Prophet Haggai; Holy Empress and Wonderworker Theophano (893); Modestos, Archbishop of Jerusalem

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us. ⁷For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, ⁸neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. ⁹This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.” ¹¹For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies. ¹²Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

¹³But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right. ¹⁴If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter. This is how I write. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”

³⁴But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on the way about who was the greatest.

³⁵He sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” ³⁶He took a little child and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷“Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

³⁸John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”

³⁹But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰For whoever is not against us is on our side. ⁴¹For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.