Holy and Great-Martyr Theodore the Recruit (286-305)
Great Fast Day 3. Feast of St. Cyril transferred to February 17 this year. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read
Genesis 1:24-2:3
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
As we continue to read this foundational text in the book of Genesis we come face to face with how great and marvelous God is in His creation. How complex, wonderful, and seemingly infinite God’s handiwork is. The more we know the more we are brought to a greater sense of wonder. It is for this reason we are often reminded to take the time and reconnect with nature: walk in the park, intentionally watch a sunset or sunrise, go and experience some great natural wonder etc. The artist always leaves his mark on his work and God’s fingerprint is present to all those who view the painting of creation with an open heart.
No matter how much time we spend outside or how many sunsets we watch nature cannot compare to what is God’s most precious piece of creation and His crowning jewel. The Holy Trinity, on the sixth day, first takes time to unanimously agree on how the culmination of creation will come together: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” Humanity, male and female, are made more wondrously than all of creation itself. What other part of creation has His image implanted in it? What other piece of creation is able to aspire to the likeness of the living God. We are wondrously made, but how often do we take the time to see this beauty that is intrinsically implanted in our neighbour? Let us take the time today to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation and honour my neighbour who carries God’s image.