6th Week of Pentecost

Acts 13:13-25
From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered (into) the synagogue and took their seats. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel (the) prophet. Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’

Matthew 16:1-4
The Pharisees and Sadducees came and, to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He said to them in reply, “(In the evening you say, ‘Tomorrow will be fair, for the sky is red’; and, in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to judge the appearance of the sky, but you cannot judge the signs of the times.) An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.

Prayer of the Faithful, vol. III: Safro – Euro
Lord God, may this our prayer be pleasing to you, and the offering of our deeds be acceptable to you. In your kindness, forgive our sins; in your compassion turn away from our faults and purify us in the waters which wash away all sins. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to you be glory for ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day: Saint Eugene (Eugenius) of Carthage (died, 505 A.D.). Bishop of Carthage, North Africa in 481. Exiled to the desert of Tripoli with many of his parishioners, by the Arian Vandals. Allowed to return in 488, but was exiled in 496 to Italy, where he passed away in 505.
Meditation “Intelligence is like a treasurer who carries on his shoulder the keys of learning, fitting a key to each locked door, opening with ease even the most difficult – skilled in what is manifest, well instructed in what is hidden, training souls and enriching creation.” St. Ephrem, Hymn XV, verse 6.