The Holy Priest-Martyr Theodotus, Bishop of Cyrenia (c. 321)
Great Fast Day 19. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read
Genesis 8:4-21
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Every time I read this particular reading from the Book of Genesis, I am reminded of the following prayer from the Order of Baptism:
“O Master, Lord God of our fathers, who didst send to them that were in the ark of Noah a dove bearing a twig of olive in its mouth as a sign of reconciliation and salvation from the Flood, and by the same didst foreshadow the mystery of grace, and Who hast provided the fruit of olive for the fulfilling of Thy Holy Mysteries…”
This prayer of blessing of the oil of gladness reminds us of today’s reading and the mercy that God shows us humans in our desire to be close with Him and in covenant relationship with Him. The prayer points to olive oil and it’s sacramental use as being essential to our life with and in Christ. For those preparing for baptism during this Great Fast, the oil of gladness will be a part of establishing this covenant relationship. For those of us who are baptized, the oil of Holy Anointing, a mystery which the faithful traditionally receive during the Great Fast or Holy Week, will help us renew our covenant relationship with God, working towards healing the wounds of sin within that relationship.
Just as the olive branch was a sign of new life and renewal, so too is the oil with which we are anointed: new life for new Christians and renewal for those already initiated.