Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils
Fast-Free Day
Gospel Reading
John 17:1-13
¹ Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; ² even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. ⁴ I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. ⁵ Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. ⁶ I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. ⁷ Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, ⁸ for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. ¹² While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
Epistle Reading
Hebrews 13:7-16
⁷ Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate. ¹³ Let us therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴ For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come. ¹⁵ Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name. ¹⁶ But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.