Forefeast of the Conception by St Anna of the Theotokos

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.

Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet. ³⁸All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

¹Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. ²The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.

³Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve. ⁴He went away and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. ⁵They were glad, and agreed to give him money. ⁶He consented and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.

⁷The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed. ⁸Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”