The Holy Martyr Codratus and Those with Him (249-51)
Great Fast Day 24
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 26:21-27:9; Presanctified – Genesis 9:18-10:1; Proverbs 12:23-13:10
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read Isaiah 26:21-27:9
The end of the 26th chapter speaks to us about the final times of human history. Verse 21 is a reminder that judgment is inevitable. In fact God’s creation cannot bear to witness, or absorb, all the violence, hatred and sin we commit: “the earth will disclose the blood shed upon her.” God spoke to Cain about this concerning Able, “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” (Gen 4:10). At the sight of the crucifixion of our Lord all of creation could not bear to watch, the sun hid its rays for it was dark from the 6th-9th hour. The earth can only tolerate so much. It will cooperate with her Maker to disclose all the shed blood upon her. Justice will prevail in the end. This means that even all the secret and undetected crimes and injustices will be revealed. God will bring all to account and no one can escape the final judgement. For this reason Christians can wait confidently even in suffering and refrain from returning vengeance for God is the one who will make retribution and set all the crooked roads straight.