The Holy Forty-Two Martyrs of Ammorium (848)
Great Fast Day 23. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 25:1-9
Vespers – Genesis 9:8-17; Proverbs 12:8-22
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
“I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.” These are the words used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his speech unveiling the economic strategies of “The New Deal” for ending the Great Depression. In Genesis today we see not simply a “new deal” between God and His people, but a covenant made with Noah, which will grow throughout salvation history and ultimately be fulfilled by our Lord. We read that humanity had become so corrupt that a new creation was initiated by God, this time with the help of a righteous man and his family. God placed His rainbow in the sky as a sign of remembrance.
What we often fail to see in this passage is the military language. The word used here is the same one used for the bow as a military weapon. God is laying down his weapon and making peace with humanity once again. A new beginning and a new peace, but one only achieved through war with evil.
We have reflected in our other readings that Great Lent is a time of new beginnings. It is also a time of warfare against the passions which leads to what all just war should be trying to achieve- peace. As we continue our Lenten struggles in this second half of the journey, let us continue to strive for the Lord’s peace which will only be achieved through our commitment to His covenant!