All Souls Saturday; the Holy Forty-Two Martyrs of Ammorium (848)
Great Fast Day 2
Hebrews 10:32-38; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Mark 2:14-17; John 5:24-30
Read Hebrews 10:32-38
Persevere! Persevere! Persevere! This is the central message of today’s epistle.
In our lives, we will face struggles and hardship, temptations, sorrows, confusion, and perhaps loss of possessions or status. All of this is hard; it truly is a struggle. But brothers and sisters we have confidence in Christ to whom we joined ourselves in baptism and through whom and in whom we are enlightened by the brightness of His Resurrection. If we do His will we will receive salvation and all that it brings. Let us not doubt that God will save us for He “shall come and shall not tarry.”
So as we proceed into the second half of this holy fast let us persevere and not let the evil one pull us away from Our Lord. Let us this week meditate on the Prayer of St. Ephrem, especially the first two sentences: “O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power, and idle chatter. Instead grant to me, your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love.” Let us not be discouraged when we stumble. Let us turn back to Christ through the prayers of the Mother of God. Let us be patient, and yearn for the radiance of Pascha not only on April 4 but every day of our lives.