The Holy Martyr Agrippina
Romans 10:11-11:2; Matthew 11:16-20
Apostles’ Fast.
Read Romans 10:11-11:2
One of the most beautiful prayers of the Divine Liturgy is the prayer before the Holy Gospel prayed by the priest. In this prayer, the priest asks God to “Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, O loving Master. Open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your gospel.” How are we to open the “eyes of our minds” in preparation for the gospel reading?
St. Paul instructs us in today’s reading from the Romans on the importance of hearing and listening to the Word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” These ancient writings are as relevant today as they were when they were written, and they have the ability to enlighten us into how we are to live and spread the mission of the Church in the 21st century. It is no coincidence that the deacon or priest says, “Let us be attentive” immediately before both the Epistle and Gospel readings.
As we prepare to listen to the Scripture readings at Church and as we read the Scriptures ourselves, may we be attentive to how the words speak to us and may we continually ask the Lord to “open the eyes of our minds” so that we can understand what He is speaking to us today.