Sunday

1 John: Dearly beloved: Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by Water and Blood, even Jesus Christ; not by Water only, but by Water and Blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Saint Focus: When St Alexis Toth came to America the Catholic Bishop woudn’t let him offer the Eastern Divine Liturgy. It seemed like his sacrifice to come to the New World was pointless. However, with the Lord’s guidance, St. Alexis was led to return to the Orthodox Faith of this forefathers and thousands were led back to Orthodoxy as a result. When we face major trials always look out for a major blessing to follow.

Monday

Continuing with the Practical Commentary

[Gen. 31–35]

WHEN Laban saw that Jacob had become very rich, he began to envy him, and ceased to regard him with favour. Then God said to Jacob: “Return into the land of thy fathers. I will be with thee.” Jacob rose up without delay, and set out with his family and all he possessed. He had reached the banks of the river Jordan when he began to fear on account of his brother. He sent messengers before him to say to Esau: “Let me find favour in thy sight!” The messengers returned, saying to Jacob: “Esau cometh with speed to meet thee, with four hundred men.” Then Jacob was sore afraid, and he thus prayed: “God of my fathers, O Lord, who saidst to me, ‘Return to thy land’, I am not worthy of the least of all Thy mercies, and of Thy truth which Thou hast fulfilled to Thy servant. With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I return with two companies. Deliver me from the hand of my brother!”

During the night an angel appeared to Jacob with whom he wrestled till morning. And Jacob said to the angel: “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” The angel said to him: “Henceforth thy name shall not be called Jacob, but Israel (i. e. strength of God), for if thou hast been strong against God, how much more shalt thou prevail against men?”

He then divided his children, his servants, and his flocks into companies, and putting himself at the head of one of them, he advanced to meet his brother, bowing seven times to the ground before him. But Esau, rejoicing to see his brother Jacob, ran to meet him and embraced him with many tears. Then, perceiving the children, he asked: “Whose are those?” Jacob replied: “They are the children which God hath given me.” And, making a sign to them, they all advanced, and bowed down before Esau. Jacob then presented Esau with several flocks. But Esau refused them, saying: “I have plenty, my brother; keep what is thine for thyself!” Jacob insisted, and said: “I beseech thee, take the blessing which God hath given me!” Then Esau yielded to his prayer, and Jacob, full of gratitude for the protection of God, continued his journey, and arrived in the land of Chanaan. He came to Salem, a city of the Sichemites, where he bought a field; and then, mindful of his vow, he repaired to Bethel to offer sacrifice to the Lord. Thence he went south to Hebron, where his aged father lived. On the way (near Bethlehem) his wife Rachel, died after having given birth to Jacob’s youngest son Benoni or Benjamin (Fig. 10). Isaac was happy that his son had returned, and lived after this about twenty years. Finally, enfeebled by age, he died, one hundred and eighty years old. Esau and Jacob buried him at Hebron.

APPLICATION. Do you ever refuse to make friends with [those] who have injured you? Do you not nurse a feeling of resentment? Are you not ill-natured to them? Do you not wish them evil? Do you ask pardon of others (as, for example, your parents) when you have done wrong, and grieved them? Do you easily begin a quarrel? Forgive everyone from your heart! Be at peace with everybody, and especially with your brothers and sisters! Do not aggravate or strike anyone! It is far better to suffer wrong than to do wrong. Say to-day an “Our Father” for all those who have done you any injury!

Prayer: O my God I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. (Act of Faith)

Tuesday

[Gen. 37]

JACOB had twelve sons, and he loved Joseph above all the others, because he was young and very good. And Jacob made him a coat of divers colours. One day, when the brothers were all tending their flocks, some of them committed a most wicked crime. Joseph, being shocked and angry, told his father, on his return home, what he had seen. From that time forward, his brothers hated Joseph, and could not speak to him kindly. Joseph had once a remarkable dream which he thus related to his brothers: “Hear my dream: I thought we were binding sheaves in the field, and my sheaf arose, as it were, and stood, and your sheaves, standing about, bowed down before my sheaf.” His brothers replied: “Shalt thou be our king? Or shall we be subject to thy dominion?” And they hated him more than ever. Joseph also dreamed that the sun, the moon and eleven stars worshipped him. His father rebuked him, saying: “What meaneth this dream? Shall I, and thy mother, and thy brethren, worship thee upon the earth?” But Jacob thought within himself that perhaps God had destined Joseph for great things.

One day, when the sons of Jacob had gone with their flocks to Sichem, Jacob said to Joseph: “Go and see if all things be well with thy brethren and the cattle!” He obeyed, and went in search of them. When they saw him afar off, they said: “Behold, the dreamer cometh. Let us kill him and cast him into some old pit, and we will say some evil beast hath devoured him; and then it shall appear what his dreams avail him.” Reuben, the eldest of the brothers, hearing this, sought to deliver Joseph out of their hands, and said to them: “Do not take away his life, nor shed his blood, but cast him into this pit.” This he said, because he wished to restore the boy to his father. When Joseph drew near to his brothers, they forthwith stripped him of his coat of divers colours, and cast him into the pit, in which, happily, there was no water. Then they sat down to eat bread, and saw some foreign merchants passing by, with camels, carrying spices, balm and myrrh into Egypt. Juda then said to his brothers: “What will it profit us to kill our brother? It is better that he be sold, and that our hands be not defiled, for he is our brother.” The others agreed, and, the merchants having come up, they drew Joseph out of the pit, and sold him for twenty pieces of silver. Joseph wept and besought them to have pity upon him, but in vain. The merchants took him away with them into Egypt.

Reuben, being absent at the moment, knew nothing of this wicked bargain. On going to the pit into which Joseph had been cast, and not finding him there, he rent his garments in despair, saying: “The boy doth not appear, and whither shall I go?” The other brothers remained quite unconcerned. Having killed a kid, they dipped Joseph’s coat in it, and sent it to their father, saying: “This we have found; see, if it be thy son’s coat, or no.” The father, knowing the coat, said: “It is my son’s coat; a wild beast hath devoured Joseph.” Then he rent his garments, and putting on sackcloth, mourned his son a long time. His children gathered around and strove to soothe his grief, but he would not be comforted, saying: “I will go down to my son into the grave, mourning.”

Application:  God does not look to the clothes, but to the heart adorned with many virtues.  Perhaps you have often published abroad the faults of others without any necessity. On the other hand, you may have concealed what you know, from those set over you, who have a right to know. By doing so you have shared in the guilt of others.

You see in Jacob’s case how very strong is the love which parents have for their children…And do not forget to pray every day for them.

Joseph’s brethren scoffed at him as a dreamer. Do you not often tease [others]and give them abusive names? You must not let this bad habit take possession of you, for you do not like others to give you such names. Do unto others as you would they should do to you!

Prayer:  Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Wednesday

[Gen. 39:1–20. Ps. 104:17–22]

ON arriving in Egypt, the merchants sold Joseph to Putiphar, the captain of the royal guard. And the Lord was with Joseph, blessing him in all he did; wherefore he found favour with his master, who gave him charge of all his household. And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian, for Joseph’s sake, and multiplied his riches. But, after some time, Joseph was severely tried in his new home. The wife of Putiphar urged him to commit a most grievous sin. But Joseph would not consent, and said: “Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me. How, then, can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God?” But even this decided refusal did not prevent the wicked woman from renewing her attacks on Joseph’s virtue, and every day she importuned him anew. But Joseph would not listen to her.

Now, it so happened that Joseph was, one day, alone in the house, attending to some business, when the woman took hold of the skirt of his cloak, and renewed her shameful proposal. But Joseph fled, leaving his cloak in her hands. The woman, seeing herself thus slighted, began to hate Joseph and to falsely denounce him to all the household and to her husband on his return saying: “The Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse me, and when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and fled out.”

Putiphar, believing his wife too easily, was very angry and caused the innocent young man to be cast into prison.

APPLICATION. Joseph’s temptation was a severe one, and yet he stood firm. Have you not let yourself be led into sin by far lesser temptations? Joseph paid no heed to the threats of this wicked woman, but feared God more than her. He preferred to suffer anything, even death, rather than offend God. Repent of your sins, and say often to God: “I will die rather than offend Thee.” Do you love purity as dearly as Joseph loved it? Would you preserve your innocence at any cost? Your innocence should be dearer to you than anything in the world, for it is the most priceless treasure you possess. Avoid, therefore, all occasions of sin, bad companions, and impure things. “My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them! If they shall say, ‘Come with us’, walk not thou with them!” (Prov. 1:10 &c.) Say every day a Hail Mary for the preservation of your innocence.

Prayer:  Holy angel of the Lord my guardian, pray to God for me.

Thursday

Gen. 39:21–40:23]

JOSEPH was now pining in prison, among criminals. But even here God did not abandon him, and caused him to find favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, who gave him charge of all the prisoners. Amongst these were the chief butler and the chief baker of Pharao, accused of treason against their king. After some time, they both, on the same night, had a dream which perplexed them and made them sad.

Joseph, perceiving their sadness, asked them, saying: “Why is your countenance sadder to-day than usual?” They answered: “We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us.” Joseph said to them: “Doth not interpretation belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed.”

The chief butler first told his dream: “I saw before me a vine on which were three branches which by little and little sent out buds; and afterwards the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes. And the cup of Pharao was in my hand, and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharaoh.”

Joseph answered: “This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches are yet three days, after which Pharao will restore thee to thy former place, and thou shalt present him the cup as before. Only remember me, when it shall be well with thee, and do me this kindness, to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison!”

Then the chief baker, seeing that Joseph had so wisely interpreted the dream, said: “I, also, dreamed a dream that I had three baskets of meal upon my head; and that in one basket which was uppermost I carried all kinds of pastry, and that the birds ate out of it.”

APPLICATION. You have often been ungrateful to God, and also to your parents and superiors/bosses, by vexing and grieving them. Think of all the benefits both to soul and body which you have received from God! Say your morning and night prayers, and your grace at meal-times devoutly.

The chief butler forgot Joseph who, all the time, was lingering in prison. Christians are very apt to forget their departed friends and benefactors who are suffering… Has it been so with you? Pray every day for the holy souls, and especially for your relations and benefactors.

Prayer:  We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Friday

[Gen. 41:1–52]

AFTER two years, Pharao had a dream. He thought he stood by the river Nile out of which came seven cows, very beautiful and fat; and they fed in marshy places. After them came also seven others that were lean and ill-favoured, and they devoured the fat ones. Then the king awoke.

He slept again and dreamed another dream in which he saw seven ears of corn growing upon one stalk; and the ears were full and fair. After these came up seven other ears, thin and blighted, devouring all the beauty of the former. Pharao awoke the second time and, morning having come, he sent for all the soothsayers and wise men of Egypt, and related to them his dreams. But no one was found who could interpret them.

Then the chief butler remembered Joseph, and was sorry that he had so long forgotten him. He told the king that there was in the prison a Hebrew youth who had interpreted dreams for him and the chief baker, and that, all had come to pass just as he said.

The king’s curiosity being excited, he ordered the youth to be brought before him. Then he addressed him, saying: “I have dreamed dreams, and there is no one that can expound them. Now, I have heard that thou art very wise at interpreting them.” Joseph answered: “God alone can give Pharao a prosperous answer.” Pharao then related what he had seen.

Having heard the dreams, Joseph said: “God hath shown to Pharao what He is about to do. The seven beautiful kine, and the seven full ears, are seven years of plenty; the seven lean and thin kine, and the seven blasted ears, are seven years of famine. There shall come seven years of great plenty in the whole land of Egypt, after which shall follow seven other years of so great a scarcity that all the abundance before shall be forgotten; for the famine shall consume all the land, and the greatness of the scarcity shall destroy the greatness of the plenty. Now, therefore, let the king provide a wise and industrious man and make him ruler over the land of Egypt that he may appoint overseers over all the countries, and gather into barns the fifth part of the fruits during the seven fruitful years that shall now presently ensue, and let all the corn be laid up under Pharao’s hands and be reserved in the cities.”

APPLICATION. Men often take that to be a misfortune which is really the contrary. Never complain of the ways of God, but always, and in all things, submit to His holy will. Have you ever complained? Are you not cowardly and desponding under suffering? Say to yourself: “God knows what is best for me. Not my will, but Thine be done!”

Prayer: O Lord, our God, in Thy goodness and love for men forgive me all the sins I have committed today in word, deed or thought. Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep. Send Thy Guardian Angel to guard and protect me from all evil. For Thou art the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Saturday

[Gen. 41:53–42:38]

THE seven years of plenty came, as Joseph had foretold. There was great abundance everywhere. And Joseph gathered the surplus of the grain every year, and stored it up in the granaries. But, after the years of plenty, the seven years of scarcity set in, and famine prevailed in all the countries. The people of Egypt cried to the king for bread, but he answered them: “Go to Joseph, and do all that he shall say to you.”

Joseph opened all the granaries and sold to the Egyptians. Likewise the people from other countries came to Egypt to buy corn. At last the famine reached Chanaan, and Jacob, having heard that there was wheat in Egypt for sale, sent ten of his sons with money to buy food. But Benjamin, the youngest, he kept at home, fearing lest some evil might befall him on the way.

APPLICATION. If you have any pain to bear, such as toothache &c., offer it to God, and resolve to lead a better life for the future. If you are punished …, say to yourself: “It is what I deserve.” Have you not often been extravagant? Do not waste anything, and do not spend money unnecessarily…. and willingly give of your savings to the poor.

**The applications are often geared toward children so they are modified slightly as the principles apply to all

Prayer: All my hope I place in thee of Mother of God.  Keep me under thy protection.