Monday 27th March 2023
Lenten Fast: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
Holy Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica (4th C). Holy Martyrs Philetas the Senator, his wife Lydia, their sons Macedon and Theoprepius, Chronides the Notary, and Amphilochius the Captain, in Illyria (2nd C). St. Paul, bishop of Corinth (890).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Suairlech, 1st bishop of Fore in Westmeath (c.750). St. Alkeld, Martyr in Yorkshire (10th C).
Isaiah 37:33-38:6; Genesis 13:12-18; Proverbs 14:27-15:4
Isaiah 37:33-38:6
The Lord says this concerning the king of the Assyrians, ‘He shall not come into this city nor fire an arrow against it nor bring a shield against it nor set up a rampart against it, but by the way he came, by that same way he shall return. He shall not come into this city.’ The Lord says this, ‘I will defend this city and save it for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.’ Then the Angel of the Lord went out and struck down five thousand one hundred and eighty from the camp of the Assyrians, and when they woke early in the morning they found all the dead bodies. Sennacherib king of the Assyrians turned away and departed. He settled at Nineveh, and while he was worshipping his idol in the house of Nisroch his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with swords and escaped into the land of Armenia, and his son Esarhaddon reigned in his place. At that time Hezekiah became mortally ill. Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz, came to him and said, ‘The Lord says this, “Set your house in order for you will die; you shall not live.”’ Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. He said, ‘Lord remember how I have walked before you faithfully with a true heart and done what is pleasing in your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, ‘Go and say to Hezekiah that the Lord, the God of David your father, says this, “I have heard your prayer and have seen your tears. Behold, I add fifteen years to your life, and I shall deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of the Assyrians and I shall defend this city.”’
Genesis 13:12-18
Abram settled in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in a city in the surrounding countryside and pitched his tent at Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were extremely wicked and sinful before God. After Lot had separated from him, God said to Abram, ‘From the place where you are, lift your eyes and look. Look northward and southward and eastward, and towards the sea. All the land which you see I shall give to you and your descendants for ever, and I shall make your descendants like the sand of the ground. If any one can count the sand of the ground, then your descendants will also be counted. Get up, travel through the length and breadth of the land, for I shall give it to you and to your descendants for ever.’ Then Abram moved his tent and went and settled by the oak of Mamre which was at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Proverbs 14:27-15:4
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life and it causes a person to turn away from the snares of death. In a populous nation lies the king’s glory, but a shrinking population is the ruin of a prince. A man who is slow to anger abounds in wisdom, but one who is quick tempered is very foolish. A man of gentle spirit is a healer of the heart, but a sensitive heart decays the bones. Whoever oppresses the needy provokes his Maker, for those who honour him have pity on the poor. The ungodly are driven away by their wickedness, but they who are secure in their own holiness are just. There is wisdom in the good heart of a man, but it is not found in the heart of fools. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sins diminish communities. An intelligent servant is acceptable to a king, and by his good service he takes away dishonour. Anger destroys even the prudent. A submissive answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise knows what is good, but the mouth of the fool pours out evil. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the evil and the good. The healing tongue is a tree of life, and he who preserves it will be filled with the Spirit.
The text and chapter and verse references of the Old Testament readings are those of the Septuagint