The First and Second Finding of the Precious Head of the Holy, Glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist; First Saturday of the Great Fast: Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit
Great Fast Day 6. Feast of the Forerunner moved from February 24 to today.
2 Corinthians 4:6-15; Hebrews 1:1-12; Matthew 11:2-15; Mark 2:23-3:5.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:6-15
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
In today’s reading we harken back to the garden of Eden, where God formed human beings out of the dirt (earthen vessels) and breathed His Spirit into them, forming them into living people. We are part of the earth and yet made in God’s Image, called to grow in His likeness. The tragedy of our Fall is also illustrated with this line as the Lord declares that “we are dust and to dust we shall return.”
Here St. Paul uses this fact as a reminder of the humility required of us as Christians. When we see success in our missionary efforts, or we are able to stand up to injustice or persevere through persecution, the power does not belong to us but to the Lord. Granted, we must cooperate with God’s initiative and remain faithful to His Covenant, but He wins the victory, not us. I find this truth even more amazing and telling coming from St. Paul, who originally ordered his life around persecuting Christians and is later used by the Lord to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth.
St. John Chrysostom writes:
Both the greatness of the things given and the weakness of them that receive show the power of God, who not only gave great things but also gave them to those who are little. He used the term earthen in allusion to the frailty of our mortal nature and to declare the weakness of our flesh. For it is no better than earthenware, which is soon damaged and destroyed by death, disease and even variations of temperature. The power of God is most conspicuous when it performs mighty works by using vile and lowly things. (Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, 8,3.)