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by Fr. Dmitri, New Zealand
Saturday 18 September 2010 (8 Thout; 8 Tute)
Day of Atonement; Holy Prophets Zachariah & Moses.
How slow you are to believe all that the prophets have announced!
Did not the Messiah have to undergo all this so as to enter into his glory?
(Luke 24:25-26)
Do not oppress the widow and the fatherless, the alien, or the poor.
Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.
(Zech. 7:10)
Satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice
and be glad all our days!
(Psa. 90:14)
The Holy Virgin defines herself as a maid servant to the Lord,
although she was chosen to be His Mother; the promise that
was fulfilled did not make her slip into the sin of pride.
(Ambrose of Milan)
The Theologian is indeed the person that prays.
(Anon)
That they may know that You, whose name alone is Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.
(Psa. 83:18)
But He made His own people go forth like sheep,
And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
(Psa. 78:52)
Christ's love and obedience had abased Him
to the death of the Cross.
Therefore, Christ was raised by God to the glory
of the Resurrection.
Lord of Glory, stamp indelibly on our minds that without the Cross
there is no crown. Help us to fashion an eternal crown of glory
out of the little crosses that come our way each day.
(Thomas Aquinas)
Yom Kippur brings to a close the period of repentance begun on Rosh Hashanah.
It is a foreshadowing of the Messiah who would come to make atonement for our sins. Many believe that Isaiah 53 speaks of this suffering Saviour, when it says: 'It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.'(v.10)
The Day of Atonement, is a date to be mindful of our sin and the offering that was made on our behalf. It is a day to be mindful-and grateful- for the grace afforded through the perfect, everlasting sacrifice, Messiah Jesus, it also points to the future.
Scripture tells us that in the last days there will be a great and awesome Day of the Lord that will reveal the judgement that awaits those who have not taken advantage of the Atonement of God. Here what the Scriptures say: The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the Day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it? The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the Great and awesome day of the Lord. (Joel 2:11,31)
'Behold the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up.' say the Lord of hosts, 'that will leave them neither root or branch.'(Mal.4:1) (Symbolic of a Nuclear Holocaust)
No one can afford to be 'uncovered' or 'unatoned for' on the final Yom Kippur. Yet, in fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, there is evidence declaring that God has not left us without hope or atonement. He has not left us devoid of hope without sacrifice, or without apprehending His mercy. Through His Atonement God's Messiah gives us the assurance of salvation.
To Thee be glory and praise, now and ever, unto Ages of Ages.
AMEN!
Bearing the above in mind, remember that the Great Tribulation is just around the corner. Are you prepared?
Evening: Psalm 105:14-15; Luke 11:37-51.
Morning: Psalm 105:26-27 &45; Matt.17:1-9.
Liturgy: Heb.11:17-27; 2 Peter 1:19-2:8; Acts 15:21-29
Psalm 99:6-7; Gospel Matt.23:13-36.
Copyright DR
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