Table of Contents
Readings
- Vespers: Psalms 132:13 – 15 (NKJV) | Psalms 131:10 – 11 (Coptic translation) & Mark 1:23 – 31
- Matins: Psalms 85:7, 8 (NKJV) | Psalms 84:6, 7 (Coptic translation) & Matthew 15:21 – 31
Liturgy
- Pauline epistle: Romans 4:4 – 24
- Catholic epistle: 1 John 2:7 – 17
- Praxis: Acts 7:35 – 50
- Psalm & Gospel: Psalms 85:10, 11 (NKJV) | Psalms 84:9, 10 (Coptic translation) & Luke 1:39 – 56
Introduction
“By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You.” (Ps.71:6)
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Hab.3:18)
The Light has shone, from Mary, and Elizabeth, gave birth to the forerunner.
– The Monday Theotokia
A dove appeared in Zechariah’s house, When she appeared she gave peace, The barren woman came out to meet, The Mother of the Creator.
– Communion hymn of Koiahk, third week, “A dove appeared in Zachariah’s house”.
Out of the barren one comes the voice, to prepare the way. But out of you shines the Word of life upon the whole world. The morning and the evening came to meet: they kissed each other: Mary, the young lady (the morning), conceiving the Sun of Righteousness, and Elisabeth (the evening), conceiving the Star of Light. The Star was unable to kiss the Sun but was trembled by its radiance. The young lady spoke, and the old woman’s womb shuddered and was troubled. The Son of the Virgin is the Ancient of Days and is working; by the Holy Spirit the child has been anointed while being in his mother’s womb, thus giving him baptism, within the womb, before birth.
– Saint Jacob of Serugh. The Virgin as Thought by the Fathers – by Priest Benjamin Morgan, p. 203
Observations on the Readings of the Day
+ The Pauline Epistle Reading of the Day (Romans 4:4 – 24) is similar to what is read on 9 Hathor (Romans 4:13 – 5:5) which is the commemoration of Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The reading for the third Sunday of Koiahk speaks about the righteousness of God which is revealed to every human being, both those who are circumcised and uncircumcised. With respect to the reading on 9 Hathor, it talks about the greatness of faith by the addition of the verses after chapter 4, verse 24.
+ The Catholic Epistle for this Day (1 John 2:7 – 17) is repeated on 1 Thoout (which is the first day of the Coptic New Year), as well as on the second Sunday of the Month of Mesore. It also is similar to the reading of 21 Thoout (1 John 2:7 – 11) despite the difference of the number of chosen verses. That is because the Catholic Epistle of the 21st of Thoout (which is the commemoration of the martyr Saint Cyprian) took suffice in focusing about Christ, to whom be all glory, being the true light and the light of the New Testament, and the brotherly love as a sign of the work of this light within us. But as for the third Sunday of Koiahk and the second Sunday of Mesore, perhaps the reading comes on these days because of the following verse: “Because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8), as to indicate the incarnation of the Word (third Sunday of Koiahk), and the radiance of the light and the righteousness of the Son of God, for the sake of humanity that is weak (second Sunday of Mesore). As for the Catholic epistle of 1 Thoout, besides all of the above, it also talks about the gifts of Christ’s light – to whom be all glory – to the children of the New Testament, at the beginning of the Coptic year which are forgiveness of sins, victory over the evil, and knowledge of the Father.
+ The Praxis Reading of the day (Acts 7:35 – 50) is similar to that of 15 Hathor (Acts 7:44 – 8:1) which is the Martyrdom of Saint Mina, and also to that of 13 Mesore which is the Feast of Transfiguration. The addition of verses 35 to 43 which are read on the third Sunday of Koiahk, point to the symbols of the incarnation of the Word which are God’s appearance in the bush and Moses’ prophecy of the coming of Christ, to whom be glory. As for the 15th of Hathor, the reading reveals the pain and afflictions that Saint Stephen endured, and his witness to Christ – to whom be all glory – during his suffering. The reading also reveals the glory of God to His children, since during the martyrdom of Saint Stephen he saw God’s glory and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. As such, the reading is also associated with martyrdom of Saint Mina the Wonderworker, who saw the heavens opened and beheld the glory of God just before he went to confess the Christ and was martyred (15th of Hathor). With respect to the 13th of Mesore, the reading declares the glory of transfiguration, which is that the destiny of mankind is in Christ to whom be all glory (theme of the readings for Mesore 13).
+ The Liturgy Gospel of the day (Luke 1:39 – 56) is the same Liturgy Gospel for 1 Pashons which is the birthday of the Theotokos.
Explanation of the Readings
This Sunday is about the revelation of the body of the Word (which is the church of the New Testament) through His glorious incarnation. The church that has been revealed by the incarnation, joins the Jews and Gentiles together, those in heaven with those on earth; so as to show that God seeks to unite all in Him.
The Psalms
The Psalms begins with the God’s choice (Vesper Psalm), then the need of humanity (Matin Psalm), and the revelation of the mercies of God (Liturgy Psalm).
The Vesper Psalm begins with the choice of God for the ‘church of the Jews’ with the purpose of preparation for the incarnation of the Son of God in the fullness of the time: “For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place” (Ps. 132:13). That is why the Vesper Gospel is about the miracle of healing in the synagogue of the Jews. As for the Morning Psalm, it speaks about the ‘church of the Gentiles’ who received the mercies of God and that His salvation is for everyone: “Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.” (Ps. 85:7). Hence, why the Matin Gospel talks about the miracle of healing of the Gentile woman. Finally, the Liturgy Psalm confirms the how mercy from the ‘church of the Gentiles’ meets with truth from the ‘church of the Jews’. As such, the radiance coming down from heaven was spread throughout the whole earth with divine justice: “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven” (Ps. 85:10,11).
The Gospels
The Gospels are about the healing of the ‘church of the Jews’ (Vesper Gospel), the healing of the ‘church of the Gentiles’ (Matin Gospel) and the repletion of the church of the New Testament with the Holy Spirit (Liturgy Gospel).
In the Vesper Gospel, we see the healing of the ‘church of the Jews’ from the power of unclean spirits and sickness of sin: “Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit … For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him. And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee” (Mark 1:23, 27, 28).
Meanwhile, the Matin Gospel announces the healing of the ‘church of the Gentiles’ who asked for the mercies of the Son of David, despite being unworthy, yet through their humility and faith they acquired the Lord’s mercies: “And behold a woman of Canaan came saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! … But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ … And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ … ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire’” (Matt. 15: 22, 24, 27, 28).
As for the Liturgy Gospel, it reveals that which is greater than the healing of the sick and greater than the deliverance from satanic dominion, namely the purpose of the incarnation of the Son of God which is the repletion of the Holy Spirit for all of mankind. The Old Testament church is by old Elisabeth, to whom the Son of God came whilst being inside the womb of His mother, the holy Virgin, the Theotokos and she, the Theotokos, reveals the abundance and fullness of the New Testament church: “And Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit… And Mary said: ‘And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation … He has filled the hungry with good things’” (Luke 1:41, 50, 53).
The Epistles
The Epistles speak about how the church is the mother of all nations and people (Pauline Epistle), and that love and virtue are the essence of the church (Catholic Epistle), and that the church is manifested through the souls and not only by buildings (Praxis).
Through the Pauline Epistle we see the riches of grace in the New Testament church and that this grace is not given to the children of the flesh but to the children of faith. It is not just for the circumcised (i.e. Jews) but also for the uncircumcised (Gentiles). For the motherhood of the church is for everyone. “How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had … so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’)” (Rom. 4:10 – 12, 16, 17).
As for the Catholic epistle, it talks about the riches of virtue, purity and beauty of the New Testament church, through the incarnation of the Son of God. Hence the reading speaks about brotherly love which is the strongest evidence of abiding in the light. The reading also shows the strength of the children of the church and young men in their victory over the enemy of demons, through their steadfastness in the word and hatred to worldly lusts: “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him … 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 or the things in the world” (1 John 2:10, 14, 15).
Finally, the Praxis asserts that the essence of the church is not manifested in the buildings only, or in sacrifices only, but especially in the perfect obedience to the commandment. By obeying the commandment, God finds comfort (his rest) in the hearts of His children and the souls of the believers become churches for Him: “ ‘This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel’ … ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness? You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan’ … ‘However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands’ … ‘What house will you build for Me? Says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest?’ ” (Acts 7:38, 42, 43, 48, 49)
Summary of the readings
The church of New Testament, which has been established and consecrated by the Lord through His glorious incarnation, is the same as that which had been prepared through the Old Testament (Vesper Psalm & Praxis) and she includes everyone as her members (Pauline Epistle). She (the church) offers healing to all, through the work of the Son of God in her (Vesper and Morning Gospels), showing the light of the Son within her through brotherly love, and by walking in the light and resisting the lusts of the world (Catholic Epistle), thus living in continual praising, being filled with the Holy Spirit (Liturgy Gospel).