii
Tobias 2:22-23; 3:1-3At these words his wife being angry answered: "It is evident your hope is come to nothing, and your alms now appear." And with these, and other such like words she upbraided him. Then Tobias sighed, and began to pray with tears, saying: "Thou art just, O Lord, and all Thy judgments are just, and all Thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment: And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, neither remember my offenses, nor those of my parents."
Lesson iii
Tobias 3:4-6"For we have not obeyed Thy commandments, therefore we are delivered to spoil and to captivity, and death, and are made a fable, and a reproach to all nations, among which Thou hast scattered us. And now, O Lord, great are Thy judgments, because we have not done according to thy precepts, and have not walked sincerely before Thee: And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace: for it is better for me to die, than to live."
Lesson i:
From the book of Tobias, Ch. 4: 1-8Therefore, when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he might die, He called to him Tobias, his son. And he said to him, "Hear, my son the words of my mouth, and lay them as a foundation in thy heart. When God takes my soul, you shall bury my body; and thou shall honor your mother all the days of her life. For you must be mindful of the great perils she suffered for you in her womb. And when she has ended the time of her life, bury her by me. And all of the days of your life have God in mind. And take heed never to consent to sin, nor transgress the commandments of the Lord our God. Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away your face from any poor person; for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from you. According to thine ability be merciful."
Lesson ii
Tobias 4: 9-16"If you have much, give abundantly; if you have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. For thus you store up to thyself a good reward for the day of necessity. For alms deliver from all sins, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all them that give it. Take heed to keep yourself, my son, from all fornication; and beside thy wife never endure to know a crime. Never suffer pride to reign in your mind, or in your words; for from pride all perdition took its beginning. If any man has done any work for you, immediately pay him his hire; and let not the wages of your hired servant stay with you at all. See that you never do to another what you would hate to have done to you by another.
Lesson iii
Tobias 4: 17-23"Eat your bread with the hungry and the needy; with your garments cover the naked. Lay out your bread and your wine upon the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink of them with the wicked. Always seek the counsel of a wise man. Bless God at all times, and desire of Him to direct your ways, and that all your counsels may abide in Him. I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while you were a child, to Gabelus, in Rages, a city of the Medes, and I have a note of his hand. Now therefore inquire how you may go to him, and receive of him this sum of money and restore to him the note of his hand. Fear not, my son; we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God and depart from all sin, and do that which is good."
Lesson i
From the book of Tobias, Ch. 5: 5-8Then Tobias going forth found a handsome young man, standing girded and ready to walk. And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said, "Where do you come from, good young man?" And he answered, "Of the children of Israel." And Tobias said to him, "Do you know the way that leads to the country of the Medes?" And he answered, "I know it, and I have often walked through all the ways thereof; and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwells at Rages, a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana."
Lesson ii
Tobias 6: 1ff.And Tobias went forth, and the dog followed him, and he lodged the first night by the river Tigris. And he went out to wash his feet; and behold a monstrous fish came up to devour him. And the angel said to him, "Take him by the gill and draw him to thee." And when he had done so, he drew him out on the land, and he began to pant before his feet. Then the angel said to him, "Take out the entrails of this fish, and lay up his heart, his gall, and his liver for thee, for these are necessary for useful medicines. If thou put a little piece of its heart upon the coals, the smoke of it will drive out devils of all kinds, either from man or from woman, so that they come no more to them. And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which there is a white speck; and they shall be cured.
Lesson iii
Tobias 6: 10-22.And Tobias said to him, "Where do you want us to lodge?" The angel answering said, " Here is one whose name is Raguel, a near kinsman of your tribe. And he has a daughter named Sara, but he has no son nor any other daughter beside her. All his property is due to you, and you must take her to wife. Ask her therefore of her father, and he will give her to you to wife." Then Tobias answered and said, "I hear that she has been given to seven husbands, and they all died. Moreover, I have heard that a devil killed them. Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to me also, and as I am the only child of my parents, I should bring down their old age with sorrow to hell." Then the angel Raphael said to him, "Hear me and I will show thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail. For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and the mule, which have not understanding; over them the devil has power. But thou, when you shall take her, go into the chamber, and for three days keep yourself continent from her, and give yourself to nothing else but to prayers with her. And on that night lay the liver of the fish on the fire, and the devil shall be driven away. But the second night you shall be admitted to the society of the holy Patriarchs. And the third night, you shall obtain a blessing that sound children may be born of you. And when the third night is passed, you shall take the virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust; that in the seed of Abraham you may obtain a blessing in children."
Lesson i
From the book of Tobias,
Tobias 9: 8-12And when he came into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed God, And said: "The God of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son of a very good and just man, one that fears God, and does alms-deeds: And may a blessing come upon your wife and upon your parents. And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigns for ever and ever." And when all had said, "Amen," they went to the feast: but the marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord.
Lesson ii
Tobias 11:4-15And as their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias, "Take with thee the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary." So Tobias took some of that gall and departed. But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from whence she might see afar off. And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him from afar off, and presently perceived that it was her son coming. And returning, she told her husband, "Behold thy son comes." And Raphael said to Tobias, "As soon as you come into your house, adore the Lord your God immediately, and giving thanks to Him, go to your father and kiss him. And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which you carry with you. Be assured that his eyes shall be promptly opened, and your father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice at the sight of you." Then the dog, which had been with them on the way, ran before them, and coming as if he had brought the news, showed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail. And Tobias' father who was blind, rising up, began to run, stumbling with his feet; and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son. And receiving him, kissed him, as did also his wife. And they began to weep for joy. And when they had adored God, and given Him thanks, they sat down together. Then Tobias, taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father's eyes. And he stayed about a half an hour, and a white skin began to come off of his eyes, like the skin of an egg. And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes. And immediately he recovered his sight.
Lesson iii
Tobias 11:16-21And they glorified God, both he and his wife, and all that knew him. And Tobias said, "I bless You, O Lord, God of Israel, because You have chastised me, and You have saved me. And behold, I see Tobias, my son. And after seven days, Sara, his son's wife, and all the family, arrived safe, and likewise the cattle and the camels, and abundance of money of his wife, and that money also which he had received of Gabelus. And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which He had done to him by the man that conducted him. And Achior and Nabath, the kinsmen of Tobias, came, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things God had done for him. And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.
Lesson i
From the Book of Tobias
Tobias 12:1-4So the father and the son, calling him, took him aside: and began to ask him to accept half of all the things that they had brought. Then he said to them secretly: "Bless ye the God of heaven, give glory to Him in the sight of all that live, because He has shown His mercy to you. For it is good to hide the secret of a king: but honorable to reveal and confess the works of God. Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than laying up treasures of gold: For an alms can deliver from death, and alms-giving purges away sins, and wins mercy and life everlasting. But those who commit sin and iniquity are enemies of their own soul.
Lesson ii
Tobias 12:5-10Then Tobias called to him his son, and said to him: "What can we give to this holy man, that has come with you?" Tobias answering, said to his father: "Father, what wages shall we give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits? He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him sufficient for these things? But I beseech you, my father, to ask him, that he would agree to accept one half of all the things that have been brought."
Lesson iii
Tobias 12:11-17"I will tell the truth to you, and I will not hide the secret from you. When you prayed with tears, and did bury the dead, and did leave your dinner, and hide the dead by day in your house, and bury them at night, I offered your prayer to the Lord. And because you were acceptable to God, it was necessary for temptation to prove you. And now the Lord has sent me to heal you, and to deliver Sara your son's wife from the devil. For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord." And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face. And the angel said to them: "Peace be to you, fear not."
