March 8, 2023

Our Venerable Father and Confessor Theophilactus, Bishop of Nicomedia.
Great Fast Day 17. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 10:12-20; Presanctified – Genesis 7:6-9; Proverbs 9:12-18; Isaiah 43:9-14; Wisdom 3:1-9; Wisdom 5:15-6:3.

Read Genesis 7:6-9

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Discerning the Lord’s will for our own life is not easy. It’s not like the Lord speaks to us as directly and loudly as He did to Noah when He asked him to build an ark. Rather, as my seminary spiritual director often reminded us seminarians, the Lord speaks to us in silence. And the Lord’s voice is often a whisper which is why we need the silence to hear Him speak to us.

Once we do hear the Lord’s voice calling us to His will for our lives, we may be faced with something unimaginably challenging or seemingly absurd. In many ways, what God called Noah to do was both challenging and absurd. Despite that, Noah heeds the voice of God and follows His call. And by doing so, he is saved and is blessed by God.

Brothers and sisters, spend some time in silence. Listen to God’s voice and heed His call. Be obedient to the Lord like Noah was, and the Lord will be your guide and direct your steps.