1350 B.C.Job The
righteous (whose name means "persecuted"), God's faithful servant, was
the perfect image of every virtue
The son of Zarah and Bossorha (Job 42), Job was a fifth-generation
descendent of Abraham. He was a truthful, righteous, patient and pious
man who abstained from every evil thing. Job was very rich and blessed
by God in all things, as was no other son of Ausis (his country, which
lay between Idoumea and Arabia). However, divine condescension
permitted him to be tested. Job lost his children, his wealth,
his
glory, and every consolation all at once. His entire body became a
terrible wound covered with boils. Yet he remained steadfast and
patient in the face of his misfortune for seven years, always giving
thanks to God.
Later, God restored his former prosperity, and he had twice as much as
before. Job lived for 170 years after his misfortune, completing his
earthly life in 1350 B.C. at the age of 240. Some authorities say that
Job's afflictions lasted only one year, and that afterwards he lived
for 140 years, reaching the age of 210.
Job's explanations are among the most poetic writings in the Old
Testament book which bears his name. It is one of the most edifying
portions of Holy Scripture. Job teaches us that we must endure life's
adversities patiently and with trust in God. As St Anthony the Great
(January 17) says, without temptations, it is impossible for the
faithful to be saved.
The Orthodox Church reads the book of Job, the first of the seven
wisdom books of the Old Testament, during Holy Week, drawing a parallel
between Job and Christ as righteous men who suffered through no fault
of their own. God allowed Satan to afflict Job so that his faithfulness
would be proven. Christ, the only sinless one, suffered voluntarily for
our sins. The Septuagint text of Job 42:17 says that Job "will rise
again with those whom the Lord raises up." This passage is read on
Great and Holy Friday, when the composite Gospel at Vespers speaks of
the tombs being opened at the moment the Savior died on the Cross, and
the bodies of the saints were raised, and they appeared to many after
Christ's Resurrection (Mt.27:52 ) |
9th
v. BC Elisha The Holy Prophet was a native of the
village of Abelmaum, near Jordan. By the command of the Lord he was
called to prophetic service by the holy Prophet Elias (July 20).
He
spent more than 65 years in prophetic service, under six Israelite
kings (from Ahab to Joash). While Elisha lived, he did not tremble
before any prince, and no word could overcome him (Sirach 48: 13
["Sirach" is called "Ecclesiasticus" in Catholic Bibles ]).
When it became time for
the Prophet Elias to be taken up
to Heaven, he said to Elisha, "Ask what shall I do for you, before I am
taken from you." Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of the grace
of God: "Let there be a double portion of your spirit upon me." The
Prophet Elias said, "You have asked a hard thing; if you see me when I
am taken from you, then so shall it be for you; but if you don't see
me, it wilt not be" (4 [2] Kings 2: 12). As they went along the way
talking, there appeared a fiery chariot and horses and separated them
both. Elisha cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel
and its horse!" (4 Kings 2: 12). Picking up the mantle of his teacher
which fell from the sky, Elisha received the power and prophetic gift
of Elias. He spent more than 65 years in prophetic service, under six
Israelite kings (from Ahab to Joash). While Elisha lived, he did not
tremble before any prince, and no word could overcome him (Sirach 48:
13 ["Sirach" is called "Ecclesiasticus" in Catholic Bibles ]).
The holy prophet worked numerous miracles. He divided
the waters of the
Jordan, having struck it with the mantle of the Prophet Elias; he made
the waters of a Jericho spring fit for drinking; he saved the armies of
the kings of Israel and Judah that stood in an arid wilderness by
bringing forth abundant water by his prayer; he delivered a poor widow
from death by starvation through a miraculous increase of oil in a
vessel. The Shunamite woman showing hospitality to the prophet was
gladdened by the birth of a son through his prayer, and when the child
died, he was raised back to life by the prophet. The Syrian
military-commander Namaan was healed from leprosy but the prophet's
servant Gehazi was afflicted since he disobeyed the prophet and took
money from Namaan on the sly.
Elisha predicted to the Israelite king Joash the victory
over his
enemies, and by the power of his prayer he worked many other miracles
(4 Kings 3-13). The holy Prophet Elisha died in old age at Samaria. "In
his life he worked miracles, and at death his works were marvellous"
(Sir. 48: 15). A year after his death, a corpse was thrown into the
prophet's grave. As soon as the dead man touched Elisha's bones, he
came to life and stood up (4 Kings 13: 20-21). The Prophet Elisha and
his teacher, the Prophet Elias, left no books behind them, since their
prophetic preaching was oral. Jesus, son of Sirach, praised both great
prophets (Sir. 48:1-15).
John of Damascus composed a
canon in honor of the Prophet Elisha, and at Constantinople a church
was built in his honor.
Julian the Apostate (361-363) gave orders to burn the relics
of the
Prophet Elisha, Abdia (Obadiah) and John the Forerunner, but the holy
relics were preserved by believers, and part of them were transferred
to Alexandria.
In
the twentieth century, the humble priest Nicholas Planas had a great
veneration for the Prophet Elisha,
and was accounted worthy to
see him
in visions.
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