Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Sts. Eustathius the Roman General, his wife Theopistus and their two sons,
Sts. Hermione and Catherine of Alexandria, the Holy Virgins and Martyrs

Lamentations 3:22-56
II Timothy 3:10-15
Matthew 5:1-12

Lamentations 3:22-56

[22] The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
[23] they are new every morning;
great is thy faithfulness.
[24] “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
[25] The LORD is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
[26] It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
[27] It is good for a man that he bear
the yoke in his youth.
[28] Let him sit alone in silence
when he has laid it on him;
[29] let him put his mouth in the dust —
there may yet be hope;
[30] let him give his cheek to the smiter,
and be filled with insults.
[31] For the Lord will not
cast off for ever,
[32] but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
[33] for he does not willingly afflict
or grieve the sons of men.
[34] To crush under foot
all the prisoners of the earth,
[35] to turn aside the right of a man
in the presence of the Most High,
[36] to subvert a man in his cause,
the Lord does not approve.
[37] Who has commanded and it came to pass,
unless the Lord has ordained it?
[38] Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that good and evil come?
[39] Why should a living man complain,
a man, about the punishment of his sins?
[40] Let us test and examine our ways,
and return to the LORD!
[41] Let us lift up our hearts and hands
to God in heaven:
[42] “We have transgressed and rebelled,
and thou hast not forgiven.
[43] “Thou hast wrapped thyself with anger and pursued us,
slaying without pity;
[44] thou hast wrapped thyself with a cloud
so that no prayer can pass through.
[45] Thou hast made us offscouring and refuse
among the peoples.
[46] “All our enemies
rail against us;
[47] panic and pitfall have come upon us,
devastation and destruction;
[48] my eyes flow with rivers of tears
because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
[49] “My eyes will flow without ceasing,
without respite,
[50] until the LORD from heaven
looks down and sees;
[51] my eyes cause me grief
at the fate of all the maidens of my city.
[52] “I have been hunted like a bird
by those who were my enemies without cause;
[53] they flung me alive into the pit
and cast stones on me;
[54] water closed over my head;
I said, `I am lost.’
[55] “I called on thy name, O LORD,
from the depths of the pit;
[56] thou didst hear my plea, `Do not close
thine ear to my cry for help!’

II Timothy 3:10-15

[10] Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
[11] my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Ico’nium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
[12] Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
[13] while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived.
[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
[15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 5:1-12

[1] Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him.
[2] And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
[5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
[6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
[7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
[8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
[9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
[10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
[12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyright © National Council of Churches of Christ in America