November 21, 2022

Events of the day

• Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers

  Polyeleos rank

Fasting

No fast

No fast today.

Food rules are reference church information. Agree your personal measure of fasting with a priest; consult a doctor if you are ill.

Readings of the day

• Vespers

  Joshua 5:13–15

• Vespers

  Judges 6:2, 7, 11–24

• Vespers

  Isaiah 14:7–20

• Matins Gospel

  Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

• Epistle

  1 Thessalonians 2:20–3:8

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  ²⁰For you are our glory and our joy.

  ¹Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

  ²and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,

  ³that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

  ⁴For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

  ⁵For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

  ⁶But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you,

  ⁷for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

  ⁸For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

• Epistle · Angels

  Hebrews 2:2–10

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  ²For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

  ³how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,

  ⁴God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

  ⁵For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.

  ⁶But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?

  ⁷You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.

  ⁸You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.

  ⁹But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

  ¹⁰For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

• Gospel

  Luke 12:13–15, 22–31

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  ¹³One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

  ¹⁴But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

  ¹⁵He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

  ²²He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.

  ²³Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

  ²⁴Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

  ²⁵Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?

  ²⁶If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?

  ²⁷Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

  ²⁸But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

  ²⁹Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.

  ³⁰For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.

  ³¹But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

• Gospel · Angels

  Luke 10:16–21

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  ¹⁶Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

  ¹⁷The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

  ¹⁸He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.

  ¹⁹Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

  ²⁰Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

  ²¹In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”

Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible.

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: Morning prayer of St Macarius the Great