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Ninth Hour Gospel

Unknown
edited December 1969 in Faith Issues
Hi,

Can someone explain to me the significance of the Gospel read at the ninth hour?

I don't see the connection between the hour of our Lord's death according to the flesh and the story of the loaves and the fish.

I notice the Holy Gospel says "and the day began to wane"; is that a reference to the ninth hour? And if so, is that the only reason it has been appointed to be read at that part of the day, or does the narrative itself have some relation to Christ's death on the Cross?

Thanks

Comments

  • mmatt95mmatt95
    I believe the gospel of the ninth hour (3 pm) gospel talks about this miracle of the five loaves and two fish because its the time we should break our fast. I don't think it has much to do with the death of Christ, because the 6 litanies after the gospel talk about this.
    The same goes for the 6th hour, that gospel is from the sermon on the mount, while the litanies are all about the crucifixion.
  • Unknown
    There is a nice concise but rich explanation about the spirituality of the Agpeya by HH Pope Shenouda:
    http://www.coptichymns.net/module-library-viewpub-tid-1-pid-381.html

    I had read more than 10 years ago a book by HG Anba Mattaos "The Spirituality of Praying Using The Agpeya"; it is in Arabic. I could not find the English translation.

    If I may present an idea: "the five loaves and the two fish" = 7 the number points to the 7 Sacraments, 7 Churches and so on.

    I think the significance lies in that the Lord gave us His Blessed Heavenly Holy Body and Blood to be given to the multitude (all the faithful Church members) for the redemption of their sins. Thus we pray the Lord who accepted to be crucified for us: "We worship You O Christ with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us. O, Who tasted death in the flesh in the ninth hour for our sake, we the sinners, put to death our carnal lusts, O Christ, our God, and deliver us.
    -
    O You, who commended the spirit into the hands of the Father as You hung on the cross, in the ninth hour, and guided the Thief who was crucified with You into entering the Paradise, do not neglect me, O Good One, nor reject me, I, the lost one; but sanctify my soul and enlighten my understanding, and allow me to be a partaker of the grace of Your life-giving mysteries; that when I taste of Your benevolences, I offer You praise without lukewarmness, longing for Your splendor above all things, O Christ our Lord, and deliver us."

    God bless you.
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