Our Venerable Father Alexius, Man of God
Great Fast Day 26. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 29:13-23; Presanctified – Genesis 12:1-7; Proverbs 14:15-26.
Read Genesis 12:1-7
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The patriarch Abraham is one of the greatest exemplars of faith. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of him: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10).
In today’s reading from the Book of Genesis, we hear God’s command to Abram to leave his country and go to a land that He will show him. In his Homily XXV on Hebrews XI, St. John Chrysostom explains that multiple times in Abraham’s life, what God asked of Abram seemed to contradict His promises. Abram was promised land if he would leave his land. He was told, “in Isaac shall your seed be called” (Gen. 21:12), but then was asked to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:1-19). Although God promised Abraham rest, He put him to the test.
In spite of all these seemingly contradictory commands, Abraham had faith in God’s promises. Abraham obeyed and followed God’s will like a trusting child, knowing that God would be faithful and His promises would be kept. Even if Abraham wouldn’t be able to see the fulfillment of the promises, He knew with unwavering confidence that they would be fulfilled.
We love to put our trust in things we can see and know. Abraham trusted in God without ever being able to see the fulfillment of the promises, knowing that some of them wouldn’t be fulfilled until centuries after his death. Can we mimic the faith of Abraham in our lives? As we await the promised Second Coming of Christ, do we exercise our faith by keeping ready as Christ instructed us? Let us mimic the five wise virgins who took oil for their lamps to be ready to greet the bridegroom when he arrived (Mt. 25:1-13). Let us use this remaining time of the Great Fast fruitfully to prepare our souls to meet the Bridegroom Who promised to return to us.