Ven. Hilarion the Great; Holy New Martyr John of Monembasia (1773); Martyrs Theodote and Socrates

Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. ⁹As it is written, “He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.”

¹⁰Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, ¹¹you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.”

⁵⁰Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”

⁵¹It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem ⁵²and sent messengers before his face. They went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. ⁵³They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”

⁵⁵But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are.

⁵⁶For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village.