Two Trees [17 July 2024]

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal. Have Mercy On Us. (3x) Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Good morning, and Praise the Lord! Today is Wednesday July 17, 2024. Today we celebrate Marina the Great Martyr of Antioch.

All holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, forgive us our sins; Master pardon our transgressions; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy (3x)

Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5

Mark 5:24-34

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, present everywhere and filling all things. Treasury of blessings and giver of life. Come and abide in us, and save our souls, gracious Lord.

A man went into the forest to choose a tree from which to make roof-beams. And he saw two trees, one beside the other. One was smooth and tall, but had rotted away inside, and the other was rough on the outside and ugly, but its core was healthy. 

The man sighed, and said to himself: “What use is this tree to me if it is rotten inside and useless for beams? The other it is rough and ugly, is at least healthy on the inside and so, if I put a bit more effort into it, I can use it for roof-beams for my house.” And, without thinking any more about it, he chose that tree.

So will God choose between two men for His house, and will choose not the one who appears outwardly righteous, but the one whose heart is filled with God’s healthy righteousness.

-St. Nikolai Velimirovic – The Gospel on True and False Prayer

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.

{{gmptl}}