The Holy Venerable-Martyr Eudocia (98-117)
Great Fast Day 15
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 8:13-9:7; Vespers – Genesis 6:9-22; Proverbs 8:1-21
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read Isaiah 8:13-9:7
Zebulun and Naphtali, two tribes of Israel, were the first to be invaded and deported by the Assyrians. The land was in northern Palestine bounded by the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. They decided to trust in their own ways rather than the commands of God, and they were taken into darkness.
But God, the One who always seeks out those whom He loves, wanted to shine light into that darkness, into the “Galilee of the nations.” Israel sees this happening – and Israel had done nothing to merit this joy – it is all God’s grace. As they had experienced grief and despair, they will experience joy and triumph.
How does God accomplish this? Through the birth of a child who will be a king with an eternal kingdom. We know now that this is Christ Jesus, the God-Man, God becomes man so that man might become God (St. Athanasius), God becomes man so that we might be partakers of divine nature (1 Peter 1:4).
Sometimes the Lord just lavishes His love on us! And this He did when He who is light came to shine against the darkness and to raise us from death and despair so that His life is our life!