5However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
7Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
8Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.
9Let’s not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.
10Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.
11Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
12Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.
Matthew 16.6-12
(Gospel)
6Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?
9Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up,
10or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Commemorations
Prophet Micah
Read his prophecies (which include the prophecy that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2) in the Old Testament book that bears his name. He was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Hosea, and is ranked sixth among the “minor” prophets. It was he who prophesied that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. (This is a different Micah from the one mentioned in 1 Chronicles 22:8, who lived earlier). Micah was buried in his home village of Morasth in the land of Judah; his holy relics were found along with those of the prophet Habbakuk during the reign of St Theodosius the Great — their location was given by a revelation to Zebennus, Bishop of Eleutheropolis.
Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea (389)
He was born to an eminent family in Cyprus, and was well-educated. He was married and had children, but when his wife died he left his family to live as a monk in Syria. There he became known and loved for his learning, humility and kindness to all, and the people of Apamea chose him as their bishop. As bishop, he worked with evangelical fervor to bring the mostly-pagan people to Christ. When a pagan temple was burned down, some pagans blamed Marcellus, seized him, and threw him into the fire, where he perished.