6th week of Pentecost

Acts 12:1-11
About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (It was (the) feast of Unleavened Bread.) He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that (the) Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

Matthew 15:1-9
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash (their) hands when they eat a meal.” He said to them in reply, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is dedicated to God,” need not honor his father.’ You have nullified the word of God for the sake of your tradition. Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy about you when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.'”

Prayer of the Faithful, vol. III Ramsho – First Prayer
O God, we rejoice on the feasts of your saints, above all on that of your martyrs: Abdel Moati Massabki, Francis Massabki, Raphael Massabki, whom we remember today. Help us by their prayers and allow us to imitate their holiness. With them we will praise and glorify you, for ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day: Abdel Moati Massabki, Francis Massabki, Raphael Massabki, martyred 9 July 1860. “Sheik Abdallah can take the money I lent him, he can also take my life; but my faith, no one can make me deny. I am a Maronite Christian and on the faith of Christ, I will die.” – the response of Raphael Massabki to the offer of renouncing his faith to save his life.
Meditation: On 10 July 1860, his Holiness Pope Pius IX declared them Venerable. On 10 October 1926 they were beatified. The campaign for their beatification was spearheaded by Archbishop Bechara Al Chemaly of Damascus’ letter to Pope Pius XI, noting that it would be a source of grace for the Damascus community, and could help to revive Christian life in the hearts of the Eastern faithful. On 7 October 1926, His Holiness Pius XI proclaimed the beatification of the three brothers, saying: “By the power of these lines are named Most Blessed Martyrs the servants of God: Francis, Abdel Moati, and Raphael Massabki, Maronites of Damascus. … and we hereby permit the display of their relics before all the devout, and the celebration, on their day of remembrance, of the Liturgy of the Martyrs.