Readings for 22 March 2027
9 March 2027 on the Old calendar
- ✚The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste († c.320): Cyrion, Candidus, Domnus, Hesychius, Iraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valentus, Vivian, Claudius, Priskus, Theodulus, Eutichius, John, Xanthus, Ilian, Sisinius, Angius, Aetius, Flavius, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyrill, Sakerdonus, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Seberian, Chudionus, Aglaius, and Meliton
Liturgical colour: purple
Epistle: Hebrews 12:1-10
Translation: World English Bible
1Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. 4You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin. 5You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; 6for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children. 9Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16
Translation: World English Bible
1“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’ 7“They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’ 8“When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ 9“When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. 11When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, 12saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’ 13“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? 14Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. 15Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Gospel (Matins): Luke 21:12-19
Translation: World English Bible
12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13It will turn out as a testimony for you. 14Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 16You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 17You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18And not a hair of your head will perish. 19“By your endurance you will win your lives.
Old Testament (Vespers): Genesis 3:21-4:7
Translation: Brenton's English Septuagint
21And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin, and clothed them. 22And God said, Behold, Adam is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now lest at any time he stretch forth his hand, and take of the tree of life and eat, and so he shall live for ever— 23So the Lord God sent him forth out of the garden of Delight to cultivate the ground out of which he was taken. 24And he cast out Adam and caused him to dwell over against the garden of Delight, and stationed the cherubs and the fiery sword that turns about to keep the way of the tree of life. 4:1And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and brought forth Cain and said, I have gained a man through God. 2And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And it was so after some time that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his sheep and of his fatlings, and God looked upon Abel and his gifts, 5but Cain and his sacrifices he regarded not, and Cain was exceedingly sorrowful and his countenance fell. 6And the Lord God said to Cain, Why art thou become very sorrowful and why is thy countenance fallen? 7Hast thou not sinned if thou hast brought it rightly, but not rightly divided it? be still, to thee shall be his submission, and thou shalt rule over him.
Old Testament (Vespers): Proverbs 3:34-4:22
Translation: Brenton's English Septuagint
34The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble. 35The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted their own dishonour. 4:1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2For I give you a good gift; forsake ye not my law. 3For I also was a son obedient to my father, and loved in the sight of my mother: 4who spoke and instructed me, saying, Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep our commandments, forget them not: 5and do not neglect the speech of my mouth. 6And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee. 8Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee; 9that it may give unto thy head a crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight. 10Hear, my son, and receive my words; and the years of thy life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many. 11For I teach thee the ways of wisdom; and I cause thee to go in right paths. 12For when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not be distressed. 13Take hold of my instruction; let it not go,—but keep it for thyself for thy life. 14Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors. 15In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away. 16For they cannot sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not. 17For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression. 18But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come. 19But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble. 20My son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words: 21that thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in thine heart. 22For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.