An orphan, our holy mother Matrona was a servant in the home of a Jewish man in Thessalonica in the mid-fourth century. The wife of her master continually mocked Matrona for her faith in Christ. She tried to persuade Matrona to deny Christ and attend the synagogue. But the meek Matrona went about her work conscientiously and said nothing to her mistress. One one occasion, it was discovered that Matrona was attending church unbeknownst to her mistress. In her anger, she asked Matrona why she did not attend the synagogue rather than the church. To this Matrona replied: “Because God lives in the Christian churches, and He withdraws from the Jewish synagogues.” Furious at this bold reply, the mistress beat Matrona, locked her in a dark room, and bound her hands. The next day as Matrona was kneeling in prayer and glorifying God, her ropes fell off by the power of God. On two more occasions she was locked up again. In the end she died of starvation. The evil mistress then took the body of the holy maiden and hurled it to the ground from the roof of her home. Christians took the martyr’s body and buried it with honor. Bishop Alexander, learning of the many miraculous works of this holy martyr, erected a church over her grave.
O Jesus, your lamb Matrona cries out to You with great love: O my Bridegroom, I long for You in great pain. I am crucified with You, and in baptism I am buried with You. I suffer for your sake in order to reign with You. I die for You in order to live in You. Accept me as an immaculate victim since I am immolated for your love. Through her intercession, O merciful One, save our souls.
You worked with honor for the Master and steadfastly refused to dishonor Him. You endured imprisonment and wounds and even gave your life for Him. O martyr Matrona, so wise in God, now pray for those who honor your mercy.
Genesis 10:32- 11:9
These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their origins and by their nations. From these the nations of the earth branched out after the flood.
The whole world had the same language and the same words. When they were migrating from the east, they came to a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire.” They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth.”
The Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the people had built. Then the Lord said: If now, while they are one people and all have the same language, they have started to do this, nothing they presume to do will be out of their reach. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that no one will understand the speech of another. So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the speech of all the world. From there the Lord scattered them over all the earth.
Proverbs 13:19- 14:6
The light of the just gives joy, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
The stupid sow discord by their insolence, but wisdom is with those who take counsel.
Wealth won quickly dwindles away, but gathered little by little, it grows.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life.
Whoever despises the word must pay for it, but whoever reveres the command will be rewarded.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
Good sense brings favor, but the way of the faithless is their ruin.
The shrewd always act prudently but the foolish parade folly.
A wicked messenger brings on disaster, but a trustworthy envoy is a healing remedy.
Poverty and shame befall those who let go of discipline, but those who hold on to reproof receive honor.
Desire fulfilled delights the soul, but turning from evil is an abomination to fools.
Walk with the wise and you become wise, but the companion of fools fares badly.
Misfortune pursues sinners, but the just shall be recompensed with good.
The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the just.
The tillage of the poor yields abundant food, but possessions are swept away for lack of justice.
Whoever spares the rod hates the child, but whoever loves will apply discipline.
When the just eat, their hunger is appeased; but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
Wisdom builds her house, but Folly tears her down with her own hands.
Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord, but those who are devious in their ways spurn him.
In the mouth of the fool is a rod for pride, but the lips of the wise preserve them.
Where there are no oxen, the crib is clean; but abundant crops come through the strength of the bull.
A trustworthy witness does not lie, but one who spouts lies makes a lying witness.
The scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for the intelligent.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Wednesday, March 26 –
