The Third Sunday of the Blessed Month of Hathor

Readings

Vespers: Psalm 86:2 – 4 & Matthew 11:25 – 30
Matins: Psalm 113:3 – 4 & Luke 24:1 – 12

Liturgy

Pauline epistle: 2 Thessalonians 1:1 – 12
Catholic epistle: 1 Peter 4:3 – 11
Praxis: Acts 5:30 – 42
Psalm & Gospel: Psalms 86:15 – 16 & Luke 14:25 – 35

Introduction

“Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.” (Prov.24:27).

[Blessed is the man who forsakes this life, and its vain pleasures, that are full of suffering, that kills the soul. And he who carries his Cross day after day, and keeps his mind and heart, on the name of salvation, of our Lord Jesus Christ.] (Friday Psali).

[Blessed is he who has forgotten the discourse of the world by his talk with You; for by You, all his needs are to be satisfied. You are his food and his drink…! The Spirit of Your Son have You given into his heart; that Spirit by whom he has got the privilege to ask of You all that is Yours, just as a son does ask his father! With You is his talk at all times; for he does not know any Father other than You!] (Spiritual Sheikh – Commentary on the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 55 – Priest Tadros Ya’qoob Malati).

Observations on the Readings of the Day

The Vesper Gospel Reading of the Day (Matt.11:25 – 30) is the same Vesper Gospel Reading for Hathor 24 (Commemoration of the Twenty-four Priests), and for Pashons 10 (Commemoration of the Three Young Men, the saints).

Here the Reading is to signify the enlightenment of the children of God through the Spirit, and their following Christ to whom be glory, who Himself bears the burden of their troubles, whereas they bear His yoke. However, it is read on the 24th of Hathor to show the substance of the message of priesthood: which is, revealing the dispensation of the Trinity (Verse 27), comforting those who labor, in Christ (Verse 28), and bearing the yoke of priesthood in meekness and lowliness of heart (Verses 29, 30). Yet, on the 10th of Pashons it comes for the revelation of the heavenly wisdom to babes rather than to the wise and prudent men of the world; which had been revealed by the three young men, but by none of the wise men of Babylon.

The Catholic Epistle Reading of the Day (1 Peter 4:3 – 11) is similar to that of (1 Peter 4:1 – 11) for the Days of Hathor 25, Paremhotep 13, and Parmoute 23.

For the third Sunday of Hathor, the Reading points at walking in the Spirit; the theme of the Readings.

The first two verses (1, 2) both speak about being armed with the passions of Christ to whom be glory. So it [the Reading] comes in commemorations of the martyrs who were known by their enduring sufferings, and by their military positions: as if the passions of the Christ to whom be glory – were their weapons –those like Abou Seifain (Hathor 25), Saint George (Parmoute 23), and the Forty Martyrs of the City of Sebaste (Paremhotep 13).

The Praxis Reading of the Day (Acts 5:30 – 42) is similar to that of (Acts 5:34 – 42) for Mesore 29 (martyrdom of Athanasius the Bishop).

This Day’s Reading talks about the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who obey God. But for the 29th of Mesore, the Reading speaks about passions of the preaching of pastors.

The Liturgy Gospel of the Day (Luke 14:25 – 35) is the same as that of the Liturgy of the 19th of Thoout (the Third Day of the Feast of the Cross), and of the Liturgy of the 3rd of Mesore (departure of Saint Simon Stylites).

The first Reading talks about the accounting of the cost, and about discipleship: (theme of the Readings for the Month of Hathor – for the third Sunday in particular). But the second one (Thoout 19) speaks about bearing the cross. Then the third (Mesore 3), through the Vesper and Liturgy Psalms and Gospels, talks about the tower and the rock. It is that which is related to the autobiography of Saint Simon Stylites (Synaxarion of Mesore 3).

Explanation of the Readings

This Sunday talks about the guidance of the Spirit and His enlightenment given to those who love God. For, having drunk of, and been satisfied with the water of the Holy Spirit on the first Sunday, and having been fruitful by the Spirit for lifelong on the second one – the human being turned to be perfectly led by the Spirit of God for the rest of his life; thus turning also to know the mysteries of God which will never be understood by the mind of the world or of those living with it.

To begin come the Psalms to reveal the guidance of the Spirit: by the continual trust in Him (Vesper Psalm), ever praising (Morning one), and testifying salvation (that of the Liturgy).

So the Vesper Psalm begins with the mystery of the grace that overshadows the Christian’s life: that is, trust in God, and continual need of Him at all times:

“You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long.” (Ps. 86:2-3)

Then, the morning Psalm tells of those who bless God for all their lifetimes: for the sun’s going down is a symbol of the end of the age:

“From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.” (Ps. 113:3)

Therefore the Liturgy Psalm asks honor and salvation from His abundant mercies:

“But You, O Lord are… Longsuffering and abundant in mercies…” (Ps. 86:15)

The Vesper Gospel begins with the divine revelation and the free enlightenment given to the children of The New Testament; which will never be known whether by the mind of the world or its philosophies:

“’I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes… All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matt. 11:25, 27)

As for the Liturgy Readings, they reveal the features of those who are guided by the Spirit (Pauline Epistle), their watchfulness in prayers (Catholicon), and God’s help and support for them (Praxis).

The Pauline Epistle shows the features of those led by the Spirit of God:

“Because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other… and your… tribulations that you endure.” (2 Thess. 1:3, 4) The apostle also prays for the Thessalonian believers that they may have perfectness of the revelation and understanding of God’s meanings:

“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power.” (2 Thess. 1:11)

Also, the Catholic Epistle shows that the riches is that of those who live according to the spirit and not according to the flesh:

“But live according to God in the spirit… therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another… Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Pet. 4:6-10)

However, the Praxis explains the difference between the ministers of the Spirit and those who seduce the people; and that the gift of the Spirit is related to obedience to Him, does never cease calling and preaching the name of Christ, and is not to be stopped by any resistance, whatever it might be:

“‘And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him’… if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it… So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (Acts 5:32,38-39,41-42)

Therefore the Liturgy Gospel makes a comparison between those who are perfectly led by the Spirit, and others who stopped in the middle of the way; those whose love to God exceeded all humanly love, having even joyfully received bearing the cross, and others who counted it a great thing to have some material or worldly or emotional loss:

“’If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple… whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.’” (Luk. 14:26-27, 33)

So also He forewarns lest salt should corrupt our life and obedience:

“’Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?’” (Luk. 14:34)

Summary of the readings

Thus the Christian shows that he is being led by the Spirit of God through the degree of his trust in Him, his praise, and need of salvation (Vesper, Morning, and Liturgy Psalms).

So by the Spirit he is given the mysteries of heaven (Morning Gospel), for his love to God that is above all humanly love (Liturgy Gospel).

Also, the church that is led by the Spirit of God reveals herself through her members’ fervent love to one another, through the growth of their faith, and their watchfulness (Pauline Epistle – Catholicon),