St Abercius, Equal-to-the-Apostles; Venerable Lot of Egypt (5th c.); Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²²But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. ²³But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. ²⁴Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. ²⁵Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

²⁷Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

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.