Sunday

James 21:27 – Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the

Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural
face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso
looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he
being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall
be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious,
and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this
man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God
and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Prayer:
This is the day which the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad therein.

Monday
*more readings from Holy Week  (but most not as ‘threatening’ as the others)

Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1  – All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with Him forever. Who can
count the sand of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity? Who
can search out the height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and
wisdom? Wisdom was created before all things, and the insight of prudence
was from eternity. To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed? And
who has come to know her great deeds? There is one who is wise and is
feared exceedingly, He who sits upon His throne. The Lord Himself created
wisdom. He saw and numbered her and poured her out on all His works, in
the midst of all flesh according to His gift; and He provided her for those
who love Him. The fear of the Lord is glory and boasting, and gladness and
a crown of rejoicing. The fear of the Lord will cheer the heart and will give
gladness, joy, and long life. For those who fear the Lord, it shall be well to
the utmost, and on the day of his death, he will be blessed. The beginning of
wisdom is to fear the Lord, and she was joined with the faithful in the
womb. She constructed a foundation of life among men and will be trusted
among their seed. The gratification of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and she intoxicates
them with her fruits. She will fill every house of theirs with objects
of desire and their storehouses with her harvest. The fear of the Lord is the
crown of wisdom, making peace and soundness of health to flourish. The
Lord saw and numbered her, and poured out the power of comprehension;
and He exalted the glory of those who hold fast to her.

 

Prayer:
Blessed by the name of the Lord from henceforth and forever more.

 

Tuesday
Isaiah 5:20 … Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light
and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to
those who are intelligent in their own eyes and expert in their own sight!
Woe to your strong ones who drink wine and the mighty ones who mix intoxicating
drink, who justify the ungodly for a bribe and take away justice
from the righteous man! Therefore in the manner that stubble shall be
burned by coals of fire and consumed by a violent flame, their root shall be
like chaff and their flower shall go up like dust, for they did not will to do
the law of the Lord of hosts, but despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Thus the wrath of the Lord of hosts is furious against His people.

Prayer:
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning it is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

 

Wednesday
Wisdom of Solomon 1:1…  Love righteousness, you who judge on the earth. Think about the Lord in
goodness and seek Him with sincerity of heart; because He is found by
those who do not tempt Him, and He is manifest to those who do not disbelieve
Him. For dishonest reasoning separates people from God, and when
His power examines someone, it convicts the undiscerning; for wisdom will
not enter the soul that plots evil, nor will it dwell in a body involved in sin.
For a holy spirit of discipline flees from deceit and sends away undiscerning
reasoning; it will put wrongdoing to shame when it comes near. For wisdom
is a spirit that loves mankind, but she will punish a blasphemer because of
his words; for God is the witness of his thoughts, the true examiner of his
heart, and the hearer of his tongue; because the Spirit of the Lord fills the
world, and He who holds all things together knows what is said. Therefore
no one who speaks unrighteous things will escape notice, nor will justice,
when it cross-examines, pass him by. For there shall be a close examination
into the deliberations of an ungodly man, and a report of his words will
come to the Lord as proof of his lawlessness.

Prayer:
(Last day to say this until next Pascha/Easter!) Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowing life.
Thursday
Isaiah 40:1… “Comfort, yes, comfort My people,” says God. “O priests, speak to the
heart of Jerusalem, comfort her, for her humiliation is ended, her sin is pardoned;
for she received from the Lord’s hand double for her sins.” The
voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make
straight the paths of our God. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain
and hill humbled; the crooked places shall be made straight, and the
rough places into plains. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all
flesh shall see the salvation of God; for the Lord has spoken.”

Prayer:  Christ is ascended!  From earth to heaven!  (today is the Feast of the Ascension)

Friday
Wisdom of Sirach 1:18… The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and her branches are length of
days. Unjust anger cannot be justified, for anger’s decisive influence causes
his fall. A patient man will hold fast until the proper time, then afterwards
gladness shall burst forth for him. He shall conceal his words until the
proper time, and the lips of many will tell of his understanding. In the treasures
of wisdom are the parables of knowledge, but godliness is an abomination
to a sinner. If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the
Lord will supply it to you. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction,
and His good pleasure is faith and gentleness. Do not disobey the fear
of the Lord, and do not come to Him with a divided heart. Do not be a hypocrite
in the sight of men, and be careful with your lips. Do not exalt yourself,
lest you fall and bring dishonor to your soul. The Lord shall reveal your
secrets, and in the midst of the assembly He will strike you down, because
you did not come in the fear of the Lord and your heart was full of deceit.

Prayer:
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
From St. Patrick’s ‘Breastplate’

 

Saturday
Luke 13:23 …  Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” 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. When once the Master of the house has
risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the
door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I
do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate
and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say,
‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you
workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you
see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of
God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west,
from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed
there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Prayer:
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for they great  glory.