Fifth Week After Pentecost
The icon is of the Holy Martyrs, Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian (July 1st).They were brothers born in Rome, served as physicians by training, and were martyed during the reign of Emperor Carinus (283-284). They told those they healed that they had no power to heal and that all healing came from the power of Christ. They accepted no payments from thier patients and were therefore called "unmercenaries".June 29-July 5, 2009
July 1: Feast of the Holy Unmercenary Healers and Wonder-Workers, Cosmas and Damian

Matthew 12:38-45 - Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to [Jesus], "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. Then he says, `I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation." (RSV - Gospel for July 1st)

All Power Comes from Christ - The scribes and Pharisees said that the miracles preformed by Jesus were from the devils. So they challenged Him and asked for a sign, one from heaven befitting his divine power. They did not see that the miracles that Jesus accomplished – opening the eyes of the blind, raising the dead, rebuking the winds and the sea – could only be accomplished through divine power. (Adapted from Saint Cyril of Alexandria)

The Church puts this Gospel reading on the Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damien to remind us of what they said: “We have no power to heal. Believe in Christ, and by His power you will be healed.”

Scripture:

(Obtained with permission from www.byzcath.org)