Sunday
Mathew 16:

13   When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14   So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15   He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16   Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17   Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed* in heaven.” 20   Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

 

Prayer:  O Gentle Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed Father, O Jesus Christ: Having come to the setting of the sun, having beheld the evening light, we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be hymned with reverent voices, O Son of God, Giver of life. Wherefore, the world doth glorify Thee.
*Eastern Vesper Hymn

Monday
Mark 8: 31   And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32   He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33   But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” 34   When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” 9: 1   And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

Prayer:  Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Tuesday
Luke 9:

21   And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22   saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” 23   Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,* and follow Me. 24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

Prayer:  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
*Agnus Dei

Wednesday
Mark 9: 2   Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3   His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4   And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5   Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6   because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7   And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8   Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

9   Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10   So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. 11   And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12   Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him [John the Baptist].”

Prayer:  O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory over their enemies to Orthodox Christians, and protect Thy people with Thy Cross.

Thursday
Mark 9:14   And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15   Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16   And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” 17   Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18   And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” 19   He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20   Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21   So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22   And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23   Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,* all things are possible to him who believes.” 24   Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 25   When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26   Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27   But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28   And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29   So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”*

 

Prayer:  O my God relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
*Act of Hope

Friday
Luke 9: 43b   But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44“ Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45   But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. (Matthew 17)

24   When they had come to Capernaum,* those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” 25   He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26   Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money;* take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Prayer:  O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
*Act of Contrition

Saturday
Matthew 18: 1   At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2   Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3   and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the  kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6“ Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Luke 9)   Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47   And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48   and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

 

Prayer:  O my God I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. (Act of Charity)