{"id":12548,"date":"2023-04-29T20:42:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-30T00:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=12548"},"modified":"2023-04-29T20:56:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T00:56:24","slug":"daily-devotional-april-30-may-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=12548","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotional April 30 – May 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday
\nLuke 7:\u00a0Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And a certain centurion\u2019s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. <\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, <\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cfor he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, \u201cLord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, \u2018Go,\u2019 and he goes; and to another, \u2018Come,\u2019 and he comes; and to my servant, \u2018Do this,\u2019 and he does it.<\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

9\u00a0<\/sup>When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, \u201cI say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!\u201d<\/span> <\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well [a<\/a>]<\/sup>who had been sick.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 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.
\n*Eastern Vesper Hymn<\/p>\n

Monday
\nNavarre commentary on the centurion…<\/p>\n

What stands out here is the centurion\u2019s humility: he did not belong to the chosen people, he was a pagan; but he makes his request through friends, with deep humility. Humility is a route to faith, whether to receive faith for the first time or to revive it. Speaking of his own conversion experience, St Augustine says that because he was not humble, he could not understand how Jesus, who was such a humble person, could be God, nor how God could teach anyone by lowering himself to the point of taking on our human condition. This was precisely why the Word, eternal Truth, became man \u2014 to demolish our pride, to encourage our love, to subdue all things and thereby be able to raise us up (cf. Confessions, VII, 18, 24).<\/p>\n

<\/a>6-7 Such is the faith and humility of the centurion that the Church, in its eucharistic liturgy, gives us his very words to express our own sentiments just before receiving holy Communion: we too should strive to have this interior disposition when Jesus enters under our roof, our soul.<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Tuesday
\nLuke 7:11\u00a0<\/sup>Now it happened, the day after, that<\/i> He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. <\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. <\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, \u201cDo not weep.\u201d<\/span> <\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him<\/i> stood still. And He said, \u201cYoung man, I say to you,<\/span> arise.\u201d<\/span> <\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.<\/span><\/p>\n

16\u00a0<\/sup>Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, \u201cA great prophet has risen up among us\u201d; and, \u201cGod has visited His people.\u201d <\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.<\/span><\/p>\n

Commentary:<\/p>\n

\u201cChrist knows he is surrounded by a crowd which will be awed by the miracle and will tell the story all over the countryside. But he does not act artificially, merely to create an effect. Quite simply he is touched by that woman\u2019s suffering and cannot but console her. So he goes up to her and says, \u2018Do not weep\u2019. It is like saying; \u2018I don\u2019t want to see you crying; I have come on earth to bring joy and peace.\u2019 And then comes the miracle, the sign of the power of Christ who is God. But first came his compassion, an evident sign of the tenderness of the heart of Christ the man\u201d (J. Escriv\u00e1, Christ is passing by, 166).<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 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.
\n*Agnus Dei<\/p>\n

Wednesday
\nLuke 7:18\u00a0<\/sup>Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. <\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And John, calling two of his disciples to him,<\/i> sent them<\/i> to [c<\/a>]<\/sup>Jesus, saying, \u201cAre You the Coming One, or [d<\/a>]<\/sup>do we look for another?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

20\u00a0<\/sup>When the men had come to Him, they said, \u201cJohn the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, \u2018Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?\u2019 \u201d <\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>And that very hour He cured many of [e<\/a>]<\/sup>infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

22\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered and said to them, \u201cGo and tell John the things you have seen and heard:<\/span> that the<\/i> blind<\/span> see, the<\/i> lame<\/span> walk, the<\/i> lepers are<\/span> cleansed, the<\/i> deaf<\/span> hear, the<\/i> dead are raised,<\/span> the<\/i> poor have the gospel preached to them.<\/span> <\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>And blessed is he<\/i> who is not<\/span> [f<\/a>]<\/sup>offended because of Me.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

24\u00a0<\/sup>When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: \u201cWhat did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?<\/span> <\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings\u2019 courts.<\/span> <\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.<\/span> <\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>This is he<\/i> of whom it is written:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u2018Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,<\/span><\/span>
\nWho will prepare Your way before You.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

28\u00a0<\/sup>For I say to you, among those born of women there is<\/span> [g<\/a>]<\/sup>not a<\/span> greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

29\u00a0<\/sup>And when all the people heard Him,<\/i> even the tax collectors [h<\/a>]<\/sup>justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. <\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>But the Pharisees and [i<\/a>]<\/sup>lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.<\/span><\/p>\n

31\u00a0<\/sup>[j<\/a>]<\/sup>And the Lord said, \u201cTo what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?<\/span> <\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u2018We played the flute for you,<\/span><\/span>
\nAnd you did not dance;<\/span><\/span>
\nWe mourned to you,<\/span><\/span>
\nAnd you did not weep.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

33\u00a0<\/sup>For<\/span> John the Baptist came<\/span> neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, \u2018He has a demon.\u2019<\/span> <\/span> 34\u00a0<\/sup>The Son of Man has come<\/span> eating and drinking, and you say, \u2018Look, a glutton and a<\/span> [k<\/a>]<\/sup>winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!\u2019<\/span> <\/span> 35\u00a0<\/sup>But wisdom is justified by all her children.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory over their enemies to Orthodox Christians, and protect Thy people with Thy Cross.<\/p>\n

Thursday
\nNavarre commentary on John’s disciples:\u00a0 …that John made this enquiry not from doubt or ignorance, but because he wished his disciples to be satisfied on this point, by Christ. Therefore, Christ gave his reply to instruct these disciples, by pointing to the evidence of his miracles.<\/p>\n

St John the Baptist is the greatest of the prophets of the Old Testament because he was the nearest to Christ and received the unique mission of actually pointing out the Messiah. Still, he belongs to the time of the promise (the Old Testament), when the work of Redemption lay in the future. Once Christ did that work (the New Testament), those who faithfully accept God\u2019s gift of grace are incomparably greater than the righteous of the Old Covenant who were given, not this grace, but only the promise of it. Once the work of Redemption was accomplished God\u2019s grace also reached the righteous of the Old Testament, who were waiting for Christ to open heaven and let them, too, enter.<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 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.
\n*Act of Hope<\/p>\n

Friday
\nLuke 7:\u00a036\u00a0<\/sup>Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee\u2019s house, and sat down to eat. <\/span> 37\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus<\/i> sat at the table in the Pharisee\u2019s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, <\/span> 38\u00a0<\/sup>and stood at His feet behind Him<\/i> weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them<\/i> with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them<\/i> with the fragrant oil. <\/span> 39\u00a0<\/sup>Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this,<\/i> he spoke to himself, saying, \u201cThis Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is<\/i> who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

40\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus answered and said to him, \u201cSimon, I have something to say to you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So he said, \u201cTeacher, say it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

41\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThere was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred<\/span> denarii, and the other fifty.<\/span> <\/span> 42\u00a0<\/sup>And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

43\u00a0<\/sup>Simon answered and said, \u201cI suppose the one<\/i> whom he forgave more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And He said to him, \u201cYou have rightly judged.\u201d<\/span> <\/span> 44\u00a0<\/sup>Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, \u201cDo you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no<\/span> water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them<\/i> with the hair of her head.<\/span> <\/span> 45\u00a0<\/sup>You gave Me no<\/span> kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.<\/span> <\/span> 46\u00a0<\/sup>You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.<\/span> <\/span> 47\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are<\/i> many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same<\/i> loves little.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

48\u00a0<\/sup>Then He said to her, \u201cYour sins are forgiven.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

49\u00a0<\/sup>And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, \u201cWho is this who even forgives sins?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

50\u00a0<\/sup>Then He said to the woman, \u201cYour faith has saved you. Go in peace.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 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.
\n*Act of Contrition<\/p>\n

Saturday
\nNavarre commentary on the sinful woman:<\/p>\n

This woman, moved no doubt by grace, was attracted by Christ\u2019s preaching and by what people were saying about him. When dining, people reclined on low divans leaning on their left arm with their legs tucked under them, away from the table. A host was expected to give his guest a kiss of greeting and offer him water for his feet, and perfumes.<\/p>\n

<\/a>41-50 In this short parable of the two debtors Christ teaches us three things \u2014 his own divinity and his power to forgive sins; the merit the woman\u2019s love deserves; and the discourtesy implied in Simeon\u2019s neglecting to receive Jesus in the conventional way. Our Lord was not interested in these social niceties as such but in the affection which they expressed: that was why he felt hurt at Simeon\u2019s neglect.<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 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)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday Luke 7:\u00a0Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2\u00a0And a certain centurion\u2019s servant, who was dear to him, was sick […]<\/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-12548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-orthodox-daily-devotional","has_no_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12548"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12551,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12548\/revisions\/12551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}