Holy Martyr Conon (249-251).
Great Fast Day 23. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 25:1-9. Vespers – Genesis 9:8-17. Proverbs 12:8-22.
Read Isaiah 25:1-9
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today’s reading from Isaiah is filled with images of punishment for the enemies of the people of God. It seems like the nation of Moab must have done something extremely serious to have so many verses of Isaiah directed against them. How should a Christian read a text like this? Should we assume that today, as many did in the ancient world, the wrath of God will come upon those who oppose us?
The key characteristic of Byzantine spirituality is twofold: on one hand, we have a profound appreciation for the resurrection, as a sign of our destiny as adopted sons of God. But on the other hand, most of Byzantine prayer, both in public, and in private, is defined by a spirit of repentance: we are never far from thinking of our sins and asking God for forgiveness.
Perhaps that second principle gives us a way of understanding today’s reading. We don’t think primarily about the evils that others have done, instead, when we read passages like this, and hear about the judgment of God, upon those who have opposed his will, we think of our own sins. We are in a season of repentance: let’s take every opportunity to remind ourselves of how important that is.