(fresco, Mt. Athos), Manuel Panselinos,
c. 1290
Translation of the Epistle for the Third Sunday After Easter (I Peter 2:11-19)
Beloved: I exhort you as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from carnal desires which war against the soul. Behave yourselves honorably among the pagans; that, whereas they slander you as evildoers, they may, through observing you, by reason of your good works glorify God in the day of visitation. Be subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake; whether to the king as supreme, or to governors as sent through him for vengeance on evildoers and for the praise of the good. For such is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live as freemen, yet not using your freedom as a cloak for malice but as servants of God. Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king. Servants be subject to your masters in all fear, not only to the good and moderate, but also to the severe. This is indeed a grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. John (John 16:16-22)
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “A little while and you shall see Me no longer; and again a little while and you shall see Me, because I go to the Father.” Some of His disciples, therefore, said to one another, “What is this He says to us, ‘A little while and you shall not see Me, and again a little while and you shall see Me’; and, ‘I go to the Father’?” They kept saying therefore, “What is this little while of which He speaks? We do not know what He is saying.” But Jesus knew that they wished to ask Him, and He said to them, “You inquire about this among yourselves because I said ‘A little while and you shall not see Me, and again a little while and you shall see Me.’ Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, butyour sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman about to give birth has sorrow, because her hour has come. But when she has brought forth the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for her joy that a man is born into the world. And you therefore have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one shall take from you.”
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
~Fr. Ermatinger