Saturday in the Second Week of Lent
(Soul Saturday)

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.
Hebrews §309 (3:12-16).
Brethren: Take heed, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God. But exhort one another every day, whilst it is called today, that none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ: yet so, if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the end. While it is said, Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in that provocation. For some who heard did provoke: but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

I Corinthians §163 (15:47-57).
Brethren: The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven, heavenly. Such as is the earthly, such also are the earthly: and such as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly. Therefore as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot possess the kingdom of God: neither shall corruption possess incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all indeed rise again: but we shall not all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise again incorruptible: and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption; and this mortal must put on immortality. And when this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? Now the sting of death is sin: and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark.
Saint Mark §6 (1:35-44).
At that time: Jesus went into a desert place: and there He prayed. And Simon, and they that were with Him, followed after Him. And when they had found Him, they said to Him: All seek for Thee. And He saith to them: Let us go into the neighbouring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am I come. And He was preaching in their synagogues, and in all Galilee, and casting out devils. And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down said to Him: If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus having compassion on him, stretched forth His hand; and touching him, saith to him: I will. Be thou made clean. And when He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. And He strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away. And He saith to him: See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the high priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.

Saint John §16 (5:24-30).
The Lord said unto the Jews that came unto Him: Amen, amen I say unto you, that he who heareth My word, and believeth Him that sent Me, hath life everlasting; and cometh not into judgment, but is passed from death to life. Amen, amen I say unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself, so He hath given the Son also to have life in Himself: and He hath given Him power to do judgment, because He is the Son of man. Wonder not at this; for the hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. I cannot of Myself do any thing. As I hear, so I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.