From antiochan.org, dynamispublications.org, biblegateway.com, rongolini.com:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Week of Forgiveness, Memory of our venerable Father Gerasimos of Jordan
Scriptural Readings:
Zechariah 8:7-17 (King James Version)
7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
9Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
10For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
11But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
12For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
13And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
15So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
16These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
17And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Zechariah 8:19-23 (3/4-3/17) Second Vesperal Reading: Friday of the Week of Forgiveness
Fasting V ~ The Age to Come: Zechariah 8:19-23 SAAS, especially vs. 19: “...you will love truth and peace.” Hebrew prophecy, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. However, to discern His glory, certain ‘ground rules’ must be applied. Each one of us must learn the fullness of Christ, worship with the Church, be “a child of the Light and an heir of eternal good things,” and, however difficult these efforts may prove to be, put the Prophets’ words into practice. Then, lo, it is natural to behold the glory of God.
The Prophets foresaw the Mystery of Christ, but only in barest outline. God provided enough information concerning the Lord’s first and second coming so that His ancient People came to expect a ‘Messiah.’ Today, those united to Christ - Jew and Gentile - have “...been given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God...” (Mk. 4:11), but they must ‘flesh out’ the Gospel embedded in the prophecies. In completing what is read, the faithful have the advantage of the witness and wisdom of the Apostles and the Holy Fathers, as well as their intercessions.
Further, much of Hebrew prophecy is poetry, and must, therefore, be read as such. If one hopes to know God’s truth, the imagery of prophecy must be received through one’s heart as well as by logic, read from within Holy Tradition, and understood with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, the language of the Hebrew Prophets assumes the ethos, worship, and life of ancient Israel and Judah. Therefore, given the coming of Christ, words such as “Israel, Jerusalem, and Zion” now must be understood as the Church. Saint Paul makes this clear (Rom. 9-11). The Body of Christ, the Church, is the true Israel of God (Rom. 11:23,24).
Given these ‘ground rules,’ turn to the prophetic words of Zechariah that speak of the age to come, of God’s eternal Kingdom that will prevail following Christ’s Last and Great return in Judgment. For they provide an eternal perspective to the immediate coming Great Fast.
Observe: God speaks of four fasts practiced in ancient Israel in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months (Zec. 8:19). These ancient fasts were instituted as times for national mourning for sins, iniquities that came because of ill-advised uprising against the Babylonians. The revolts led to exile, the end of Judah’s monarchy, the fall of Jerusalem, and the destruction of their Temple. Still, Zechariah foresaw that one day God would restore and forgive and that the need for abject sorrow would end, after which the fasts would become feasts - times of celebration.
Let us be attentive! In Christ, God urges us to fast in sorrowful repentance for our sins, to make efforts to change our ways, and to remain aware that we soon will be joyously celebrating Pascha. Now let our hearts be broken, right choices made, and eyes turned toward Christ’s marriage supper (Rev. 19:9) where fasting always is feasting.
In the age to come, Jew and Gentile will worship and pray as one People, “ ...many peoples and many nations will come to seek out the presence of the Lord...” (Zec. 8:22). The incorporation of many nations into Israel - into the Church - began in Apostolic times (Gal. 3:28). After two thousand years of such inclusion, great numbers of earth’s Peoples make up the Church. Now the People of God is largely Gentile, but remains one Holy People in Christ.
Why, then, do we have Fasts now? Why Great Lent, the Apostles’ Fast, the Dormition Fast and the Nativity Fast? These seasons are gifts that help us prepare to take our place in the great company of peoples from every nation who walk in the Uncreated Light of the New Jerusalem of the age to come. For all tears and the need to fast will be wiped away (Rev. 21:4).
O Thou Who knowest the secrets of all hearts, prepare us through fasting to feast with Thee at Thine eternal and glorious banquet in the age to come.
The Synaxarion:
March 4
Memory of our venerable Father Gerasimos of Jordan (+475)
A native of Lycia, this holy father was consecrated to God from his infancy by his Christian parents. He was raised in the exercises of monastic life inside a coenobium. Becoming an adult, at first he withdrew to the most solitary places in his country. He went to Jerusalem around 451. After having venerated the Holy Places, he withdrew to Jordan and lived as an anchorite in the deserts near the Dead Sea. At the time of the Council of Chalcedon, he and the other anchorites in the desert adhered to the Aposchite sect. By Saint Euthymius' exhortations he adhered to the dogma defined by the holy Council. In 455 he founded a laura with a coenobium at its center in the desert of Jordan. He stipulated that beginners remain in the coenobium and that those more advanced live separately in cells, each one spending the first five weekdays in his cell but coming to the church on Saturdays and Sundays to receive Holy Communion and to partake in the common meal in the coenobium. He died on March 5, 475, at the beginning of Emperor Zeno's reign. His laura which had no less than seventy anchorites was destroyed around the Tenth century.
Fifth Class Feast.
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Week of Forgiveness, Memory of our venerable Father Gerasimos of Jordan
Scriptural Readings:
Zechariah 8:7-17 (King James Version)
7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
9Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
10For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
11But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
12For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
13And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
15So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
16These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
17And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Zechariah 8:19-23 (3/4-3/17) Second Vesperal Reading: Friday of the Week of Forgiveness
Fasting V ~ The Age to Come: Zechariah 8:19-23 SAAS, especially vs. 19: “...you will love truth and peace.” Hebrew prophecy, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. However, to discern His glory, certain ‘ground rules’ must be applied. Each one of us must learn the fullness of Christ, worship with the Church, be “a child of the Light and an heir of eternal good things,” and, however difficult these efforts may prove to be, put the Prophets’ words into practice. Then, lo, it is natural to behold the glory of God.
The Prophets foresaw the Mystery of Christ, but only in barest outline. God provided enough information concerning the Lord’s first and second coming so that His ancient People came to expect a ‘Messiah.’ Today, those united to Christ - Jew and Gentile - have “...been given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God...” (Mk. 4:11), but they must ‘flesh out’ the Gospel embedded in the prophecies. In completing what is read, the faithful have the advantage of the witness and wisdom of the Apostles and the Holy Fathers, as well as their intercessions.
Further, much of Hebrew prophecy is poetry, and must, therefore, be read as such. If one hopes to know God’s truth, the imagery of prophecy must be received through one’s heart as well as by logic, read from within Holy Tradition, and understood with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, the language of the Hebrew Prophets assumes the ethos, worship, and life of ancient Israel and Judah. Therefore, given the coming of Christ, words such as “Israel, Jerusalem, and Zion” now must be understood as the Church. Saint Paul makes this clear (Rom. 9-11). The Body of Christ, the Church, is the true Israel of God (Rom. 11:23,24).
Given these ‘ground rules,’ turn to the prophetic words of Zechariah that speak of the age to come, of God’s eternal Kingdom that will prevail following Christ’s Last and Great return in Judgment. For they provide an eternal perspective to the immediate coming Great Fast.
Observe: God speaks of four fasts practiced in ancient Israel in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months (Zec. 8:19). These ancient fasts were instituted as times for national mourning for sins, iniquities that came because of ill-advised uprising against the Babylonians. The revolts led to exile, the end of Judah’s monarchy, the fall of Jerusalem, and the destruction of their Temple. Still, Zechariah foresaw that one day God would restore and forgive and that the need for abject sorrow would end, after which the fasts would become feasts - times of celebration.
Let us be attentive! In Christ, God urges us to fast in sorrowful repentance for our sins, to make efforts to change our ways, and to remain aware that we soon will be joyously celebrating Pascha. Now let our hearts be broken, right choices made, and eyes turned toward Christ’s marriage supper (Rev. 19:9) where fasting always is feasting.
In the age to come, Jew and Gentile will worship and pray as one People, “ ...many peoples and many nations will come to seek out the presence of the Lord...” (Zec. 8:22). The incorporation of many nations into Israel - into the Church - began in Apostolic times (Gal. 3:28). After two thousand years of such inclusion, great numbers of earth’s Peoples make up the Church. Now the People of God is largely Gentile, but remains one Holy People in Christ.
Why, then, do we have Fasts now? Why Great Lent, the Apostles’ Fast, the Dormition Fast and the Nativity Fast? These seasons are gifts that help us prepare to take our place in the great company of peoples from every nation who walk in the Uncreated Light of the New Jerusalem of the age to come. For all tears and the need to fast will be wiped away (Rev. 21:4).
O Thou Who knowest the secrets of all hearts, prepare us through fasting to feast with Thee at Thine eternal and glorious banquet in the age to come.
The Synaxarion:
March 4
Memory of our venerable Father Gerasimos of Jordan (+475)
A native of Lycia, this holy father was consecrated to God from his infancy by his Christian parents. He was raised in the exercises of monastic life inside a coenobium. Becoming an adult, at first he withdrew to the most solitary places in his country. He went to Jerusalem around 451. After having venerated the Holy Places, he withdrew to Jordan and lived as an anchorite in the deserts near the Dead Sea. At the time of the Council of Chalcedon, he and the other anchorites in the desert adhered to the Aposchite sect. By Saint Euthymius' exhortations he adhered to the dogma defined by the holy Council. In 455 he founded a laura with a coenobium at its center in the desert of Jordan. He stipulated that beginners remain in the coenobium and that those more advanced live separately in cells, each one spending the first five weekdays in his cell but coming to the church on Saturdays and Sundays to receive Holy Communion and to partake in the common meal in the coenobium. He died on March 5, 475, at the beginning of Emperor Zeno's reign. His laura which had no less than seventy anchorites was destroyed around the Tenth century.
Fifth Class Feast.
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