Wednesday, March 2, 2005 Fast Day
The Martyr Hesychios the Senator
Kellia: 1 Kings 15:1-3, 7-23 (1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-23 MT) Epistle: 1 John 3:21-4:11 Gospel: St. Mark 14:43-15:1
43-15:1: Lord Jesus, I behold them, a great multitude
coming with swords and clubs. I see men's raw and brutal power, but I cannot move. I can only watch. It is all wrong and
inverted. Why does Judas lead them to Thee? How can he? This night is a bad dream; it is not real. Listen to him!
"Rabbi, Rabbi," and, besides, he even greets Thee with a kiss! O Lord, God of our Fathers, save us!
Men put their soiled hands on God's pure One. No! No! No! Let there be no bloodshed. O, my brother, the Master does
not want it so. Put back thy sword. It is not His way. O Lord! Stop them! Why do they come out at night as if Thou wast
a robber? Why? Let them answer Thee! Take away all swords and clubs! Did these men not hear Thee in the Temple?
Do they not see the hand of our God the Almighty upon Thee? Why swords and clubs? Are they coming for every one of
us? Lord Jesus, save me!
Thou saidst that they would beat us also in their councils and the synagogues. No! Let them not take me, too! They have
taken Thee, Master. Save me, O God by Thy Name. Where can I hide? I am utterly naked. O God of my Master, let no
harm come upon Him! Lord, forgive me. I am a sinner. I am afraid. I have deserted Thee. Lord, have mercy!
See, they have taken Him to the high priest's residence. All of the chief priests are inside with the elders and scribes also.
What are they going to do? And Peter has even gone into the courtyard. Maybe he will find out what is happening! He
had better be careful! They may take him, too. What a terrible night! Who could believe this? You warned us, Lord. O
God, Who didst deliver our fathers at the Red Sea, save and help us we humbly beseech Thee!
Look, Peter is talking to one of the servant girls. Why is he shaking his head? She must suspect that he is one of us! May
God Who watcheth over all keep thee safe, Peter, my brother. What is that servant asking thee now, Simon? He has upset
thee. Peter is really angry. He is coming out. He is weeping. What does he know?
Peter, my beloved brother. Our Master trusted thee above all the rest of us. And, look, my brother, I too ran away. We all
are seized with the fear. Yes, I remember, Peter: thou didst say that thou wouldst die with Him, but Simon, we all denied
Him. Thy tears are mine. We all ran like startled sheep! The Shepherd has been taken. They have stricken Him. Do you
hear? Dawn is coming. It is the rooster's crow. I love thee, my brother. I weep with thee.
Now what word is there from the Council? What have they done? What are they doing? Is He safe? No! No, say it is not
true! They cannot be trying Him! The witnesses lie! He never said He would destroy the Temple, only that the Temple
would be destroyed. They must not condemn Him for that! Let them be truthful, and they will not condemn Him. Do you
hear that? Not even their paid witnesses agree! Did He actually tell them openly that He is the Christ? They should have
believed Him! They think He has blasphemed God. They are ones who have gone too far! When will He come in power
on the clouds of Heaven? When He does, they will be the ones that will have to hide. How long will He permit them to
blaspheme God this way - spitting on Him, beating Him, condemning Him? Forgive us, O, Holy One!
Look, here is the Master. They are coming out with Him. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Bound like
some criminal! Why does He permit this? Will He not stop them? He was able to stop the storm on the sea. Where are
they taking Him now? They are so rough. Oh, no! They are not going to Pilate's headquarters. Not for death, Lord Jesus!
Refrain not Thyself, O God, but save us!