Thursday, April 8, 2004
Great and Holy Week Fast
Great and Holy Thursday
3rd Vespers: Isaiah 50:4-11 1st Vespers: Exodus 19:10-19 2nd Vespers: Job 38:1-23
Isaiah 50:4-11 LXX, especially vs. 10: "Who is among you that fears the Lord? Let him
hearken to the voice of His Servant: you that walk in darkness, and have no light, trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay
upon God." The disciple who is well read and trained in the Faith reads this passage and hears the account of the Passion
of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The words stir the fires of his devotion. He is amazed at the foresight of the Prophet.
Likewise, St. Nikolai of Zica encourages us: "Examine, my brethren, how exact this prophecy is, word for word. Examine
with amazement how the discerning man of God foresaw through the barrier of several hundred years more clearly than the
ordinary eye sees the clear bottom in shallow water." Yes, the Prophet truly was used of God to foretell what would be.
However, after further reflection, Isaiah's words prompt "the obedient son to go into the vineyard," himself and labor for
his salvation as the Father has bidden (Mt. 21:29). We do best to read Isaiah's words, grasp how the Lord obeyed, and
follow Him. He "turned not away [His] face from the shame....but set [His] face as a solid rock"(Is. 50:6,7). The Holy
Fathers, being good teachers and pastors, value application most of all. Let us likewise learn from the Lord and follow in
faith, not merely observing Christ's saving acts as an awesome Divine gift, but allowing the Lord's Passion to prompt us to
take up our own cross and follow Him.
The first two verses of the lesson reveal the inner mindfulness of the Lord Jesus during the Passion. St. Justin Martyr
observed about the Master that always before He had confuted the Pharisees and scribes, but in the Passion He "kept
silence, and chose to return no answer to any one in the presence of Pilate...." What was the reason for His silence? Was
Christ silent merely to prove that Isaiah was a true Prophet? Of course not! The Lord Jesus challenges us to seek
composure in Him. As St. Ambrose says, "How many have I seen fall into sin by speaking, but scarcely one by keeping
silent; and so it is more difficult to know how to keep silent than to speak. He is wise, then, who knows how to keep
silent." In His humanity, the Lord "knew when it was fit to speak" and had "an ear to hear, not to disobey nor to dispute"
(vss. 4,5).
In the next four verses (6-9), our Lord and Master models the virtue of embracing affliction, shame, and humiliation: "I
gave My back to scourges, and My cheeks to blows; and I turned not away My face from the shame of spitting" (vs. 6). St.
Athanasios pleads with us: "O, my dearly beloved, if we shall gain comfort from afflictions, if rest from labors, if health
after sickness, if from death immortality, it is not right to be distressed by the temporal ills that lay hold on mankind." Like
the Lord, and only by His aid, we are called to gain the grace of giving our backs to scourges and our cheeks to blows. But,
oh, how we are wont, in our flesh, to dodge the badges of shame. As St. Isaac the Syrian says: "God for your sake humbled
Himself, but you, for you own sake, do not humble yourself." Nevertheless, St. Isaac adds: "By your labors your wounds
are healed." Let us not fear but follow, even if we cry, "Lord, save me!" (Mt. 14:30).
The last two verses are a call from Him Who made Himself a Servant for our salvation. He invites us to "trust in His name
and stay upon God" (Is. 50:10). He expects us to translate His acts into our own lives, to accept the risks of faith. Think of
the Paschal invitation: "Come take the Light which can never be overtaken by night." Let each one "kindle a fire," and
"feed a flame" that he may "...walk in the light...of the flame which [he has] kindled" (vs. 11). God will not fail us, though
He allow affliction and sorrow "for [His] sake" (vs. 11).
O Christ our God, Thou alone seest the weakness of each one of us. Help us, that we may discover that which is necessary
to our eternal salvation. To Thee be glory and praise.
