dailyreadings Archives • Page 273 of 290 • Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 . “Man’s merit is a free gift, and no one deserves to receive anything from the Father of lights, from whom every good gift comes down, except by receiving what he does not deserve.” St. Augustine #grace #freegift #FatherofLights #Goddoesnotchange #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox . Annunciation of Saint Joachim with Birth of Virgin Mary. On this day, God sent His honorable angel Gabriel to announce to St. Joachim of the birth of the Virgin, the mother of the incarnated God. This righteous man and his wife St. Anna (Hannah) were stricken in years and had no children for Anna was barren. The children of Israel used to insult him because he had not begotten a son. Because of this, these two saints were sad, and prayed continually, and entreated God by day and by night. They vowed that the child they would beget would be made a steward for the temple. While St. Joachim was praying over the mountain, he fell into a deep sleep and Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, appeared to him and announced to him that his wife Anna would conceive and bear a child, that would delight his eyes and please his heart; and likewise all the world would rejoice and be glad. When he woke from his sleep, he came to his house, and told his wife about the vision, which she believed. Anna conceived forthwith, and brought forth our Lady, the Virgin Mary, and St. Anna became more honorable than all the women of the world. May her intercession be with us. Amen. Coptic Synaxarium

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom …

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For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” 1 Peter 3:10 . “God has surrounded the tongue with a double wall—a barrier of teeth and the fence of the lips—in order that it may not easily and heedlessly utter words it should not speak. Keep it curbed within your mouth.” St John Chrysostom #guardyourmouth #speaknoevil #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips …

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“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 . “Christians, should judge no one, neither an open harlot, nor sinners, nor dissolute people, but should look upon all with simplicity of soul and a pure eye. Purity of heart, indeed, consists in seeing sinful and weak men and having compassion for them and being merciful.” St Macarius the Great #pureinheart #purity #seeGod #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 . “Christians, should judge no one, neither …

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“But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. ” Luke 11:41 . “If you help a poor person in the name of the Lord, you are making a gift and at the same time granting a loan. You are making a gift because you have no expectation of being reimbursed by that poor person. You are granting a loan because the Lord will settle the account. It is not much that the Lord receives by means of the poor, but He will pay a great deal on their behalf. ‘They who are kind to the poor lend to the Lord’ [Prov. 19:17]” St. Basil the Great. #almsgiving #charity #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. ” Luke …

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And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24 . “What then do the Lord’s words mean at another place (Matt.11: 30) “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Actually there is no contradiction between both quotes. One speaks of the nature of tribulation, as the narrow door, and the other speaks of the feelings of those who overcome them. What causes hardship to our nature could be counted as easy if we accept it willingly. Moreover, the way of salvation is narrow in its entrance, but once you get in you will find a spacious place of rest, contrary to the way leading to perdition.” St. John Chrysostom #narrowgate #wayofsalvation #strive #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek …

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