Uncovering of the Relics of St Job of Pochaev (1651); St Moses of Ethiopia (400); Repose of Elder Joseph the Hesychast of Mt Athos (1959) (August 15 OC)

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s. ⁸For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed, ⁹that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. ¹⁰For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.” ¹¹Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

¹²For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. ¹³But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. ¹⁴For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ, ¹⁵not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence, ¹⁶so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done. ¹⁷But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

“Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; ²⁹but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” ³⁰—because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

³¹His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him. ³²A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.”

³³He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! ³⁵For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother.”