Our Holy Father Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (638)
Isaiah 7:1-14; Genesis 5:32-6:8; Proverbs 6:20-7:1
Great Fast Day 12. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read Proverbs 6:20-7:1
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today’s selection is really about something we deal with almost every day – fleeting pleasure. It is a temptation for us because it distracts us from our true end; life in God, that is, to be holy as the Lord our God is holy. When we give into this temptation, the consequences are many. Remembering the desire and commands o the Lord will assist us. Even participating in the services of the Church will aid us. Why? Recalling and singing the Word of the Lord, that is, the Holy Scriptures, especially the psalms, will guide us in the commands of God.
St. Isaac of Nineveh gives us some more advice:
Do not voluntarily make trial of your mind with lewd reflections which tempt you, because in this way wise men have been darkened and made fools. Do not store a flame in your bosom.
Without harsh tribulations of the flesh it is difficult for untrained youth to be held under the yoke of sanctification. The beginning of the intellect’s darkening (once a sign of it is visible in the soul) is to be seen, first of all, in slothfulness with regard to the services and prayer. For except the soul first fall away from these, she cannot be led in the way of error; but as soon as she is deprived of God’s help, she easily falls into the hands of her adversaries. And again, whenever the soul becomes heedless of virtue’s labours, she is inevitably drawn to what is opposed to them. (Isaac of Nineveh, Ascetical Homilies, 2.13)