Our Venerable Father Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra (312-37)
Great Fast Day 40. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 66:10-24; Presanctified – Genesis 49:33-50:26; Proverbs 31:8-31.
Read Genesis 49:33-50:26
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
This evening we end the season of the Great Fast and enter into Lazarus Saturday and Holy Week. The reading from the Book of Genesis begins with the death of the patriarch Jacob (Israel). After he died, Joseph’s brothers worried that Joseph would seek vengeance against them for selling him into slavery. After being approached by them, Joseph responded: “‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household” (Gen. 50:19-22).
Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović of the Serbian Orthodox Church reports a story where a staretz taught that Joseph was sold not “by his brothers” but rather “by his humility.” The staretz suggests that Joseph could have objected and explained to the Ishmaelites who were purchasing him that he was actually their brother, and perhaps he wouldn’t have gotten sold. Rather, Joseph willingly accepted maltreatment, and in spite of his suffering, he excelled. Through his humility, many lives were saved from famine because of his gift of prophesy. In his humility, he did not seek revenge against his brothers but rather forgave them, spoke kindly of them, lived with them, and provided for them. God did not cause the evil to befall Joseph, but God brings good even out of evil situations.
How do we respond when bad things happen to us? Do we erupt with pride and feelings of self-importance? Do we seek vengeance against those who harmed us? Or, do we pause to consider how we can love God and others in spite of the bad situation we find ourselves in? Christ cooperated with His Father’s will in accepting death on a cross. In His extreme humility, He accepted the injustices He suffered, and instead of fostering bitterness, negativity, and a desire for vengeance, He forgave while hanging on the cross. After enduring such great suffering and evil, His Resurrection and the salvation of the world came about.