Theophany Eve; The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas (284-305); the Venerable Syncletica
Abstention from meat dairy and foods that contain these ingredients. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read
1 Corinthians 9:19-27; Luke 3:1-18
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
If there is one thing that could be increased in our Eastern Christian tradition, it is a regular liturgical reading of the Old Testament. Whenever we do get a snippet of the Old Testament whether it is a reading at Vespers or a quote found in the Gospels, it speaks volumes. These Old Testament quotes are full of rich meaning and show us the wonderful providence of God.
In today’s Gospel reading, which we will hear at the Vespers and Liturgy of St. Basil, we hear the voice of the prophet Isaiah in the Gospel of Luke, who speaks of this “voice crying in the wilderness” which we know to be John the Baptist.
John the Baptist is an example of Christian life for us here and now. While we may not live in the desert or eat wild locusts and honey, we should always be like John the Baptist in the way we act. While John the Baptist was a great teacher and prophet, he also deflected attention away from himself and to Christ. John the Baptist was a great spokesman of Christ; one who always pointed towards “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John taught but never regarded himself as THE teacher. He knew that the teacher was coming and that it was his responsibility to “prepare the way.”
We must remember these words: you are not Christ. You are not the Messiah. But as a faithful disciple of Christ, it is your job to prepare the way for Him and lead others to Him so that they may be saved by Him.