Repose of Our Venerable Father Constantine the Philosopher, in the Monastic Life, Cyril, Teacher of the Slavs (869); First Saturday of the Great Fast.
Great Fast Day 6. Feast of St. Cyril transferred from February 14.
Read
Galatians 5:22-6:2; Hebrews 1:1-12
Matthew 11:27-29; Mark 2:23-3:5
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
As we complete the first week of Great Lent we encounter the first of a series of what are called catechetical gospel passages from the Gospel of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark. The period of Great Lent, the weeks preceding Pascha, has been throughout the Church’s history the traditional time of preparation for Holy Baptism. It is during this time that traditionally those preparing to receive the holy mysteries of Baptism, Chrismation, and Eucharist, the catechumens, are instructed in the faith. This is why in the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which we serve on the Sundays of Great Lent, we pray the Litany of the Catechumens through which we seek intercession from God for those preparing to enter the Church by the reception of these mysteries. The Gospel of Mark has been adopted by the Church during Great Lent as the catechetical Gospel; its passages having been selected for their ability to impart the truths of the catholic faith.
In today’s Gospel reading the Pharisees challenge Our Lord and His apostles’ observance of the Sabbath, arguing that by plucking and eating heads of grain and by Christ healing on the Sabbath they are violating the prohibition of work on the Sabbath. Our Lord rebukes them by pointing out that the Sabbath was made for man, so that he might truly worship and come to love the Lord God, and not man for the Sabbath. Our Lord restores the true meaning of the Sabbath and furthermore by doing the work of God on the Sabbath, healing the man with the withered hand, He affirms that He the Christ, the Son of Man, is Lord of the Sabbath. In this he reveals to us the true meaning of not only Sabbath observance but also the fullness of the covenant. Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ comes to fulfill the covenant and to draw all peoples to Himself. In fulfilling the covenant He brings salvation and healing to all.
May we all be nourished by the Word of God and so be strengthened in our observance of the Fast.