Festival of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor
Posted on February 9, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 13:22-30 (NKJV)
13:22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”
Devotion
Chilling words are these from Jesus: “I do not know you, where you are from.”
Do you claim that you have come to faith in Jesus by your own efforts? This is hardly possible. Your works, done without faith in Christ, are only sinful. Where are you from? Is your heart ruled by the devil, the world, and your flesh? If so, then Jesus does not know you. Or is your heart contrite and soft, concerned with your sin? Do you confess your sins and receive Christ’s absolution through your God-sent pastor? Do you remember your Baptism? Do you believe that Christ is present in His Body and Blood at His Holy Table?
Is your only hope for forgiveness and everlasting life based on your faith in your Savior Jesus Christ? That is how He knows you! And since He knows you, He will save you through your faith in Him. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. You believe God in Christ and it will be credited to you as righteousness.
Prayer: O God, Who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thy Only-begotten Son, hast confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the fathers, and Who, in the voice that came from the bright cloud, didst in a wonderful manner foreshow the adoption of sons: Mercifully vouchsafe to make us coheirs with the King of His glory, and bring us to the enjoyment of the same; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
Collect for the Festival of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor
O God, who didst give St. Cyril as a faithful teacher of the saving truth in a time of great trial, grant to Thy people zeal for Thy Word and faithful teachers for Thy Church, that they may stand steadfast against all errors, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
