Synaxarion.
On July 31, we commemorate Saint Joseph of Aremathea, who buried Christ the Master, reposed in peace.
On this day Saint Evdokimos the righteous of Cappadocia, Military Commander of Cappadocia (9th century)
On this day twelve holy Martyrs of Rome died by the sword.
On this day we commemorate the consecration of the venerable house of our most holy Lady Theotokos, which is in Blachernae, and where her holy Shrine is located.
Also, it is the forefeast of the precious and life-giving Cross, namely when it is brought out of the imperial Palace into the city.
Saint Germanus of Auxerre, Bishop of Auxerre in Gaul (448)
Saint Calimerius, a Greek who became Bishop of Milan in Italy, Apostle of the Po Valley (c. 190)
Saint John the Exarch of Bulgaria (c. 917-927)
Saint Arsenius Bishop of Ninotsminda in Georgia (1082)
Translation of the relics of Apostle Philip to Cyprus.
Seventh Sunday of Matthew
Healing of the Two Blind Men (Matthew 9:27-35)
On healing (Ματθ. 9, 27-35)
Anthony Bloom Metropolitan of Sourozh
Sunday 22 July 1990
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
In today’s Gospel we hear about two occasions on which Christ healed the sick. And we may ask ourselves, ‘Why didn’t He heal everyone who was in need of healing?’
Because — this is how I read it — because it is not only the healing of the body that was involved in the miraculous act of God; those were healed in their bodies who were ready, mature to be made whole and not only free from physical illness, who were prepared and capable for being given a wholeness that at the same time made them responsible for the gift of health. The natural life which they have had before was wane; illness was undermining all that nature has given them; the end was death, and here, they met the Living God. The Living God Who had by His word of power, but also by His act of love called them into the existence. And they were prepared, they were inwardly ready to receive a new life. The natural life had come to an end, or was coming to an end, and now, a new life was offered, a life which was a gift of God, and a gift of God that entailed a completely new relationship between them and God, between them and all the surrounding world; a new relationship with themselves, a new attitude to themselves. Those who were healed were prepared to receive new life, for the second time, as it were, to be born by the power of God.
I believe, it is everyone who longed not only for physical healing, not only for a new strength to continue to live according to nature that could be healed. The Lord asks from them two questions; the one which we hear in today’s Gospel, and the other one which we hear more than once in other passages. Today we have heard this question, ‘Can you believe, do you believe? Do you believe that My compassion extends to you? Do you believe that I can heal you because you have seen in Me Who I am: the Living God become a living Man? Do you believe that you can be made whole, not only temporarily repaired, but given the wholeness of eternal life now? If you do, however little — you can. ‘I believe, Lord, help my unbelief, my lack of belief!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you can believe however little — it is possible’.
And the other question was, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ It seems to us such a strange question: who doesn’t?.. Yes, if it was only a matter of being restored to physical health it would be simple; everyone would say ‘yes’. But it is wholeness that is at stake; and wholeness means to become a human being in perfect harmony with God, in harmony with one’s neighbour, with the created world, restructured inwardly as to be whole.
And this, it is not everyone of us who wishes, because the cost, if we think of it, is great; to accept this wholeness, we must accept a life that would be in the image of the life of Christ: to be among men as He was, with no thought of Himself, ready to accept all humiliation, ready to accept all suffering, all rejection, and humiliate no one, protect oneself against no suffering and reject no one; to receive all brothers without exception as Christ receives us. And who of us can claim that he is worthy of being received, of being recognised by Christ, by God in Him, as His brother or sister?
Let us therefore ask ourselves: Can we answer these two questions? Can I say to the Lord, ‘I believe, Lord — help my lack of belief, my inner hesitation born of the experience I have of a broken personality and of a distorted world. Help me believe that wholeness and harmony a r e possible!’
But also, let us ask ourselves whether we are prepared to accept new life, wholeness on God’s own terms: to remain in this world as Christ lived in it, possessed of sacrificial love, renouncing ourselves, caring only for the other person’s salvation, and every other person’s life. If we are, then we turn to God and say, I believe, Lord; I open myself to wholeness: I may not achieve it at once, but I will struggle for it, give all m y life for it, and serve everyone possessed of Thine Own sacrificial love. Amen.
http://mitras.ru/eng/eng_27.htm
***
St Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre
While the two bishops were on the island, the Britons were being harassed by Picts and Saxons. The Britons invited the two bishops to their camp, hoping that their prayers and presence would help them. While agreeing, Germanus and Lupus spent their time bringing the pagans to Christ and the Christians to reforming their lives. At Pascha, many catechumens were received into the Church. After the Pascha, Germanus, not forgetting his old profession as a general, made recourse to a strategy to save his faithful from the advancing Saxons. He led his small army to a valley between two mountains, and there, directed his men to shout forth with the same call they had made during the Paschal feast. As the Saxons approached them, Bp. Germanus cried out three times “Alleluiah” which was repeated by the whole Briton force. The sound reverberated from hills with a dreaded sound of falling rocks, causing the barbarians, in fright, to flee leaving all their arms and baggage behind.
My spirit required eternal life, and eternity. Lord, strengthen the faith in us and have mercy on us. St. Sophrony the Anthonite
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2021/07/30/my-spirit-required-eternal-life-and-eternity-lord-strengthen-the-faith-in-us-and-have-mercy-on-us-st-sophrony-the-anthonite/
St Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre discerned a special divine purpose for St. Geneviève of Paris
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2016/07/30/st-germanus-the-bishop-of-auxerre-discerned-a-special-divine-purpose-for-st-genevieve-of-paris/
Resurrectional Apolytikion.
Mode pl. 2.
When the angelic powers appeared at Your grave, the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. And standing by the sepulcher was Mary who was seeking Your immaculate body. You devastated Hades, not afflicted by it. You went to meet the virgin, and granted eternal life. You resurrected from the dead. O Lord, glory to You.
Troparion of the Forefeast, Tone 1.
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant Thou unto Orthodox Christians victories over adversaries, and by Thy Cross preserve Thy people.
Troparion of St Joseph of Arimathea ― Tone 2
Noble Joseph took Thine immaculate Body down from the tree,/ wrapped It in a clean shroud and spices,/ and having embalmed It, laid It in a new sepulcher./ But on the third day Thou didst rise, O Lord,/ granting the world great mercy.
Apolytikion of St Germanus of Auxerre ― Plagal Tone 4
By endurance you gained your reward, venerable Father, you persevered in prayer unceasingly, you loved the poor and provided for them in all things. Blessed Germanus of Auxerre, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion of St Eudocimus, Tone 4.
He who did call thee from earth unto heaven keepeth thy body unharmed after death, holy Eudocimus; for thou didst live a sober and holy life and didst not defile thy flesh; so with boldness intercede with Christ that we may be saved.
Kontakion. Grave Mode.
Upon the mountain were You transfigured, and Your disciples beheld Your glory as far as they were able, O Christ our God; so that when they would see You crucified they might understand that Your Passion was deliberate, and declare to the world that in truth You are the Father’s radiance.
The Gospel according to Matthew 9:27-35
At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marvelled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
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