The Morning Offering

Hammi, our beloved Norwegian Forest Cat

Friday

February 18, 2011 / February 5, 2011

Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. Tone five.
Fast-free Week. Fast-free

Holy Martyr Agatha of Palermo in Sicily (251).
St. Theodosius, archbishop of Chernigov (1696).
New Martyrs Matushka Agatha (1938), and with her Schemamonk Eugene (1939) and Righteous Paramon (1941), of Belorussia.
Virgin-martyr Alexandra, martyr Michael (1942).
Martyr Theodoula of Anazarbus in Cilicia, and with her Martyrs Helladius, Macarius, Boethos, and Evagrius (304).
"Eletsk-Chernigov" (1060), "Sicilian" or "Divnogorsk" (1092) and "In Search of the Perishing" (17th c.) Icons of the Mother of God.
St. Polyeuctus, patriarch of Constantinople (970) (Greek).
New Martyr Anthony of Athens (1774) (Greek).
St. Theodosius of Skopelos in Cilicia (ca. 421).
St. Avitus, bishop of Vienne (525).

Quote for the Day:

 

It is important to remember that blessings always flow "downhill" from one who has greater spiritual authority/responsibility to one who is subordinate. Thus an abbess may bless her nuns or a parent may bless their child. The direction of the flow is quite clear. It is not appropriate however to bless "uphill." It is not appropriate therefore for a a priest to bless a bishop or a layman to bless a priest (or bishop). Too often these days do we hear a layman blithely saying to the priest - "God bless you" (which is a wonderful sentiment - just a poorly chosen expression) without the thought of asking for the blessing of the priest. It would be better for to say in this situation to say something like, "Thank you/nice to see you/see you later/whatever, Your blessing father."

Archpriest David Moser                                                 

Scripture Readings for the Day:
 
1 John 2:7-17

⁷ Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. ⁸ Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
⁹ He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. ¹⁰ He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Their Spiritual State

    ¹² I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
       ¹³ I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
      I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
      I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.
       ¹⁴ I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
      I have written to you, young men,
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.

Do Not Love the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
 
Mark 14:3-9

The Anointing at Bethany

  

³ And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. ⁴ But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? ⁵ For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
⁶ But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. ⁷ For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. ⁸ She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. ⁹ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”