Third Sunday of the Great Fast: Veneration of the Holy Cross; the Holy Priest-Martyrs and Bishops of Cherson Basil, Ephrem, Capiton, Eugene, Etherius and Others (284-305)
Great Fast Day 21
Hebrews 4:14-5:6; Mark 8:34-9:1
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated today.
Read Hebrews 4:14-5:6
At every ordination, whether it be to the subdiaconate, diaconate or priesthood, the man receiving Holy Orders is configured to Christ in a unique way by the Holy Spirit. As part of the ordination rite, he is presented with the tools and vestments of his office, and the bishop proclaims, “Axios!” (“he is worthy” in Greek), to which the people add their acclamation with a resounding and thrice repeated Axios!
Yet, brothers and sisters, in a certain sense we are wrong every time. No one is truly worthy to stand before the Lord. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. St. Paul reminds us that in fact, the failings and weakness of the Levitical priests of the Old Covenant allowed them to act with compassion and mercy towards those who they are interceding for. In a similar way, we can take confidence in the perfect High Priesthood of Christ. Our Lord was tested in every way that we are. Just like us, He was not above temptation as a man, but unlike us He did not succumb, meaning that He is the perfect High Priest who is seated in glory on the right hand of His Father.
This is the amazing mystery of the Christian priesthood. We are unworthy, and yet the Lord has made us worthy and is continuing to make us worthy. With this in mind let us continue to take joy and security from the fact that our Heavenly Father has not left us orphans but has called men out of the world to intercede for us, and at the same time let us keep our clergy in prayer that they may remain open to Divine Grace in their ministry.