Monday, April 5, 2004
Great and Holy Week Fast
Great and Holy Monday
6th Hour: Ezekiel 1:1-20 1st Vespers: Exodus 1:1-20 2nd Vespers: Job 1:1-12
Ezekiel 1:1-20 LXX, especially vs. 13: "And in the midst of the living creatures there was an
appearance as of burning coals of fire, as an appearance of lamps turning among the living creatures; and the brightness
of fire, and out of the fire came forth lightning." We begin this Holy Week of the Lord's Passion with three lessons that
describe a vivid theophany through which God called Ezekiel to be a Prophet: 1st) surrounded by Cherubim, God appears
on a glorious throne amidst light, fire, and lightning (vs. 1:13). 2nd) He commands Ezekiel to "speak My words" to the
"House of Israel" (2:3,7), which are a bitter "Lamentation" (vs. 2:10). 3rd) Strangely, God's words taste "as sweet as
honey" to Ezekiel (vs. 3:3).
God calls Ezekiel to reveal a great truth to the ancient People of God: both to those deported with their king and enslaved in
Babylon, and to those still in Judah. The latter, though not yet deported, soon would either die or be enslaved for rebellion
against the Babylonians, thrusting the entire nation into affliction. The Church reads these lessons at the beginning of our
devotions to the Lord in His Passion to remind us of His great faithfulness to His People - that even in times of unspeakable
anguish He will bring salvation. This is why these lessons are read at Sixth Hour and followed immediately by a reading
from the Passion narratives, thereby making a connection between the heavenly glory of God and the Passion of the
Incarnate Christ.
The first reading, the one for today, focuses on God's glorious throne, a massive chariot (vss. 13-20) escorted by four
radiant Cherubim, who here are called "living creatures" (vss. 5-12, 15-20). The Prophet begins by identifying himself, his
age, his status as a Levitical priest, and as a deported slave in captivity (vss. 1-3). Then he describes the heavenly throne
and Cherubim in great detail, as coming with wind and cloud, "gleaming fire" and "brightness in it" (vs. 4), accompanied
by the four majestic beings (vss. 5-12) and moved by the Spirit of the Living God (vs. 20). What can we make of this
mystical vision of God's throne?
Let us begin with Ezekiel: by heredity, through his father, Buzi, he was a descendant of Aaron; and he was eligible to serve
as an Aaronic priest (vs. 3). He was close to his thirtieth birthday, the age at which a priest could first assume his duties.
But how could he begin to serve God? The only place God's ancient priests could serve was in the Temple in Jerusalem,
but, as a deported captive, Ezekiel was in slavery in pagan Babylon, far away from the Temple.
Consider, my soul, how thy Lord and God, Who reigns upon His glorious throne, made Himself a slave with thee in the
land of sin and death to make thee His spiritual priest. Behold, the depth of the glory of God! Priests of the former
Covenant, like Ezekiel, offered "repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins" (Heb. 10:11), but we have
the "boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus"(Heb. 10:19). Our Savior has chosen us as "a royal priesthood...His
own special people that [we] may proclaim the praises of Him Who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1
Pet. 2:9). Praise God on His glorious throne!
Consider also, my soul, the glory of God disclosed to Ezekiel in vivid images - sweeping wind, a great cloud, brightness
and gleaming fire (vss. 4,13) - the same Uncreated Light revealed on Tabor - to show thee the One Who died on the throne
of the Cross for thee. Bow before Him!
Consider the four "living creatures" (vss. 5-20). Ezekiel shared his vision of the Cherubim surrounding the glorious throne,
moved by the Spirit of God (vss. 12,20). Recall also the Lord on His Throne of the Cross with angels worshiping Him.
Worship thou Him!
The whole creation, beholding Thee crucified, trembled; and the foundations of the earth shook for dread of Thy might.
Glory to Thee Who wast crucified and rose from the dead.