The Holy Martyrs Eutropius and His Companions Cleonicus and Basiliscus (286-305).
Great Fast Day 12. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 7:1-14; Presanctified – Genesis 5:32-6:8; Proverbs 6:20-7:1.
Read Genesis 5:32-6:8
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Many different flood stories were told in the ancient world, but the one we read in Genesis stands out from all the rest. We read that that God chose to destroy the world by a flood because “God saw man’s wickedness, that it was great in the earth, and every intent of the thoughts within his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). We learn how much sin displeases God and how sin comes hand-in-hand with death. Noah was chosen to build an ark not by some random accident, but rather because he was righteous and “found grace in the presence of the Lord God” (Gen. 6:8).
In the stories we have read in the Book of Genesis since Lent began, we have seen how sin and death come together. After Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they were exiled from paradise and were told they will return to dust (Gen. 3:19). After their children Cain and Abel made offerings to God and Cain’s offering wasn’t accepted, Cain became angry and killed his brother Abel (Gen. 4:5,8). Now in today’s reading, we read how the sin of the world warrants death, except for the one who lived righteously in God’s grace.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (Jn. 11:25-6). Whenever we sin, we distance ourselves from God Who is life. This Lent, let us learn to hate our sins because they separate us from God and stink with death. God loves us beyond our comprehension; let nothing stand in the way between us loving God and being receptive to God’s love. Like Noah, let us find grace in God’s presence.