Voices ever ancient, ever new. Lent, Week 4: Wednesday

“For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.” (John 5:20)

Saint Basil the Great offers the following insight on this verse from today's Gospel:

“He says that “the Son can do nothing of his own accord.” Where is the source of his perfect wisdom? “The Father has himself given me his command of what to say and what to speak.” Through all these words he guides us to the knowledge of the Father; he directs our amazement at everything he has made so that we may know the Father through him. The work of the Father is not separate or distinct from the work of the Son. Whatever the Son “sees the Father doing that the Son does likewise.” The Father enjoys our awe at everything which proceeds from the glory of the Only Begotten. He rejoices both in his Son who accomplishes such deeds and in the deeds themselves, and he exults in being known as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, “for whom and through whom all things exist.”” (On the Spirit, 8)





O God, who reward the merits of the just
and offer pardon to sinners who do penance,
have mercy, we pray, on those who call upon you,
that the admission of our guilt
may serve to obtain your pardon for our sins.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.





Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.