The Third Sunday of the Blessed Month of Paope

Readings

Vespers: Psalm 71:5-7 & Mark 4:35-41
Matins: Psalm 57:8-10 & Luke 24:1-12

Liturgy

Pauline epistle: 1 Corinthians 16:12-24
Catholic epistle: James 4:7-17
Praxis: Acts 15:4-12
Psalm & Gospel: Psalm 71:7-8 & Matthew 12:22-28

Introduction

“Then the Angel Raphael said to him: ‘Listen to me, and I will reveal to you who they are, over whom the demon can prevail.’” (Tobit 6:16).

“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” (Romans 16:20).

[Yea, Lord! O Lord, who have given us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and on all the powers of the enemy: crush his heads under our feet shortly. Let all his evil thoughts that are resistant to ours be scattered and pushed away from us. For You are the King over us all, O Christ our Lord.] (First Absolution for the Conclusion of raising Incense for the Vesper and Morning – Gregorian Liturgy).

[Well said He, “The kingdom of heaven has come upon you.” Meaning: As I have become a Man like you, and could have cast out demons by the Spirit of God, so all humanity turned to be rich through Me in the kingdom of heaven; receiving glory for casting out devils and rebuking the evil spirits.] (Pope Cyril the Great).

[Thereby He has revealed the existence of the kingly authority of the Holy Spirit (the finger of God). So also, and because the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, then we have become as kingly dwelling vessels. Therefore says He in another place, “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21).] (Saint Ambrose – Commentary on Matthew, Chapter 12 – Priest Tadros Ya’qoob Malati).

Observations on the Readings of the Day

The Catholic Epistle Reading of this Day – (James 4:7 – 17) – is somewhat like that of (James 4:7 – 5:1 – 5) – for the fourth Sunday of Mesore.

This Day’s Reading talks about the stumbling-blocks set against prevalence over the devil: such as judgment, backbiting, and grumbling against the brethren; whereas that of the fourth Sunday of Mesore, and through the added verses indicate “the last days” (James 5:3).

The Praxis Reading of this Day (Acts 15:4 – 12) is similar to that of (Acts 15:6 – 12) for Hathor 24. On this Day, and through the added verses (4 – 5), it comes to show the Jews’ opposition against the Gentiles who were received without being Judaized first. Meanwhile, for Hathor 24 (the commemoration of the 24 Priests) – it signifies the message of priesthood: declaring the salvation of the peoples by the work of the divine grace.

Explanation of the Readings

The Readings of this Sunday are focused upon the Son of God “the triumphant”, who is ever deterring the powers of darkness with all their works and authorities.

To begin, the Psalms come to give glory to God in all nations (Morning Psalm), with the whole entity of Man (Liturgy one), along the stages of life (that of the Vesper).

Through the Vesper Psalm the soul is to perceive the power of its God and Savior: hence it puts all hope and trust in Him:

“For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.” (Psalms 71:5)

Then this perception, in the Morning Psalm, turns to be an act, resurrection, confession, and upholding His great name among the nations and peoples:

“I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens”. (Psalms 57:8-10)

Therefore, through the Liturgy Psalm, the glory of God over the human being in all and at all times is revealed:

“Let my mouth – my whole entity – be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day; – for – You have done great things”. (Psalms 71:8)

The Vesper Gospel shows the power and authority of the Prevalent over nature and over the Universe, who quenches the fears of His children:

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”(Mark 4:39). The wind symbolizes the devil; and the sea, the world.

“But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? That even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” (Mark 4:40-41)

Liturgy Readings

These Readings speak about the clues of prevalence and victory (Pauline Epistle), their stumbling-blocks, (Catholic Epistle), and their power to bring forth strange peoples (Praxis).

Now the Pauline Epistle encourages all human souls to have the keys of prevalence and victory, which are: watchfulness, steadfastness in the faith, and love:

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love… Greet one another with a holy kiss… If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, 20, 22)

At the same time, the catholic epistle warns of the hindrances set against prevalence and victory: rejecting repentance, evil speaking of one another, false boasting of the pride of life, and keeping away from ministration:

“Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded… Do not speak evil of one another, brethren… lest you be condemned… Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:8, 11, 15-17)

As for Praxis, it shows the prevalence of the church, with her roominess and liberality to receive new members of various nationalities; yet not sufficed with those who are inside the barn only, but also looking forward to them who are out of her:

“’Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them… But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.’” (Acts 15:7-9, 11)

So the Liturgy Gospel concludes, saying that the power of the Son of God over demons is absolute and unlimited. For when Satan robbed Man of the most prominent three powers or gifts of his: reason, sight and utterance, the Son of God came to restore them. He even did and does give His children that prevalence over the devil, in order to liberate others:

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw… ‘And If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.’” (Matthew 12:22, 27-28)

Summary of the readings

So, prevalence and victory come through the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus, to whom be all glory (Liturgy Gospel).

Not only has He the authority over the devil, but over nature as well (Morning Gospel).

Yet, for us to acknowledge such prevalence in our life we are in need of vigilance, love, and steadfastness in the faith (Pauline Epistle).

Also, we must be careful not to remain unrepentant, to avoid speaking evil of one another, and to guard against the pride of life (Catholic Epistle),

Also, we are to beware of our limitations, so as not to restrict the reception of others (Praxis).