The Holy Martyr Charalampius (193-211).
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
2 John 1:1-13; Mark 15:22-25, 33-41.
Read 2 John 1:1-13
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
St. John expresses the importance of “abiding in the doctrine of Christ.” We know from John’s letter that even in the first century, there were “many deceivers [who] have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (2 Jn. 1:7). Jesus was truly fully God and fully man, and He gave His life for us, for the life of the world.
John the Apostle teaches us it is essential to abide in the doctrine of Christ and accept the doctrine of the Incarnation. To deny the Incarnation is to deny Christ and Who He is and what He has done for the salvation of the world. If someone does not accept Christ and His teachings, that person rejects God. Jesus Christ is God. If you accept Him and fulfill His commandments, then you love Him and His Father Who sent Him. Jesus commands us to “love one another” as He has loved us (Jn. 13:34; Jn. 15:12). John explains in today’s reading that “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments” (2 Jn. 1:6).
With all the deceivers in the world today just as there were in the first century, people do not understand how to love. We must live our lives following all that Jesus has commanded us, not out of fearful obedience to God but rather as an expression of our love and gratitude towards Him for Who He is and what He has done for us.