Every day he (Jesus) was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.
Luke 21: 37-38
Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; What is the house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and the contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word. Isaiah 66: 1-2
If you are familiar with today’s prescribed readings, these two choices might seem less important than the remainder of the readings. Quite possibly true. However, let’s highlight a couple of things. First, “all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to Him in the temple.” Also, “this is to whom I will look, to the humble in spirit, who trembles at my word.” How often have we gotten up early in the morning to read God’s word? How much do we tremble when we hear His word read, or when we read it ourselves? How valuable is the daily reading of His word to us? In Armenian, there is no word “Bible” – it is “The Breath of God” (Asdvadzashoonch/Աստուածաշունչ). If we have been taking this journey through Lent with St. Gregory, we have been getting His words as daily bread. Continue reading His daily Word not just through Easter on this Lenten journey, but afterward as well.
Let us pray with St. Gregory:
Now, let us see the truth of your words, O merciful God of all,
who forgives and blesses the sinner, even the sinner faltering many times a day,
if he turns back repentant.
Take pity, benevolent God,
you, whose name is exalted for saying “I am the merciful Lord.”
Grant your arm protecting a fugitive like me,
your cup as comfort for the grieving like me,
your word to steady those wavering like me,
your beckoning voice to those who have strayed like me,
for you rule all with mercy.
With you there is no darkness, and without you no goodness,
and yours is the glory forever.
Amen.
Prayer 30 A, E
