Our Venerable Father Hilarion the New; the Holy Stephen the Wonderworker (464)
Great Fast Day 37. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 49:6-10; Vespers – Genesis 31:3-16; Proverbs 21:3-21.
Read Genesis 31:3-16
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Jacob receives instruction from the Lord to gather his family and possessions and leave for his homeland. The twenty years of service he gave to Laban were not easy. He served seven years for Rachael, but was tricked when Laban switched the younger daughter for the older daughter. It was only after the wedding that Jacob realized he married Leah. Jacob ended up serving another seven years to marry Rachael. Once he completed 14 years, Jacob served another six years to acquire some flock to support his new family. The flock which he worked with was extremely prolific. Laban did not want to lose his source of wealth, so again Laban took advantage of the good will of his son-in-law by changing the wage ‘ten times’ in this way delaying Jacob’s departure. We see that Jacob patiently endures all of these wrongs. Instead of retaliating with fire he leans on the Lord who is his support and defender. For this reason he is vindicated and blessed.
St. John Chrysostom says, “We learn from this that whenever we bear people’s wrongdoing meekly and mildly, we enjoy help from on high in a richer and more abundant measure. Accordingly, far from resisting those bent on abusing us, let us bear it nobly in the knowledge that the Lord of all will not forget us provided we ourselves give evidence of our good will. “Vengeance is mine,” Scripture says, remember, “I will repay, says the Lord.” Hence Jacob also said, “God did not allow him to do me harm. I mean, since he actually intended to deprive me of payment for my work, he is saying, the Lord gave evidence of his care for us in such marvellous abundance as to transfer all his substance to us. He has shown such care for us, aware that I performed his service with good grace, whereas Laban was not kindly disposed to me. For proof that I do not idly say this or with any intention of accusing him without rhyme or reason, I even have God as my witness to what has been done to me by your father, “I have observed all that Laban has been doing to you, God says, remember- not only that he has deprived you of your wage but as well, instead of being disposed toward you as he was previously, he has a completely distorted attitude.” (HOMILIES ON GENESIS 57.13).