Holy Hieromartyr Lucian, Presbyter of the Church of Antioch (312); Ven. Euthymius the New of Thessalonica; Savinos the Bishop of Catania

For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia: that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. ⁹Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver, on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us, ¹¹you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.

Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands. ²But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?”

³Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, ⁴how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?” ⁵He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

⁶It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. ⁷The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. ⁸But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood. ⁹Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” ¹⁰He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other.