Readings for Sunday 11 June 2023
4 Baunah 1739
First Sunday of Baunahh
Vespers Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 9 : 10
| 10 | And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. |
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Matthew 17 : 1 - 13
| 1 | Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; |
| 2 | and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. |
| 3 | And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. |
| 4 | Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." |
| 5 | While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" |
| 6 | And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. |
| 7 | But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." |
| 8 | When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. |
| 9 | Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." |
| 10 | And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" |
| 11 | Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. |
| 12 | But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands." |
| 13 | Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist. |
Glory be to God forever.
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Matins Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 67 : 1 - 2
| 1 | God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us,Selah |
| 2 | That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. |
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Matthew 28 : 1 - 20
| 1 | Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. |
| 2 | And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. |
| 3 | His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. |
| 4 | And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. |
| 5 | But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. |
| 6 | He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. |
| 7 | And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." |
| 8 | So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. |
| 9 | And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. |
| 10 | Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." |
| 11 | Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. |
| 12 | When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, |
| 13 | saying, "Tell them, "His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' |
| 14 | And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." |
| 15 | So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. |
| 16 | Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. |
| 17 | When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. |
| 18 | And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. |
| 19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, |
| 20 | teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. |
Glory be to God forever.
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Divine Liturgy
Pauline Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God. A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Romans.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.
Romans 15 : 13 - 29
| 13 | Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. |
| 14 | Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. |
| 15 | Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, |
| 16 | that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. |
| 17 | Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. |
| 18 | For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient-- |
| 19 | in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. |
| 20 | And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, |
| 21 | but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand." |
| 22 | For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. |
| 23 | But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, |
| 24 | whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. |
| 25 | But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. |
| 26 | For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. |
| 27 | It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. |
| 28 | Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. |
| 29 | But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. Peter . May his blessings be upon us. Amen.
1 Peter 1 : 1 - 9
| 1 | Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, |
| 2 | elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. |
| 3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, |
| 4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, |
| 5 | who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. |
| 6 | In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, |
| 7 | that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, |
| 8 | whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, |
| 9 | receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. |
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Amen.
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Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us. Amen.
Acts 12:25 Acts 13:1-12
| 25 | And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. |
| 1 | Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. |
| 2 | As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." |
| 3 | Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. |
| 4 | So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. |
| 5 | And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. |
| 6 | Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, |
| 7 | who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. |
| 8 | But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. |
| 9 | Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him |
| 10 | and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? |
| 11 | And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. |
| 12 | Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God. Amen.
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Synaxarium
Day 4 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baunah.
May God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins are forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers. Amen.
The Fourth Day of the Blessed Month of Baunah
Martyrdom of St.Shenousi (Sanusi)
On this day, St. Sanusi (Shenousi), who was
from Balkim, was martyred. When he was a young man, he tended the sheep.
He used to give his food to the young shepherds, and spend his day fasting.
He visited the sick and those who were in prison. One night, the angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him, "Rise up, and go
before the governor and confess your God to receive the crown of martyrdom."
When he woke up from his sleep, he told that to his mother. She was sorry
and wept for she was unable to prevent him. He had heard about a righteous
holy woman, in the city of Shoubra, whose name was Mariam. She received
the poor and the sojourners and did many good deeds. He went to her, and
both agreed on receiving the crown of martyrdom. They went to Arsanos,
the governor, who was residing in a ship anchored on the bank of the river
Nile. They cried out before him saying, "We are Christians." He ordered
that they be tortured. While they were torturing them, St. Mariam delivered
up her soul in the hand of the Lord. The Lord Christ comforted and strengthened
St. Sanusi. When the Governor failed to change his conviction, he sent
him with many others to the Governor of Ansena (Antinoe), who tortured
him severely. Then, he brought a sorcerer from Akhmeem, who gave the Saint
a drink mixed with poison. The Saint having made over it the sign of the
Cross, drank it, and no harm came to him. When the governor was tired of
torturing him, he ordered him put to death. They cut off his head with
the sword. The sorcerer believed when he saw that, so they cut off his
head also. Both received the crown of martyrdom.
May their prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of Saint Anba Amoun and the
Righteous Sophia
On this day also, Saint
Anba Amoun and St. Sophia were martyred.
May their prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of John of Herakleia
. This day also, marks the
martyrdom of St. John of Herakleia.
May his prayer be with us. Amen.
Departure of Saint Aba-Hour
Today also,
marks the departure of the Saint Aba-Hour in the mount of El-Amoud in the
East.
May his prayer be with us. Amen.
Departure of Pope Yoannis the Eighth,
the 80th Patriarch
On this day
also, of the year 1036 A.M. (May 29th, 1320 A.D.) Pope Yoannis the Eighth
(80th Patriarch), departed. He was from Meniat Bani-Khosaim, and was known
as El Mo'ataman Ebn El-Kedees, and his name was Yohanna Ben-Ebsal. He became
a monk in the monastery of El-Shahran, and was ordained Patriarch on the
nineteenth of Amshir, 1016 A.M. (February 14th, 1300 A.D.). During his
days severe tribulations befell the Christians. They forced them to tinge
their turbans with the color blue. Churches were closed in old Cairo, Cairo,
and then in different parts of the country except the monasteries in Alexandria,
and some churches in other cities. An envoy from the king of Spain came
to intercede on behalf of the Christians. Two churches were opened, one
of them was the Coptic church of the Virgin Lady in Haret Zeewailah and
the other was the Malachite church of St.Nicholas in Elhamzawe. He was
a contemporary of the Saint Anba Barsouma known as El-Erian Ebn-Eltaban,
who departed during his days. The Patriarch prayed over him on the 5th
of Nasie 1021 A.M. This Patriarch was the last to reside in the church
of Abu-Saifain in Cairo. He was the first to relocate the patriarchal chair
to the church of the Virgin Lady in Haret Zeewailah. He was residing there
in the year 1303 A.D. when a severe earthquake took place that destroyed
a large part of Syria and Egypt. Ebn-kabre indicated that this Patriarch
had made some changes in the Liturgy. He departed after remaining on the
chair for twenty years, three months, and fifteen days and was buried in
the monastery of El-Shahran.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
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Divine Liturgy Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 143 : 10,8
| 10 | Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. |
| 8 | Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. |
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Luke 11 : 1 - 13
| 1 | Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." |
| 2 | So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. |
| 3 | Give us day by day our daily bread. |
| 4 | And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one." |
| 5 | And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves; |
| 6 | for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; |
| 7 | and he will answer from within and say, "Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? |
| 8 | I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. |
| 9 | "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. |
| 10 | For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. |
| 11 | If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? |
| 12 | Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? |
| 13 | If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" |
Glory be to God forever.
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