🕃 The Venerable-Martyr Stephen the New; The Holy Martyr Irenarchus.
Nativity Fast. Saint with Six Stichera. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18; Luke 13:31-35.
Read Luke 13:31-35
Jerusalem is a city that is very dear to the Lord. However, it is also the city where the prophets of God are killed. By announcing that He will accomplish His purpose on the third day, Jesus is hinting at His death and resurrection. Jesus will enter into the city of Jerusalem and will be hailed by the people as the Son of David and the Saviour of the world. While on the other hand, the rulers and religious leaders will not be so willing to do the same. His entrance into Jerusalem can also be seen as a precursor to when Jesus will return in glory at the end of time. What Jesus is prophesying when He says that all people will bless Him is a reference to His final coming. Already there were those who recognized and believed that Jesus was God but there will come a time when all will acknowledge that Jesus is the true Son of God and every knee will bow at the Name of Jesus. May we not be ashamed to be persecuted for believing in Jesus and those things that are yet to come to pass.