Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Conon and Maria, Martyrs
Readings: Isaiah 25:1-9; Genesis 9:8-17; Proverbs 12:8-22
Today’s reading from Isaiah (25:1-9) begins with a Psalm of Thanksgiving, very similar to Psalm 145. The identity of the city that lays in ruin and shall not be rebuilt is unknown. The second part of today’s reading is a prophecy about the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth, which Jesus Christ will establish with His death, Resurrection, Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. The veil of ignorance that had been cast over the nations shall be lifted. The Church of Christ shall be the spiritual mountain, to which the peoples of all nations shall gather in worship. Sin and death shall be conquered, and salvation shall be offered to all who respond with faith, are baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In the second reading from Genesis (9:8-17), God enters into a Covenant with Noah, and all the nations of the earth, a Covenant that will endure until the coming of Christ the Saviour. God promises to never again destroy life on earth by means of a flood. He renews His blessing upon mankind and His original commandment: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (Gen. 9:1). This is first understood in the physical sense. It is a blessing imparted to all marriages, the union of a man and a woman, who become one body in an indissoluble bond of love, according to God’s original plan for marriage. Every marriage blessed by God is to be open to the gift of new life and to welcome children into the world. In addition to this, the commandment “be fruitful and multiply” can also be understood in a spiritual sense, addressed to all people, married and unmarried. All people are called to holiness, to cooperate with God, to be fruitful in the deeds of charity, and to grow in all virtues. A life of holiness and righteousness is possible among all the nations of the earth. Next, to make life simpler, God gives a concession to mankind. He permits the eating of meat on one condition, that the blood, a symbol of life, be returned to the earth as a sign that all life belongs to God. And finally, God institutes His commandment, “You shall not kill.” The punishment for murder is death.
And so, we see the first basic commandments of God that apply to all the nations of the earth in the covenant of Noah. They are:
- Worship the one true God on High, the Creator.
- Honour marriage. “Be fruitful and multiply.”
- Do not kill (murder).
- Abstain from sexual immorality.
- Abstain from meat with blood. Return to God what belongs to God.
The rainbow is set a physical sign of God’s Covenant with Noah and all the nations of the earth.
In the third reading from the Book of Proverbs (12:8-22), the author speaks about the righteous man. How do you recognize the righteous man who is wise and humble? First, you recognize him by the way he treats his animals. A righteous man respects the life of his animals and is never cruel to them. Second, the righteous man is diligent and persistent in his daily work, and he will always have plenty of bread. Third, the righteous man listed to advise. Fourth, the righteous man always tells the truth and never lies. There is no deceit in his heart. the righteous man is a delight to the Lord.