Fore-feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God; Our Venerable Father Zachary; Our Holy Father Artemon, Bishop of Seleucia in Pisidia.
Great Fast Day 33. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 45:11-17; Presanctified – Genesis 22:1-18; Proverbs 17:17-18:5; Exodus 3:1-8; Proverbs 8:22-30; Genesis 28:10-17; Ezekiel 43:27-44:4; Proverbs 9:1-11.
Read Genesis 22:1-18
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Abraham has been a model of faith throughout the generations. The story we read today from the Book of Genesis is one of the most powerful testimonies of his faith. After finally conceiving a son with his barren wife Sarah, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his “beloved son” Isaac. God asks this of him even after having promised that “in Isaac shall your seed be called” (Gn. 21:12). Abraham journeys with Isaac and two young men for three days to arrive at a mountain that God instructed him. When the place of sacrifice was in eyesight, Abraham told the young men to stay behind with the donkey before he laid the split firewood for the burnt offering on Isaac and traveled to the place of sacrifice. However, before leaving the young men, Abraham told them, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” (Gen. 22:5).
As Abraham walked with Isaac to the place of sacrifice, Isaac asks him, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7). Abraham replied: “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Gen. 22:8). Arriving at the place of sacrifice, Abraham bound Isaac, laid him upon the wood, and stretched out his hand with his knife to slay his son before the Angel of the Lord called out to him and instructed him not to harm Isaac. God did indeed provide a ram caught in a thicket by its horns for the burnt offering.
Abraham’s obedience and faith are awe-inspiring. He went as far as to sacrifice the one his loves the most in obedience to God’s will, but at the same time, he had unfailing faith in God’s faithfulness. He told the young men left with the donkey that “we” will come back to them, implying that he and Isaac would return unharmed. When his son asked him about the lack of a lamb, Abraham again steadfastly answered him that God would provide the sacrifice. One can imagine how Abraham’s faith was tested when he arrived at the place of sacrifice and saw no lamb there. One can imagine what went through his mind as he bound his son and laid him on the firewood. His faith was tested to the very end, but God did not desire human sacrifice. God desired Abraham’s faith, just as He desires our faith. God kept his promise that Abraham would have descendants through Isaac.
How would you respond if God asked you to sacrifice what you love the most?