Our Venerable Father Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, the Deacon Cyril and Others Martyred During the Reign of Julian the Apostate (360-63).
Great Fast Day 38. All-Night Vigil Feast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 58:1-11; Presanctified – Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16; Proverbs 21:23-22:4.
Read Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
We live in a fallen and sinful world. Although God created the world and those who live in it, He gave humans free will and unfortunately, we humans misuse our God given free will and choose to do evil instead of good. Evil is not of God however, God can and does still work through the consequences and events surrounding evil actions.
Joseph is sold into Egypt by his brothers, a very evil deed. Yet God works through the consequences of this evil deed to raise Joseph to a position where he is able to accomplish much good by saving lives. A sinful and evil action is transformed by God into something saving and life-giving.
As we enter into Great and Holy Week and begin to meditate on the Lord’s passion, we will witness how God can transform a sinful and evil action, the betrayal of our Lord, into something saving and life-giving, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.