The Holy Martyrs Eutropius and His Companions Cleonicus and Basiliscus (286-305)
Great Fast Day 17
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 10:12-20; Presanctified – Genesis 7:6-9; Proverbs 9:12-18
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read Isaiah 10:12-20
In this passage, Isaiah predicts the coming attack of the Assyrians and their defeat during the siege of Jerusalem. In other words, he is reminding the people that the enemy is at the gate and ready to pounce. As frightening as this might seem Isaiah reminds them not to lose hope. There is no comparison between the adversaries and the Lord. His hand holds all the wealth of the earth. The Lord gathers the whole earth as we gather one egg. This is the power that is on our side. If the Lord stands with us then who can be against us?
What are the works that the Lord is doing on Mount Zion and Jerusalem? The work of purification: “As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samar′ia, shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samar′ia and her images?” (Isaiah 10:10-11). These preceding verses remind the Israelites, and us, that we place roadblocks in the Lord’s way. God is not only trying to protect us from our enemies who are at the gate but from the idols of our own hearts which we happily embrace. This is what limits the work of the Lord in our lives and that which needs to be purified from our hearts and lives. It is easy to point fingers and blame others, but today we are reminded that I must look into my heart first, for the roadblocks I place for God are the true limiters of His grace in my life.