{"id":12844,"date":"2023-07-22T20:45:21","date_gmt":"2023-07-23T00:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=12844"},"modified":"2023-07-22T20:56:07","modified_gmt":"2023-07-23T00:56:07","slug":"daily-devotional-for-july-23-29-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=12844","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotional for July 23 – 29"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday<\/p>\n

+++Assorted Scriptures and commentary this week<\/p>\n

1 Timothy 1:1-17
\nThis is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief .\u00a0 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long-suffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n

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ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ON THE EPISTLE…<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Paul pointed out to all the deeds he had dared to commit before. He thought that it was better for his former life to be publicized to all in order to make evident the greatness of the gift of God than to cover up his ineffable and indescribable mercy by shrinking from proclaiming his own sins to all. He therefore recounted in detail his persecutions, his plots, his fights against the church. He says, \u201cI am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God\u201d; and again, \u201cthat Jesus came to save sinners of whom I am the chief.\u201d And once more, \u201cYou have heard of my former way of life in Judaism; how beyond all measure I persecuted the church of God and ravaged it.\u201d51 Indeed, to give, as it were, some kind of return to Christ for his long-suffering toward him, by telling plainly what sort he was and what an enemy and foe he had saved, he very frankly revealed the battle which in the beginning he had waged with consuming zeal against Christ. And because of this he held out good hope even to those who had despaired of themselves.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Monday<\/p>\n

Matthew 10:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him,<\/i> He gave them power over<\/i> unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son<\/i> of Zebedee, and John his brother; <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son<\/i> of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was[a<\/a>]<\/sup> Thaddaeus; <\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>Simon the Cananite,[b<\/a>]<\/sup> and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: \u201cDo not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.<\/span> <\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.<\/span> <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And as you go, preach, saying, \u2018The kingdom of heaven is at hand.\u2019<\/span> <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,<\/span>[c<\/a>]<\/sup> cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BEDE:<\/p>\n

For the number twelve, which is made up of three into four, denotes that through the four quarters of the world they were to preach the faith of the holy Trinity.<\/p>\n

Tuesday<\/p>\n

Matthew 8:When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes,[c<\/a>]<\/sup> there met Him two demon-possessed men,<\/i> coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. <\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>And suddenly they cried out, saying, \u201cWhat have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

30\u00a0<\/sup>Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. <\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>So the demons begged Him, saying, \u201cIf You cast us out, permit us to go awayinto the herd of swine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

32\u00a0<\/sup>And He said to them, \u201cGo.\u201d So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

33\u00a0<\/sup>Then those who kept them<\/i> fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened<\/i> to the demon-possessed men.<\/i> <\/span> 34\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him<\/i> to depart from their region.<\/span><\/p>\n

ST. BEDE: The swine are they that delight in filthy manners; for unless one live as a swine, the devils do not receive power over him; or at most, only to try him, not to destroy him. That the swine were sent headlong into the lake, signifies, that when the people of the Gentiles are delivered from the condemnation of the d\u00e6mons, yet still they who would not believe in Christ, perform their profane rites in secret, drowned in a blind and deep curiosity. That they that fed the swine, fled and told what was done, signifies that even the leaders of the wicked though they shun the law of Christianity, yet cease not to proclaim the wonderful power of Christ. When struck with terror, they entreat Him to depart from them, they signify a great number who, well satisfied with their ancient life, shew themselves willing to honour the Christian law, while they declare themselves unable to perform it.<\/p>\n

Wednesday<\/p>\n

Matthew 18:10\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cTake heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.<\/span> <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

12\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWhat do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?<\/span> <\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep<\/i> than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.<\/span> <\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ST BEDE:\u00a0The Lord found the sheep when He restored man, and over that sheep that is found there is more joy in heaven than over the ninety and nine, because there is a greater matter for thanksgiving to God in the restoration of man than in the creation of the Angels. Wonderfully are the Angels made, but more wonderfully man restored.<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/p>\n

Matthew 26:26\u00a0<\/sup>And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed\u00a0and broke it,<\/i> and gave it<\/i> to the disciples and said, \u201cTake, eat; this is My body.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

27\u00a0<\/sup>Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it<\/i> to them, saying, \u201cDrink from it, all of you.<\/span> <\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>For this is My blood of the new<\/span>[c<\/a>]<\/sup> covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.<\/span> <\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father\u2019s kingdom.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

30\u00a0<\/sup>And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.<\/span><\/p>\n

ST BEDE: Beautifully after the disciples have been filled with the Sacraments of His Body and Blood, and, commended to the Father in a hymn of pious intercession, does He lead them into the mount of Olives; thus by type teaching us how we ought, by the working of His Sacraments, and the aid of His intercession, mount up to the higher gifts of the virtues and the graces of the Holy Spirit, with which we are anointed in our hearts.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

Matthew 28:\u00a0Now after the Sabbath, as the first day<\/i> of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>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,[a<\/a>]<\/sup> and sat on it. <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. <\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>But the angel answered and said to the women, \u201cDo not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. <\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

8\u00a0<\/sup>So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.<\/span><\/p>\n

ST BEDE:\u00a0Otherwise; It may be understood that they began to come in the evening, but that it was the dawn of the first day of the week when they reached the sepulchre; that is, that they prepared the spices for anointing the Lord\u2019s body in the evening, but that they took them to the sepulchre in the morning. This has been so shortly described by Matthew, that it is not quite clear in his account, but the other Evangelists give the order more distinctly. The Lord was buried on the sixth day of the week, and the women returning from the sepulchre prepared spices and ointments as long as it was lawful to work; on the sabbath they rested, according to the commandment, as Luke plainly declares; and when the Sabbath was past and the evening was come, and the season of labour returned, with zealous devotion they proceeded to purchase such spices as they yet lacked, (this is implied in Mark\u2019s words, when the sabbath was past, that they might go and anoint Jesus, for which purpose they come early in the morning to the sepulchre.<\/p>\n

For from the beginning of the creation of the world until now, the course of time has followed this arrangement, that the day should go before the night, because man, fallen by sin from the light of paradise, has sunk into the darkness and misery of this world. But now most fitly night goes before day, when, through faith in the resurrection, we are brought back from the darkness of sin and the shadow of death to the light of life, by the bounty of Christ.<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/p>\n

**More commentary on the Resurrection<\/p>\n

Forasmuch as Christ is both God and man, therefore there lack not amidst the acts of His humanity the ministrations of Angels, due to Him as God. And came and rolled back the stone; not to open the door for the Lord to come forth, but to give evidence to men that He was already come forth. For He who as mortal had power to enter the world through the closed womb of a Virgin, He when become immortal, was able to depart out of the world by rising from a sealed sepulchre.<\/p>\n

And rightly did the Angel appear standing, who proclaimed the Lord\u2019s coming into the world, to shew that the Lord should come to vanquish the prince of this world. But the Herald of the Resurrection is related to have been seated, to shew that now He had overcome him that had the power of death, He had mounted the throne of the everlasting kingdom. He sate upon the stone, now rolled back, wherewith the mouth of the sepulchre had been closed, to teach that He by His might had burst the bonds of the tomb.<\/p>\n

The Lord is rightly seen by His disciples in Galilee, forasmuch as He had already passed from death to life, from corruption to incorruption; for such is the interpretation of Galilee, \u2018Transmigration.\u2019 Happy women! who merited to announce to the world the triumph of the Resurrection! More happy souls, who in the day of judgment, when the reprobate are smitten with terror, shall have merited to enter the joy of the blessed resurrection!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday +++Assorted Scriptures and commentary this week 1 Timothy 1:1-17 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-orthodox-daily-devotional","has_no_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12844"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12847,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12844\/revisions\/12847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}