Ven. Xenophon, Mary, and their sons Arcadius and John; St Ammonas of Egypt, disciple of St Anthony the Great (350); Our Holy Mother Paula of Rome (404)

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, ¹⁸to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” ¹⁹concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

²⁰By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

²¹By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

²²By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

²³By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

²⁴By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, ²⁶considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. ²⁷By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. ²⁸By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

²⁹By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

³⁰By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

³¹By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

“Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. ⁴³If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁵If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched— ⁴⁶‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁷If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, ⁴⁸‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁹For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. ⁵⁰Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

¹He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them.