Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.    (John 7:37)

I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  (Ps 34:1)

All nature was confounded at the sight of You hanging on the Cross. In the heavens the sun hid its rays, the earth quaked, the veil of the Temple was torn, the rocks split, and hell gave up her dead. But we worship on the place where Your most pure Feet stood, crying: Alleluia!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  (Phil 4:6)

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that togerther you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.    (Rom 15:5-6)

Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice,  Hear me, O Lord.

"Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. "      (Matt 7:1-2)

MEMORIAL SATURDAY - "With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Your servants, where there is neither sickness nor sorrow, and no more sighing, but life everlasting."      (Kontakion Tone 8)

For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  (1 Cor 1:18-19)

In my distress I cry to the Lord that He may answer me.  Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips from a deceitful tongue.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart."   (1 Cor 1:18-19)

"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  (Luke 6:27-29)

St. John Climacus - He was the author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent containing 30 homilies on virtue.  The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a real one and and St. John encourages the faithful in their efforts because, according to the Lord, only "he who endures to the end will be saved."  (Matthew 24:13). 

Today is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery!  The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.  Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:  Hail, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!  (Troparion)

O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance.  Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians, over their adversaries; and by virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation.

Thus says the LORD : "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool; what is the house which you would build for Me, and what is the place of My rest?    All these things My hand has made, and so all these things are Mine, says the LORD.        (Isa 66:1-2)

"I call upon Thee, O LORD; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to Thee! Let my prayer be counted as incense before Thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!"    (Ps 141:1-2)