17I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
18For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;
20yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation.
21But, as it is written, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven’t heard will understand.”
22Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,
23but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,
24whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
25But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.
26For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
27Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in material things.
28When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4.9-16
(Epistle, Apostles)
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.
Matthew 12.46-13.3
(Gospel)
46While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.
47One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”
48But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
49He stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers!
50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
1On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.
2Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
3He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
Mark 3.13-19
(Gospel, Apostles)
13He went up into the mountain and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
14He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach
15and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
16Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
17James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder);
18Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;
19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Then he came into a house.
Commemorations
Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious and All-praised Twelve Apostles
Though each of the Twelve Apostles has his own Feast day, on this day they are commemorated together. Of the Twelve, only St John the Theologian died in peace; the rest met a martyr’s end. Following are their individual feast days and the manner of their end.
Roman citizens could not be crucified: crucifixion was considered a shameful death unworthy of a citizen. For this reason the Apostle Paul was ‘privileged’ to be beheaded.
Peter: June 29, January 16. Crucified upside down.
Andrew: November 30. Crucified.
James the Son of Zebedee: April 30. Beheaded.
John the Theologian: September 26, May 8. Died in peace in a wondrous way.
Philip: November 14. Crucified.
Bartholomew: June 11, August 25. Crucified, then flayed and beheaded.
Thomas: October 6. Pierced with five spears.
Matthew the Evangelist: November 16. Burned to death.
James the Son of Aphaeos: October 9. Crucified.
Thaddeus (or Jude the brother of James): June 19. Crucified.
Simon the Zealot: May 10. Crucified.
Matthias: August 9. Stoned, then beheaded with an axe when dead.