Tuesday 10th March 2026
Lenten Fast: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
Holy Martyrs Quadratus and those with him at Corinth (258). Holy Martyrs Codratus, Saturninus, and Rufinus of Nicomedia (3rd C). New Martyr Michael of Agrapha, Thessalonica (1544). St. Anastasia the Patrician of Alexandria (567).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Kessog the Wonderworker (560). St. Emilian, abbot of Lagny (675). St. Failbhe the Little, abbot of Iona (754). St. Sedna, bishop of Ossory (c.570). St. Silvester, companion of St. Palladius (c.420). St. Himelin of Vissenaeken (c.750).
Isaiah 9:9-10:4; Genesis 7:1-5; Proverbs 8:32-9:11
Isaiah 9:9-10:4
All the people of Ephraim will know, and those who sit in Samaria who say with arrogance and a haughty heart, ‘The bricks have failed, but come, let us cut stone, let us fell sycamores and cedars, let us build for ourselves a tower.’ God will dash down those who rise up against them on Mount Zion, and he will scatter their enemies: the Syrians from the rising sun and the Greeks from the setting sun, those who devour Israel with open mouth. Despite all this his anger has not turned aside; his hand is still raised high. But the people did not turn until they were struck, nor did they seek the Lord. The Lord has therefore taken away from Israel head and tail, great and small, in one day; the elder and those who flatter: this is the head; and the prophet who teaches what is unlawful: this is the tail. Those who praise this people lead them astray, they lead them astray in order to devour them. This is why the Lord will not rejoice over their youths nor will he have mercy on their orphans and widows, for they are all transgressors and evil and every mouth voices injustices. Despite all this his anger has not turned aside; his hand is still raised high. Transgression will burn like fire, as dry grass is consumed by fire burning in the thickets of the woodlands, encircling the hills, devouring everything. Because of the wrath of the Lord the whole land is burnt up and the people will be as though consumed by fire. And a man will show no mercy to his brother; he will turn to the right because he is hungry, and he will eat on the left, but he will not be satisfied even if he should eat the flesh of his arm. For Manasseh will eat Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they will lay siege to Judah. Despite all this his anger has not turned aside; his hand is still raised high. Alas for those who write evil, for when they write they write iniquity. They pervert the cause of the needy, they rob the poor of my people of justice so that a widow may be their prey and the orphan their plunder. And what will they do on the Day of Visitation, for affliction will come to you from far away? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you entrust your glory so that it may not fall into captivity? Despite all this his anger has not turned aside; his hand is still raised high.
Genesis 7:1-5
The Lord God said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and all your family, for have I seen that in this generation you have been righteous in my presence. From the clean livestock take on board seven of each, male and female; and from the unclean animals, two of each, male and female; and from the clean birds of the air, seven of each, male and female; and from all the unclean birds of the air, two of each, male and female, to maintain their offspring on all the earth. Another seven days and I shall bring rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and everything that exists, that I have made, I shall wipe from the face of the whole earth.’ Noah did all these things that the Lord God commanded him.
Proverbs 8:32-9:11
‘Now, my son, listen to me, for blessed are those who obey my ways. Listen to instruction and be wise, and do not reject it. Blessed is the man who will listen to me, and the person who will obey my ways, who will be vigilant each day at my doors, watching the doorposts of my entrances. For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, a favour prepared by the Lord. But those who sin against me are sacrilegious with their own souls, for those who hate me love death.’ Wisdom built for herself a house, and raised it on seven pillars. She butchered her own animals for sacrifice and mixed her own wine in a bowl, and she prepared her own table. She sent out her own servants with a stately proclamation, a summons to the bowl, saying, ‘Whoever is foolish, let him turn aside to me.’ And to those deprived of understanding she said, ‘Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I mixed for you. Abandon folly and you will live, and seek understanding so that you may survive, and build up understanding with knowledge.’ The one who disciplines the evil will be insulted, and the one who rebukes the ungodly will be criticised. Do not rebuke the evil for they may hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Give the wise the opportunity and they will become wiser. Inform the righteous and they will continue to receive. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the counsel of the holy ones is understanding, for knowledge of the law means a sound mind. In this way you will live long, and years will be added to your life.
The text and chapter and verse references of the Old Testament readings are those of the Septuagint