WEDNESDAY OF PENTECOST WEEK

The reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans
(1:18-27).

Brethren: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all

ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness
suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to
them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of
the world His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and
Deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.
So they are without excuse; for although they knew God they did
not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile
in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of
the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or
animals or reptiles.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to
the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they
exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever!
Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their
women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men
likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed
with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with
men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their
error.
 WEDNESDAY OF PENTECOST WEEK

The reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew

(5:20-26).

The Lord said to His disciples: “Unless your righteousness exceeds

that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter the kingdom
of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill;
and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that
every one who is angry with his brother without cause shall be
liable to judgment; whoever says, ‘Raca,’ to his brother shall be
liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to
the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave your
gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your
accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser
hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be
put in prison; truly, I say to you, you shall never get out till you
have paid the last penny.”