Is Our Lamp Full?

00:00 Introduction
01:43 The parable of the ten bridemaids
04:50 Distinct hymns & gospel readings 
13:09 Jesus’ conflict with Jewish leadership
17:25 The twelve steps to humility by Saint Benedict
19:23 One - Reverence for God
20:03 Two - Doing God’s Will
22:05 Three - Obedience to Others
24:24 Four - Enduring Affliction
26:09 Five - Confession
28:27 Six - Be Content without Prestige
29:17 Seven - Interior Conviction
30:23 Eight - Fulfill Your Role
31:09 Nine - Keep Silence & Solitude
31:37 Ten - Avoid Frivolity
32:29 Eleven - Speak Modestly & Rarely
33:57 Twelve - Keep a modest posture
35:17 Icons of humility in paint & in Saint Paul’s words
38:19 Closing

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The 3 Bridegroom Orthros Services - Is Our Lamp Full?

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Reference materials for this episode: 

Rubrics of the three bridegroom services in English translation

St John Chrysostom Homily 78 on Matthew
 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200178.htm

The Rule of St Benedict, 12 steps to humility
 - https://www.regent.edu/journal/inner-resources-for-leaders/rule-of-st-benedict-12-steps-of-humility-in-leadership/


Scripture citations for this episode:

Matthew 21:18-43
 - Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
 - The Authority of Jesus Questioned
 - The Parable of the Two Sons
 - The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Matthew 22:15-23:39
 - The Question about Paying Taxes
 - The Question about the Resurrection
 - The Greatest Commandment
 - The Question about David’s Son
 - Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees
 - The Lament over Jerusalem

Matthew 25:1-13
 - parable of the ten bridesmaids

John 12:17-50
 - The crowd comes because Lazarus was raised from the dead
 - Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus
 - Jesus Speaks about His Death
 - The Unbelief of the People
 - Summary of Jesus’ Teaching (keep my commandments)

Romans 13:1-7
 - Submit to the civil authorities

Phillipians 2:1-11
 - Jesus’ humility

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In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the 3 Orthros Services known as The Bridegroom Services, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here.

These 3 services are held Sunday, Monday & Tuesday evening rather than Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday morning for reasons Jim explains in the video. In fact, all the services of Holy Week, after Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy, are shifted forward.

In this episode Jim reflects on what the gospel reading & hymns of these three services set us up to become aware of & then he goes through the 12 steps of pursuing humlity as laid out in The Rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia.

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.

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