Great and Holy Tuesday. Our Holy Mother Matrona of Thessalonica
Great and Holy Week. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read
Matins – Matthew 22:15-23:39
Sixth Hour – Ezekiel 1:21-2:1
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – Exodus 2:5-10; Job 1:13-22; Matthew 24:36-26:2
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Imagine being faced with the horrible situation that Moses’ family was faced with in this reading from Exodus. Knowing the threat that might be posed in the future from an army of Hebrews, Pharaoh decides to thin the male population by having the male children murdered (a practice quite common; this is where we get the phrase of “decimating a population,” quite literally to put every tenth man to death).
Into this terrible situation Jochebed takes a chance that Pharaoh’s own daughter will defy her father, have pity on her son and spare him. Miriam, watches while unseen herself. We can imagine her hoping against hope for compassion. Miriam’s example is one paradigmatic of all of those who labor and serve in the defense of human life against the evils of abortion. She waits intently, praying and hoping for compassion, and following this does everything she can to facilitate saving the life of her younger brother.
We often see abortion politized, especially in this country, and it can be easy to forget that this in fact not a political issue, but a moral one. Let us take Miriam’s example of prayer, faithful observation and practical sense in loving and protecting our brothers and sisters whose lives are threatened by abortion. Let us choose and share the life which Christ bought for us through His passion and Resurrection!