Orienting to the Liturgy-- The Second Sunday of Great Lent

The Second Sunday of Great Lent (Tone 6)

Tropar, Tone 6

Angelic powers were upon Your tomb and the guards became like dead men; Mary stood before Your tomb seeking Your most pure body. You captured Hades without being overcome by it. You met the Virgin and granted life. O Lord, risen from the dead, glory be to You!

Glory…Now…

Kondak of the Triodion, Tone 4

Today the time of earthly deeds is revealed, for judgment is at hand. Let us be found fasting, and let us bring tears of supplication, begging mercy and crying out: I have sinned more times than there are sands of the sea; but forgive me, O Creator of all, that I may receive the crown that does not perish.

[The kondak uses the same language as the Holy Apostle Paul when he exhorts the faithful: “the time is far spent. The day draws near. It is time to throw off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.” Fasting is not an end in itself, but when, as the the kondak suggests, it is connected with prayer and penance, then it becomes a powerful weapon against our passions.]           

Prokimen, Tone 5

You, O Lord, will guard us and will keep us from this generation, and forever.

v. Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man.

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF SAINT PAUL,
THE APOSTLE, TO HEBREWS:

 "At the beginning, O Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; and they will all grow old like a garment. You will roll them up like a cloak, and like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end." But to which of the angels has he ever said: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool"? Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Therefore, we must attend all the more to what we have heard, so that we may not be carried away. For if the word announced through angels proved firm, and every transgression and disobedience received its just recompense, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Announced originally through the Lord, it was confirmed for us by those who had heard. (1:10-2:3)

[The epistle reading, from the letter to the Hebrews, reflects the Jewish belief that the Law of Moses (Torah) was revealed by God only through the ministry of intermediary angels.  Because of this ministry exercised by the angels, the Hebrews at the time of the Exodus, never at any time had an unmediated experience or interaction with God.  The New Covenant, by contrast, was revealed by Jesus, Who is Himself the God of Israel.  The author argues, therefore, that if the ancient Israelites were so concerned to fulfill all the minute instructions of the Law, then we should be all the more concerned to fulfill our obligations under the New Covenant, since there is no question that God is greater than His angels.

     Our obligation during the Great Fast is primarily to fulfill the major commandments of the New Law, namely, to love the Lord with all our heart and all our soul and all mind, and we must love our neighbour as ourselves.  What sacrifices can we make during this holy time for love of God and neighbour?]

Alleluia, Tone 6

Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing for ever; from generation to generation I will announce Your truth with my mouth.

v. For You have said: mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens Your truth shall be prepared.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL

ACCORDING TO SAINT MARK:

At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? ⁵ He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this." (2:1-12)

[Christ demonstrates in the gospel reading that He has the authority (since He is God) to forgive sins.  He gives this authority to His Church as well, and she exercises it in the Mystery of Penance. Christ is able to raise us up from sin, and from all of our misery and misfortune.  All of us who are in Christ share this ministry to lift up others from misery and misfortune through a helping a reassuring hand.]

Zadostoynyk of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before the ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider than all the heavens. In you, Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.

Communion verse

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you