Friday 4th April 2025
Lenten Fast: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
St. George of Mt. Maleon in the Peloponnesus (9th C). St. Plato the Confessor, abbot of the Studion (814). St. Zosimas, of Palestine (4th C). Holy martyrs Agathopodes the deacon, Theodulus the reader, and those with them, at Thessalonica (c.303). St. Isidore, bishop of Seville (636). St. Theonas, metropolitan of Thessalonica (1541). Hieromartyr Nicetas, struggler of Serrai (1808). Translation of the relics (1652) of St. Job, patriarch of Moscow (1607).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Tigernach, abbot of Clones (549). St. Gwerir, hermit of Liskeard.
Isaiah 45:11-17; Genesis 22:1-18; Proverbs 17:17-18:5
Isaiah 45:11-17
Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel who has created things that are yet to come, ‘Would you question me about my sons and my daughters or instruct me concerning the works of my hands? I, who made the earth and man upon it and established heaven with my hands; I, who gave orders to all the stars.’ The Lord of hosts says, ‘I have raised him up, a king with righteousness, and all his paths will be straight. He will build my city and overturn the captivity of my people, not for ransoms, not for rewards.’ This is what the Lord of hosts says, ‘The labour of Egypt and the commerce of the Ethiopians will be yours, and the tall Sabeans will be your servants. They will follow you, bound with manacles, and they will bow down to you and plead with you because God is with you. And they will say, ‘There is no God except for you; we did not know it, but you are God, the God of Israel, the Saviour.’ All who oppose him will be shamed and disgraced and walk in shame. Dedicate yourselves to me, you islands, for Israel is saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation. Never again will they be shamed or disgraced.
Genesis 22:1-18
It came about later that God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham, Abraham.’ And he said, ‘I am here.’ Then he said, ‘Take your beloved son Isaac whom you love, and go into the highlands. There you are to offer him as a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’ Abraham rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two servants and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the whole burnt offering, arose and set off. On the third day he came to the place of which God had spoken, and Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and he saw the place a long way off. Abraham said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the child will go over there. When we have worshipped we shall come back to you.’ Abraham took the wood for the whole burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son, and in his own hands he carried both the fire and the knife. The two of them went together. Isaac said to Abraham his father, ‘Father?’ And he said, ‘What is it, son?’ He said, ‘Look, here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the whole burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will himself provide a sheep for the whole burnt offering.’ And so they went, both of them together. They came to the place of which God had spoken, and Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood on it. Then he bound together the feet of Isaac his son and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand to take the knife to slay his son, but an angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham.’ And he said, ‘I am here.’ And he said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the child. Do nothing to him. Now I know that you fear God and that for my sake you have not spared your beloved son.’ And Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and he saw a ram caught by its horns in a sabek bush. Abraham went and took the ram, and he offered him up as the whole burnt offering instead of Isaac his son. Abraham called the name of that place ‘The Lord Has Seen’, and so to this day people will say, ‘On the mountain the Lord was seen.’ And an angel of the Lord called a second time to Abraham from heaven and said, ‘By myself I have sworn,’ says the Lord, ‘that because you have done this and for my sake you have not spared your beloved son, when blessing I shall most assuredly bless you, and when multiplying I shall multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand of the sea shore. Your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies and in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed because you have obeyed my voice.’
Proverbs 17:17-18:5
Have a friend for every occasion, and let brothers be useful when needed; they were born for this purpose. A foolish man applauds himself and is satisfied, and the one who stands surety makes himself responsible for his friends. A lover of sin rejoices in quarrels, and a hard-hearted man does not come to a good end. Those with a wayward tongue will fall into evil, and the heart of a fool is a cause of sorrow to its possessor. A father does not rejoice over an ignorant son, but a wise son makes his mother glad. A joyful heart promotes health, but the bones of the sorrowful will dry up. The ways of those who unlawfully receive secret bribes do not prosper, and the ungodly shun the paths of righteousness. The countenance of a wise man is intelligent, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. A foolish son brings anger upon his father, and sorrow to her who bore him. It is not just to punish a righteous man, nor godly to plot against righteous rulers. The one who refrains from uttering a harsh word is discreet, and the man who is patient is sensible. Wisdom will be granted to a fool who asks for wisdom, and the one who keeps silent will be seen as intelligent. A man who wants to leave his friends seeks excuses, but he will always be liable to reproach. The senseless do not feel the need of wisdom, for they are led instead by folly. When the ungodly sink to the depths of evil they show contempt, and dishonour and reproach come upon them. A word from the heart of a man is deep water, a river and fountain of life spring forth. It is not good to admire the ungodly, neither is it godly to shun justice in judgement.
The text and chapter and verse references of the Old Testament readings are those of the Septuagint