dailyreadings Archives • Page 250 of 277 • Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘ No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” – Matthew 25:1-13 . The five virgins symbolize all of humanity divided into five stages: infancy, childhood, youth, maturity and old age. It assigns to each time both God-fearing and foolish souls. – St. Cyril of Alexandria . . . #TheTenVirgins #FoolishVirgins #WiseVirgins #Bridegroom #CopticOrthodox #DailyReadings

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet …

“having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:14 . “The Cross is the crown of victory. It has brought light to those blinded by ignorance. It has released those enslaved by sin. Indeed, it has redeemed the whole of mankind. Do not, then, be ashamed of the Cross of Christ; rather, glory in it. Although it is a stumbling-block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles, the message of the Cross is our salvation. Of course it is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it was not a mere man who died for us, but the Son of God, God made man.” St. Cyril of Jerusalem #Cross #wipedoutsins #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken …

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 . “What he here calls the world is not the heaven nor the earth, but the affairs of life, the praise of men, retinues, glory, wealth, and all such things as have a show of splendor. To me these things are dead… And I am dead to them, neither do they captivate nor overcome me, for they are dead once for all, nor can I desire them, for I too am dead to them. Nothing can be more blessed than this putting to death, for it is the foundation of the blessed life.” St John Chrysostom #Cross #crucifiedtotheworld #boastinthecrossonly #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world …

Happy Feast of the Cross . “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” John 12:32 . “The way unto God is a daily cross. No one can ascend unto heaven with comfort, we know where the way of comfort leads.” St Isaac the Syrian #feastoftheCross #HolyCross #dailycross #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

Happy Feast of the Cross . “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples …

“Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” -Acts‬ ‭9:32-35‬ . Paralysis would last for eight years, but in the proper time chosen by God, He works in us to grant us complete recovery from our paralysis, arise from our beds, and move to work incessantly. But before healing the paralyzed man, Peter drew his sight to the true Physician, the Grantor of healing, Jesus Christ. The words of St. Peter bore the power of instant and complete healing, as they presented the name of Jesus Christ, the source of power. He instructed the sick man to arise and to make his bed; i.e. his paralysis turned into health with strength and action. Our Christ, God of the impossible, particularly cares for the sick with hopeless ailments, to proclaim the power of His name as the source of healing, and of the power of resurrection, that the sick would carry his bed, and strongly testify. And through him, souls would turn to the Lord. – Father Tadros Malaty . . . #CopticOrthodox #DailyReadings #Orthodox #HeRaisesUsUp #Healing #PowerOfHisName #ProclaimHisPower

“Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to …