Our Venerable Father and Confessor Procopius the Decapolitan.
Jude 11-25; Luke 23:1-34, 44-56.
Read Jude 11-25
Today’s reading from the letter of St. Jude mentions that ungodly sinners are “grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, loud-mouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage” (Jude 1:16). On the other hand, we must “build [ourselves] up on [our] most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep [ourselves] in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 1:20-21). These verses are worth reflecting on in these last days before the beginning of the Great Fast.
In the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian which we pray throughout the Great Fast, we say: “O Lord and Master of my life, take from me a spirit of despondency, sloth, love of power, and idle talk. But give to me, Your servant, a spirit of sober-mindedness, humility, patience, and love. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, since you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.” We ask the Lord to take from us these passions and instead replace them with sober-mindedness, humility, patience, and love. This needs to be our objective during the Great Fast to prepare ourselves for Holy Week and the celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection.
Today’s reading from Jude inspires us to set aside grumbling, discontentment, and following our own passions. In short, we need to set aside our ego and stop being self-centered. When we are building ourselves up in our faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, and keeping ourselves in the love of God, we are God-centered and show our love for our neighbor. Keep in mind last Sunday’s gospel reading which was about the Last Judgement (see Matthew 25:31-46). Whatever love we do for our neighbor, we do it for Christ. Whatever love we fail to do for our neighbor, we fail to do it for Christ. If we say we love God but do not love our neighbor, then we are a liar (1 Jn. 4:20). Today, let us consider the ways in which our self-centeredness prevents us from fully loving God and others.