Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
The Holy Martyr Basilíscos
Basiliscos was a kinsman of St. Theodore Tiro. He was tortured together with Evtropios and Cleónicos. When the latter two [Evtropios and Cleónicos] were crucified, and expired (March 3), then Basiliscos was again returned to prison. At that time, there occurred a change in the emperor's deputy so that Basiliscos remained imprisoned for a long time. With tears, Basiliscos prayed that God not deprive him of a martyr's death. After lengthy prayers, the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to him, promised to fulfill his wish and sent him to his village to bid farewell to his mother and brothers.
At that time Agrippa, a new deputy, was appointed and ordered that Basiliscos be brought from the village immediately. Enroute from the village to the town of Amaséa the Lord, through His martyr, worked a great miracle and, as a result, many people believed in Christ. Agrippa ordered the martyr to offer a sacrifice to the idol Apollyon. Basiliscos said: "Apollyon means `one who kills - the destroyer,' " and with fervent prayer turned the idol into dust and with a heavenly fire that burned the temple. The frightened Agrippa attributed this to magic and ordered Basiliscos beheaded. At that moment, Agrippa went insane and, in his madness, went to the scaffold, found a little blood of the martyr in the dust, placed it under his belt and he was healed.
Coming to his senses he was baptized. Later on, Marinus, a citizen of Comana, the place of the execution of Basiliscos, built a church over the relics of the saint where many afflicted people found healing.
SUGGESSTION
{Ed.}
Leave a brief comment below how daily reading the Epistle and Gospel, the life of the saint of the day, and the homily/guidance from writings of the saints has benefitted you.
Acts 23:1-11 KJV
23 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Saint John 16:15-23 KJV
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
PHILOKALIA
Saint Isaiah the Solitary
If some shameful thought is sown in your heart as you are sitting in your room, watch out. Resist the evil, so that it does not gain control over you. Make every effort to call God to mind, for He is looking at you, and whatever you are thinking in your heart is plainly visible to Him.
Say to your soul: 'If you are afraid of sinners like yourself seeing your sins, how much more should you be afraid of God who notes everything?'
As a result of this warning the fear of God will be revealed in your soul, and if you cleave to Him you will not be shaken by the passions: for it is written: 'They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion: he that dwells in Jerusalem shall never be shaken' (Ps. 125:1. LXX).
Whatever you are doing, remember that God sees all your thoughts, and then you will never sin.
To Him be glory through all the ages. Amen.
In Wisdom hast Thou made them all
(Ed.)
Our great God took flesh from Adam to make Eve but in a different shape. He also gave her a character and a spirit making it easy for us believe in angels. Thank you Father.
The writings of the fathers offer a great reminder of humility, which must be drilled into the intellect daily. Thank you for posting without fail.
ReplyDeleteIt struck me how in these writings...the Epistles and the homily, it was easy for those involved to get distracted by the "technicality" of what was said or done, while missing the bigger truth. There were those judging by the law while being whitewashed walls, others being concerned about what actions man may see while God accounts for everything said and done. I must remember this in my own life especially in the small acts that I may overlook during everyday life. I must say to myself "No whitewashed walls here" (though that whitewash brush seems to always be at the ready). Then be at peace that what is presented to the world may seem like a courser vessel, however God see the heart.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the man at the bottom of this post is priceless. Thankfully God does not create based on what I may think is "beautiful"...THIS is far better :)
ReplyDelete