2 Timothy 2.20-26
(Epistle)
20Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor and some for dishonor.
21If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.
22Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.
24The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient,
25in gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,
26and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
1 Corinthians 4.9-16
(Epistle, Forefeast of Theophany)
9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.
10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
11Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
12We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
13Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.
14I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.
16I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.
Luke 19.37-44
(Gospel)
37As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,
38saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!”
39Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40He answered them, “I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.”
41When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,
42saying, “If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.
43For the days will come on you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,
44and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.”
John 1.18-28
(Gospel, Forefeast of Theophany)
18No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
19This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”
21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
25They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
26John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.
27He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”
28These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.