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In the Gospel reading today, a woman who has been bowed down with an infirmity for eighteen years is healed on the Sabbath Day by Jesus in a synagogue where is he preaching. The ruler of the synagogue gives vent to his indignation at the day of rest being violated by this work of mercy. Jesus, to the shame of his adversaries and the joy of the people, answers that, if no one thinks anything of loosening his ox or his ass to take it to water on the Sabbath, then there is much stronger reason to release a daughter of Abraham on this day.

In today’s Epistle reading, Saint Paul exhorts Christians to “put on the whole armor of Christ,” making a long comparison between the objects that comprised a Roman soldier’s armor and those gifts which constitute the spiritual armor of a Christian.

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The following readings below are for Sunday, November 28, 2021:

Today's Epistle reading [Ephesians 6.1-17]:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ; not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

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The Gospel reading for today [Luke 13.10-17]:

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.

And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."

And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God.

But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."

Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it?

And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"

As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.