Prophet Zephaniah; Ven. Savva of Zvenigorod; Our Venerable Father John the Silent, Bishop of Colonia (558)

Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, ²how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. ³For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, ⁴begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. ⁵This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. ³³Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

³⁵“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. ³⁶Be like men watching for their lord when he returns from the wedding feast, that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. ³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them. ³⁸They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch and finds them so. ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”