Meditation:
Jacob worried that when he went to Egypt, his family would remain there and they would not fulfill their duty to God to inherit the land of Canaan. However, God tells him that even while in exile from the land of Canaan, God will still be with them and will one day bring them back to Canaan. The time of Lent is like a time of exile. We go away from our usual patterns and fast like Christ in the wilderness. However, we come back transformed into our normal routines through the great feast of Pascha (Easter), just like the Israelites would one day return to the land through the celebration of the Passover.
Reading: Gen 46:1-7
So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their cattle and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
Prayer:
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.
