Our Venerable Father and Confessor Theophilactus, Bishop of Nicomedia (c. 845)
Great Fast Day 25. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 28:14-22
Vespers – Genesis 10:32-11:9; Proverbs 13:19-14:6
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
For the first half of the Great Fast we have been recognizing and reflecting not only the original fall of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from Paradise, but also our own falls and sins, and consequent separation from God. The Cross is put before us during this present week of mid-Lent. The Cross is the remedy to the expulsion from Paradise, to the separation from God in our own personal (and communal) sin. Hence, during this week we find the Cross our oasis, we venerate it, even embrace it, with great love.
The Lord made us in order to be in communion with Him, and, by reflecting Who He is, we are to be in communion with each other. In today’s reading from Genesis, we find humanity finding a unity and communion that does involve the Lord. They only wanted to make a name for themselves. They thought that salvation was to be found only in themselves. They had forgotten about God who created the heavens and the earth. Hence, the Lord caused a division among them and scattered them in order for them to seek Him and find Him.
As we look to the Cross for the remedy for our separation from God, when looking at the division caused by the Lord at the Tower of Babel, we need to look at what He did for us to bring about a unity and gathering among us—Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Church on earth, and the foundation to our missionary endeavours. We are united as the Body of Christ.
Here is a verse from the Vespers service for Pentecost, a nugget on which we can ruminate today in light of the reading about the Tower of Babel:
In days of old, pride brought confusion of tongues
to the builders of the Tower of Babel,
but now the diversity of tongues enlightened the minds
and gave knowledge for the glory of God.
Then, God punished the impious for their sin;
now, Christ enlightened fishermen through His Spirit.
Then, the confusion of tongues was for the sake of punishment;
now, there was a variety so that voices could be joined in harmony
for the salvation of our souls.