Thursday Jan 3 / 16 2025 ns • Holy Prophet Malachi, Holy Martyr Górdios, St. Thomaḯs of Lésbos, St. Geneviève of Paris, St. Peter of Atroa ~ No Fasting ~ Forefeast: II St. Tim. 4:5-8; St. Mark 1:1-8 ~ MYSTIC TREATISES BY SAINT ISAAC OF NINEVEH

Holy Prophet Malachi, Holy Martyr Górdios,  St. Thomaḯs of Lésbos, St. Geneviève of Paris,  St. Peter of Atroa

 ~NO FASTING~

♛ Malachi was the last of the prophets in time. He was born after the return of the Hebrews from the Babylonian Captivity in 538 B.C. He was unusually handsome in countenance. According to legend, the people called him an angel, perhaps because of his external beauty or because of his spiritual purity, or even, perhaps because of his association with an angel of God. On many occasions he spoke face to face with an angel. When this occurred, others heard the voice of an angel; but they were not worthy to see the face of the angel. That which the angel proclaimed, the young Malachi prophesied. He cried out against ungrateful Israel and against the lawless priests.

Five hundred years before Christ, Malachi clearly prophesied the coming and the mission of John the Baptist: "Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me" (Malachi 3:7). Mainly, he is the prophet of the day of the Dreadful Judgment. "Before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day" (Malachi 3: 23-24). He presented himself to the Lord while still young. Following him, there were no more prophets in Israel until John the Baptist.

2 Saint Timothy 4:5-8 KJV

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Saint Mark 1:1-8 KJV

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

GREATEST PROPHET BELOVED JOHN

WHO LAID HIS HAND ON THE HEAD

OF GOD

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

MYSTIC TREATISES
BY SAINT ISAAC OF NINEVEH

{Edited version}

If you haven't entirely exchanged your life for the will of God, do not think that your behavior has accomplished something, until tears come forth; for the hidden being still ministers to the world.

This means, that you are basically on the same stage of with the outward man, still on the surface of God and the inward man is still without food. His fruits begin at the point which I have indicated - with tears.

When thou has reached the place of tears then understand that the spirit has left the prison of this world and set his foot on the way towards the new world. 

AGAIN:  When thou has reached the place of tears then understand that the spirit has left the prison of this world and set his foot on the way towards the new world. 

Then it begins to breathe the wonderful air which is there, and to spend tears, for now the throws caused by the spiritual child within become ardent, and grace, the common mother, hastily delivers as it were, the soul, God's image unto the light of the world to come and when the time of Earth is come, then the mind will perceive something belonging to that world like a faint perfume which the child has received in the members into which it has grown.