5th Week After Holy Cross

1 Corinthians 4:14-21
I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me. For this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ (Jesus), just as I teach them everywhere in every church. Some have become inflated with pride, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I shall ascertain not the talk of these inflated people but their power. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a gentle spirit?

Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”‘ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Prayer of the Faithful, vol. III
RAMSHO – SEDRO
Who can praise the greatness of your mercy, O Word of God,
and what voice can bless you who are above all praise?
Neither mind nor tongue can describe the marvels you have
performed on this holy day of your resurrection from
the dead.
With the psalmist David, we exclaim:
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad
and rejoice!
This is the day that has no equal;
This is the great feast, crown and jewel of all feasts.
And now, Christ our God, on this day of your resurrection from the dead,
we ask you to grant us the forgiveness of our sins and faults.
Through the fragrance of this incense (our prayers), which we offer you,
grant justice to the oppressed and comfort to the afflicted.
Bring back those far away, direct those who are near,
and guide those who travel.
Protect the priests, purify the deacons, and pardon the sinners: watch over the just, protect the orphans, and help the widows.
Drive away revolutions and extinguish troubles.
Remember those who have died in the faith and grant them
rest in your heavenly kingdom;
may we celebrate with them the feast that never ends,
and proclaim your glory and that of your Father and your holy and living Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.

Saint of the Day: Saint Hilarion of Gaza, c.291 – 371 A.D.
Convert to Christianity, studied under St. Anthony the Great of Egypt. He founded several monestaries in Palestine. He lived for a time on Mt. Sinai, in Sicily, Dalmatia, and eventually passed on to eternal life on the island of Cyprus.

Meditation:
CHAPTER I.—AUTOLYCUS AN IDOLATER AND SCORNER OF CHRISTIANS.
A fluent tongue and an elegant style afford pleasure and such praise as vainglory delights in, to wretched men who have been corrupted in mind; the lover of truth does not give heed to ornamented speeches, but examines the real matter of the speech, what it is, and what kind it is. Since, then, my friend, you have assailed me with empty words, boasting of your gods of wood and stone, hammered and cast, carved and graven, which neither see nor hear, for they are idols, and the works of men’s hands; and since, besides, you call me a Christian, as if this were a damning name to bear, I, for my part, avow that I am a Christian,525 and bear this name beloved of God, hoping to be serviceable526 to God. For it is not the case, as you suppose, that the name of God is hard to bear; but possibly you entertain this opinion of God, because you are yourself yet unserviceable to Him.
– Theophilus of Antioch, died c. 188 A.D.