Great and Holy Wednesday
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 – John 12:17-50
Sixth Hour – Ezekiel 2:3-3:3
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – Exodus 2:11-22; Job 2:1-10; Matthew 26:6-16
The first detail in the opening line of the Gospel gives us an important setting which sets the tone for the rest of the Gospel. Before visiting the house of Simon the leper, who some say is the father of Lazarus, we can assume that Christ healed him of his disease—for Simon would not be welcome to return to the community had he not been cleansed. Simon invited and welcomed Jesus into his home and in so doing he set the stage for another great encounter. For God’s grace builds on itself. Inviting the Lord into our home creates a greater opportunity not only for us but also for those around us to encounter him. At this extraordinary time, when we are housebound, we are reminded that not being able to attend the Divine Services does not prevent us from encountering the Lord. Yes, the Church services and the Sacraments are the highest forms of encounter with the Lord here on this earth, but God is not limited to the physical church building. We who are baptized, healed of our spiritual leprosy, are able to invite the Lord into our homes and into our families. Let us take a moment today and this Holy Week to express our spiritual longing to our Master, for his divine presence, comfort and joy. And continue to walk with Him this week as Jesus walks the road to Jerusalem to voluntarily take up the cross for our salvation.