AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD
(March 19)
“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.” (Gen 1: 14-18)
On Lenten weekdays, we have three Scriptural readings daily, not from the New Testament, but one from each of the three types of books of the Old Testament. At Vespers, there is one reading from the “historical” books, namely, Genesis, and another from the books of “Wisdom,” namely, Proverbs. And the third reading is at the service of the Sixth Hour, from the Prophets, usually from Isaiah. So, we are “exiled” back into the reality of the Old Testament, before the time of fulfilment, of the coming of Christ, that we may re-discover the beginnings of God’s relationship or communion with us. Quoted above is part of the Genesis-reading for today, which takes me back to God’s initial creation, when He decided to share His “being” with others, “letting” us and the rest of creation also “be.” And He saw that it was “good.”
Thank You, God, for the “good” changeability of this world, from night to day, from season to season, and from year to year. It’s not monotonous, but rather inviting, for us to make ever-new beginnings. This morning, as I observe night changing to day outside my window, on an early-spring morning in Vienna, I gratefully “let” You “be” in my heart, asking for Your guidance and help this fasting season. “O Lord and Master of my life, grant me not a spirit of idleness, despondency, love of power, and idle talk.” (Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem) Amen!
