Today’s epistle reading is from St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians 2:14-19.

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Although St. Paul often uses himself and his coworkers as examples of the great tribulations that Christians are bound to suffer, ultimately the greatest example that he gives is Christ. About this, St. John Chrysostom writes:

There is something more in the statement, “as they also did in Judea.” It shows that everywhere they rejoiced when they contended nobly for the faith. Paul says therefore that you also suffered the same things, and again what wonder is it if you receive the same abuse when they dared to do the same things to the Lord himself? Do you see how Paul introduces this truth as containing great consolation, and how constantly he focuses our attention on it? Upon a close examination, one may find it nearly in all his letters, how variously, upon all occasions of temptation, Paul brings forward Christ. Observe accordingly that here also, when accusing the Jews, Paul puts them in the mind of the Lord and of the sufferings of the Lord. Well does he know that this is a matter of the greatest consolation.

Today’s gospel reading is from Luke 13:31-35.

On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

About today’s gospel reading, St. Cyril of Alexandria writes:

You see that he declares his intention of performing what he knew would grieve the troop of Pharisees. So they drive him from Jerusalem, fearing that by the display of miracles he will win many to faith in himself. But inasmuch as their purpose there did not escape him, since he was God, he declares his intention of performing what they hated, and says that he shall also rebuke unclean spirits and deliver the sick from their sufferings and be perfected. This means that of his own will he will endure the passion on the cross for the salvation of the world. He knew therefore, as it appears, both how and when he would endure death in the flesh.

Let us seek to be profitable servants of the Master so that we may present to him the fruits of what he deposited in us. Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.