Today, we consider the Old Testament readings appointed for March 17 (Isaiah 13:2-13; Genesis 8:4-21; Proverbs 10:31-11:12) in the light of the life of Holy Bishop Patrick, and especially the prayer of the “Lorica” (the Breastplate) ascribed to him.

Consider the passages in St. Andrew’s canon concerning Moses, alongside Hebrews 11:24-25, 32-40 and John 1:43-51 and 2 Peter 1. We learn the apostolic way of reading the Old Testament as warnings and examples to help us at the beginning of Great Lent.

Today, on what has unfortunately become a merely “secular” festival, we recover a deeper Valentine’s message by considering what our faith has to say about romance and true love. We look at the life of the third century St. Valentine, and consider Hebrews 13:4, Genesis 1 and 2, Ephesians 5; and the book of Tobit (especially 8:4-8).

We consider the humility of Jesus and the Theotokos in the Presentation, as well as the reason why humility is so important, as seen in our readings for Divine Liturgy this Sunday (2 Timothy 3:10-15; Luke 18:10-14), in the light of Hezekiah’s plea before God in 4 Kingdoms 19:9-20 and our Lord’s own pattern in Philippians 2: 5-11.

We consider the formation and exemplary service of the Holy Apostle Timothy, as is foreshadowed in the instructions of 1 Timothy 4:9-15. We may range this great martyr alongside other leaders who are overshadowed by their mentors in the Old Testament (Joshua by Moses; Elisha by Elijah), and by considering our call to the cruciform life, rather than to notoriety or status.

We understand Jesus’ circumcision and devoted youth, described in Luke 2:2-21 and 40-52, in terms of the epistle reading for January first, Colossians 2:8-12, and with the help of various verses in Exodus, Deuteronomy and Numbers. In his new life, we are made new!

The “unnecessary” stories of the three youths (in Daniel 3 and The Song of Azariah) and of St. Joseph, husband of the Theotokos (Matthew 1) are illumined by God’s care for the humble in Deuteronomy 10:14-21.

We look at the Psalms, the purpose of the Torah for the Hebrew people, and the story of David dancing before the ark to illumine the theme of liberty seen in our readings for this coming Divine Liturgy.

Looking at the heart of things clearly a principle of the Old Testament as well as the New. But in the NT, we learn also that God has concern for the material world and for the details of life, for in the Incarnation He took on all that it is to be human. We read our passages for Divine Liturgy in the light of other Old and New Testament readings that help us to see things in perspective. (Galatians 6:11-18; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Chronicles 28:9)

Looking at the heart of things clearly a principle of the Old Testament as well as the New. But in the NT, we learn also that God has concern for the material world and for the details of life, for in the Incarnation He took on all that it is to be human. We read our passages for Divine Liturgy in the light of other Old and New Testament readings that help us to see things in perspective. (Galatians 6:11-18; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Chronicles 28:9)