Holy Priest-Martyrs and Bishops of Cherson Basil, Ephrem, Capiton, Eugene, Etherius and Others (284-305). Passing into Eternal Life (1935) of Blessed Leonid Fedorov, Exarch of the Russian Catholic Church, and Martyr.
Great Fast Day 25. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 28:14-22. Vespers – Genesis 10:32-11:9. Proverbs 13:19-14:6.
Read Isaiah 28:14-22
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
In today’s scripture reading from the prophet Isaiah, we are confronted with a warning against putting our trust in anything but Christ: “Hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem! Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement; when the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”. The prophet warns against making a “covenant with death”, an allegory for relying on worldly wisdom and securities rather than on the steadfast love and salvation of God.
This passage serves as a reminder for us during the season of Great Lent, especially for our catechumens on their journey towards Holy Baptism at Pascha. It speaks directly to the heart of the catechetical process, which is not merely about acquiring knowledge but about a profound transformation of life and heart.
As the catechumens prepare to renounce Satan and all his works at their baptism, this passage challenges them—and indeed all of us—to examine the foundations upon which we build our lives. Are we relying on the shifting sands of human wisdom, or are we grounded on the “tested stone,” the “precious cornerstone” of Christ Himself?
During the service of Holy Baptism, the catechumens will be asked: do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all his service, and all his pride? According to St. Cyril of Jerusalem, “When you renounce Satan, trampling underfoot every covenant with him, then you annul that ancient “league with hell,” and God’s paradise opens before you, that Eden, planted in the east, from which for his transgression our first father was banished.” (Catechetical Lectures)
Great Lent offers a sacred time for reflection, repentance, and preparation. For catechumens, it is a journey of leaving behind the old life, symbolized by renouncing Satan, and embracing the new life in Christ. This transformative process is a microcosm of the Christian life, which is a continual turning away from sin and turning towards God.
As we continue with the Lenten struggle, let us walk alongside our catechumens, reflecting on our own baptismal vows to renounce Satan and all his works. Let us strive to build our lives on the firm foundation of Christ, embracing the call to repentance and renewal, that we may rejoice fully in the resurrection of our Lord at Pascha.