All Souls Saturday; The Holy Martyr Agapius and the Six Martyrs with him.
Day 13 of the Great Fast.
Hebrews 3:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Mark 1:35-44; John 5:24-30.
Read Hebrews 3:12-16
We are invited to reflect deeply on St. Paul’s heartfelt exhortation to his Hebrew Christian community, urging them not to harden their hearts against the Lord. This plea resonates powerfully as we remember the narrative in Exodus, where Pharaoh’s obstinate heart led to devastating consequences, a stark reminder of the danger of ignoring divine wisdom. St. Paul draws our attention to the insidious nature of sin, linking it to deceitfulness. If we take a moment to examine our own hearts, we may find that every sin is rooted in a lie—an illusion that distances us from the truth of God’s love.
From the very dawn of humanity, when the serpent whispered half-truths to Adam and Eve, we see how easily our trust in God can be undermined. These lies create barriers between us and the divine, leading us further into darkness. As we embark on this Lenten journey, let us view these days leading up to Pascha not merely as a time of self-denial, but as a profound opportunity to engage in a transformative search for truth.
I encourage you to embrace this season as a gradual yet intentional deepening of your understanding and appreciation of truth over falsehood. Each step closer to the Lord is a step closer to Truth Himself, a chance to shed the chains of deception that bind us. While living in truth demands courage and often brings discomfort, the struggle is undeniably worthwhile. The reward lies in the intimate relationship with the God who loves us unconditionally, guiding us toward liberation and peace. Let us, therefore, commit ourselves to this sacred journey, seeking the light of truth that dispels the shadows of lies in our lives.