7th Sunday after Pentecost.
Martyr Emilian of Silistra in Bulgaria (363).
New Hieromartyrs Appolinarius (1918).
Venerable John the Long-suffering of the Kiev Caves (1160).
Venerable Pambo, recluse of the Kiev Caves (1241).
Venerable Pambo, hermit of Egypt (386).
Venerable Leontius, abbot of Karikhov (Novgorod) (1492).
"Kaluga" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1892).
St. Frederich, bishop of Utrecht (9th c.) (Neth.).
Martyr Marcel
Martyrs Dasius and Maron
Sts. Stephen, archbishop of Constantinople (928), and John the Confessor, metropolitan of Chalcedon (9th c.)
Great-martyr Athanasius of Klysma, Egypt (4th c.).
Hieromartyr Kozman (1630) (Georgia).
Saint Matthew 9:27-35 (Gospel)
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it." But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!" But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons." Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Romans 15:1-7 (Epistle)
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
Saint Theophan the Recluse - Commentary
According to your faith be it unto you, said the Lord to the two blind men, and immediately their eyes were opened. The greater the faith is, the greater is the influx of Divine power. Faith is the receiver, lips, and receptacle of grace. Just as one person’s lungs are large while another person’s are small, and the large take in more air, while the small take in less, so one person has a large degree of faith, and another a small degree, and one person’s faith receives more gifts from the Lord, and another person’s fewer. God is everywhere, encompasses everything and contains all, and loves to dwell in human souls. But He does not forcibly enter them, even though He is Almighty, but enters as if upon invitation; for He does not want to infringe upon the power which man has over himself, or infringe upon man’s right to rule his own house—a right which He has granted. Whosoever opens himself through faith, God fills, but whosoever closes himself through unbelief—God does not enter, though He is near. Lord! Add to our faith, for faith too is Thy gift. Each of us should confess: Poor and needy am I (Ps. 69:6).
+ Glory to God for All Things +
