Sunday Readings
Apostolic Reading – 2 COR 11:31-33 & 12:1-9
Gospel – Luke 6:31-36
Hymns: See our Church’s website for Audio Recordings: holycrossmelkite.org/hymns
Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 2)
When You descended to death, O immortal Life, You put Hades to death by the splendor of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from below the earth, all the heavenly powers cried out to you: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!
Troparion of the Holy Cross (Tone 1)
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting peace to the world. And preserve your community by the power of your Cross.
Kondakion
O never failing Protectress of Christians and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator, despise not the petitions of us sinners, but in your goodness extend your help to us who call upon you with confidence. Hasten, O Mother of God, to intercede for us, for you have always protected those who honor you.
Prokimenon
My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my Savior.
Stichon
The Lord has chastised me through His teaching, yet He has not delivered me to death.
Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians (11:31-33 & 12:1-9)
Brethren, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, Who is blessed forever, knows that I do not lie. In Damascus, the Governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me, but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.
It is not fitting for me to boast: but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows) was caught up into paradise and heard secret sayings that man may not repeat. Of such a man I will boast; but of myself I will glory in nothing except my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I give up, lest any man have an idea of me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me. And lest the greatness of the revelation puff me up, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me. Concerning this, I begged the Lord three times that it might leave me, but He said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for strength is made perfect in weakness.” Gladly, then, will I glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may dwell in me.
Alleluia
The Lord shall hear you on the day of distress; the name of the God of Jacob shall defend you.
Stichon
O Lord, save Your king and listen to us on whatever day we call upon You.
The Holy Gospel According to St. Luke the Evangelist (6:31-36)
The Lord said, “Even as you wish men to do to you, so also do you to them. And if you love those who love you, what merit have you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what merit have you? For even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive in return, what merit have you? For even sinners lend to sinners that they may get back as much in return. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, not hoping for any return, and your reward shall be great, and you shall be children of the Most High, for He is kind towards the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, therefore, even as your Father is merciful.”