ADVENT MEDITATIONS: Friday 2 December
PSALMS: am: 16, 17 pm: 22
OLD TESTAMENT: Isa 3: 8-15
EPISTLE: 1 Thess 4: 1-12
GOSPEL: St Luke 20:41-21:4
FRIDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT/ St. Trumwin of Whitby, Monk and Missionary Bishop, 686 -consecrated by St. Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, as a missionary bishop among the Picts, and was the first Bishop of Whithorn, in Galloway. When the Picts reasserted their independence, he retired with a few of his followers to the monastery of Whitby, where he was a leading member of the Synod there.
MEDITATION- In this time of year where we wish to have good will towards all and peace and harmony, we try to avoid the stories in life that let us know that amidst this good season there are people who suffer. Oft times the stories that are related are children who by no fault of their own contract terrible diseases or natural disasters decimating the poorest villages in Haiti. The pictures of such suffering on the news are sad beyond measure. It is often baffling to us why such events occur because in our mind and heart, we think the wicked should suffer; the good, kind, innocent and righteous should flourish. When this isn’t the case we are often confused about the role of God. In today’s Epistle, Paul addresses that that by speaking about the inevitability of suffering for the believer.
Paul seeks to explain to the Thessalonians that as imitators of both Paul and Christ will also suffer. Therefore, from a practical point of view, we, too, can be certain of suffering, if we walk a path of love. While Paul does not offer a theological solution to our liking about the reason and reality of suffering, he does intimate that suffering is the way to maturity and growth. He explains the paradox of our life where suffering poorly may derail faith, while suffering well will deepen faith. What Paul is saying is that the Thessalonians can stand firm during hardships and continue to love, because they have faith in God. This is the only way we will be able to overcome hardships and continue to love sacrificially. In other words, we can love sacrificially, when we realize and experience the sacrificial love of God in Christ. This is our hope and hope does not disappoint.
Advent is a time to proclaim a message of hope and we are called to ponder that He whom God loves most was born on Christmas to suffer most. As beloved by God, we will suffer as well, but we hope that we will never suffer beyond what we can bear because as members of a community of faith we do not bear the suffering and burdens alone and so part of our Advent journey is for the church to ensure that it shares the burdens and sufferings of those who are overwhelmed by such realities and in so doing bring the hope of Christ to the world.
PRAYER: Gracious God, Father, we acknowledge You in every circumstance in our lives and give You praise. Enthrone Yourself on the praises of our hearts, and take on any strategy the enemy is using to bind, block and captivate us. Help us through these days of trials and let us be assured that your love and grace are indeed sufficient as we await the return of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE/ACTIVITY – Spend lunch hour in prayer and solidarity with Christians suffering in Aleppo. Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Christians are under severe threat from both ISIL and the government Please pray their protection. Learn about this and the many faith communities under siege as part of your meditation by going to http://www.churchinneed.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AN_News and you can also make a contribution of funds to assist at www.acnuk.org or www.churchinneed.org
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “And if it lies in your choice, you should choose . . . to suffer hardships for Christ’s sake, than to be refreshed by many consolations; for thus you will more closely resemble Christ and all His Saints. For our merit and spiritual progress does not consist in enjoying such sweetness and consolation, but rather in the bearing of great burdens and troubles.” Thomas A’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, iii, 12,.
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