Our Venerable Father Leo, Bishop of Catania. Day 5 of the Great Fast.
Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 3:1-14; Presanctified – Genesis 2:20-3:20; Proverbs 3:19-34.
Read Genesis 2:20-3:20
The loss of paradise is a major theme in this scripture passage. However, the return of paradise is also a theme that is present. Reflecting upon the difficulties that take place in our day to day existence, the idea of a world without difficulties can sound attractive, but is it attainable? God created a world that was originally good and perfect. If such a world did indeed exist for a period of time, then does it not seem possible that God could restore the world to a similar state. We may tend to believe that the only perfect world that will ever exist is heaven, and that life on earth will always have its difficulties. However, there is the promise of a new heavens and a new earth and even though the full restoration of the Kingdom of God is to take place only at the end of time, the possibility that a taste of heaven on earth, such as a period of sanctification or an “era of peace” or a “new springtime” brought about through the Holy Spirit and the Sacraments of the Church will take place before this end, indicates that a taste of paradise may be in store for the Church before the final coming of Christ.