(12) Before the Icon of Saint John the Baptist :: (12) أمام أيقونة يوحنا المعمدان

Psalm 52:8, 9

From the Psalms of our father David the prophet, may his blessings be with us all. (Amen)

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good. Alleluia.

Luke 7:28-35

A reading from the Gospel according to Saint Luke the Evangelist, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.

For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Glory be to God forever.