Sunday
Matthew 9:1-8:  Healing of the paralytic

As shown by the healing of the paralytic, faith is an indispensable condition for salvation. Faith is collective as well as personal, for the faith of the paralytic’s friends helped in his healing. Three signs of Jesus’ divinity are shown: (1) He knows the secrets of hearts (2) He forgives sins, a power which belongs to God alone; and (3) He heals by the power of His word.

QUOTE from Elder Paisios:

If we do not feel consolation during prayer, then something is wrong. It means we have to repent and correct ourselves in something. Some wrongly say that this happens because of the envy and wiles of the devil. In fact it is the Lord is saying to us, “I don’t understand the way you are addressing Me”. Prayer, just like Holy Communion—is a Sacrament. One has to prepare for it and have a clean conscience.

Monday

Two parables

18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large[c] tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures[d] of meal till it was all leavened.”

The mustard seed and the leaven represent the disciples who, according to Theophylact, began as just a few men, but “soon encompassed the whole earth.” These also stand for faith entering a person’s soul, which causes an inward growth.  Also a mustard plant in Palestine grows to 10 feet in height even though it is a small seed.

Tuesday

 Luke 14  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

This passage was a warning to fully consider the sacrifice necessary to be Christ’s follower.  It also can be applied to committing to things before careful consideration beforehand.

Wednesday

Luke 15:

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Explanation: In the Fathers’ spiritual interpretation, the hundred sheep represent all rational creation. The one sheep who goes astray symbolizes mankind, while the ninety-nine represent the angelic realm.

Thursday

St. Nikolai:

Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth (I Corinthians 10: 24).
This is the principle of the saints of God, both now and in the past, always and forever. This is the principle on which society is built. Upon this principle can be established the most perfect, most God-pleasing and most prosperous human society. This is the saving principle for every type of difficulty, against which contemporary men struggle without victory and without hope. The holy soul is concerned with where the homeless will spend the night, how the hungry will be fed, how the naked will be clothed. The holy soul is concerned, and prays to God that his neighbors be saved; that their hearts be filled with love toward God; that their minds be directed toward God; that the wicked turn from the path of wickedness; that those wavering in the Faith be strengthened; that those who are strengthened be sustained; that those who have died see the face of God; and that the living be written in the Book of Life in the Kingdom of Light.

Friday

From St. Nikolai:

Vanity over clothing is taking on a particular momentum in our time. He who has nothing else of which to be proud, becomes proud of his attire. Yet he who has something more costly than clothes of which to be proud, does not become proud. Just as gold is not found on the surface of the earth, so it is that the spiritual worth of a man does not show outwardly. It is said that a certain distinguished philosopher saw a young man who took pride in his clothing. He approached the young man and whispered in his ear: “The same fleece was previously worn by a ram; nevertheless, he was still a ram!” To be a Christian and to display pride in clothing is more insane than to be an emperor and to be proud of the dust under one’s feet. While St. Arsenius wore clothes of gold in the royal court, no one called him Great. He was called Great only when he unselfishly gave himself over completely to God— and dressed in rags.

Saturday

From St Paisios:  The humble person has all the spiritual fragrances: simplicity, meekness, unconditional love, goodness, forbearance, sacrifice, obedience. Since he has spiritual poverty,  he also enjoys the fullness of spiritual wealth. He is also devout and silent, and this is why he has kinship with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, Who had great humility. even though she carried God incarnate in her womb, she did not speak out at all until Christ Himself spoke, at the beginning of His public ministry when He was thirty. At the greeting of the Archangel, Mary said, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word.”   She did not say, “I will become the mother of the Son of God”.   The Panaghia, because of her humility, holds the second place after the Holy Trinity…