Advent Meditations: Saturday 9 December
| Sat Dec 9 |
am: 90, 146 pm: 130, 16 |
Amos 5:1-17 | Jude:17-25 | Matt 22:1-14 |
SATURDAY OF ADVENT I : Saint Engratia and the Martyrs of Saragossa, 304
TODAY ON THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR: Engratia was a native of Braga who had been promised in marriage to a nobleman. He sent as her escort to Gaul her uncle Lupercius (sometimes identified with the Luperculus who was a bishop of Eauze ) and a suite of sixteen noblemen and a servant named Julie/ Julia. Upon reaching Saragossa, they learned of the persecution of Christians there by the governor Dacian, who reigned in the time of the emperors of Diocletian and Maximian. She attempted to dissuade him from his persecution, but was whipped and imprisoned when it was discovered that she was a Christian. She died of her wounds. Her companions 18 others at the time were decapitated
MEDITATION: Today we hear one of the great lamentations about the failings of the people of Israel with a very strong appeal to Seek the Lord now. For some Advent is still seen as a “ mini- Lent” , a time for repentance and renewal and perhaps as part of an Advent spirituality of hope and expectation there should be a call to repentance. The reason why we await in hope is that left to our own devices we all too easily become a lost people, a lamentable lot! The lesson from Amos sounds harsh but remember these were God’s own, his chosen who totally abandoned his ways. The one whom we await in hopeful expectation came to ensure that ultimate abandonment does not happen to his Father’s creation but ultimate redemption instead. Perhaps one of the key ideas that resonates with our time is in v.11 where the idea of faith and practice does not really effect the lives of God’s people. Advent is a time for us to take stock and find ways that our faith and practice do connect to our lives and the lives of the people around us. The people who walk in darkness need to see a great light! Who will show it to them? If not, the people who claim that they are already children of the light then there is indeed a disconnect between our faith and practice. The Martyrs at Saragossa knew well that their martyrdom was only an extension of the conviction that dynamic witness requires a turning from sin and to the Lord in a way that shows the world a true way of righteousness.
PRAYER: I Lord You alone know my heart and my ways, and you love me more than I even know how to love. Enable me to live rightly for you . Give me grace to wait on you and your Holy Will and let my heart be ever open to you and for your great mercy’s let my words and actions be consistent to your ways always. AMEN.
Spiritual Discipline/Activity- Today, being mindful of the many martyrs of the church is a worthy way to use lunch time. Go to the Voice of the Martyrs and pray for the needs listed http://www.persecution.com/ and how this makes you more grateful,
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:” But the price of these deaths is the death of one man. How many deaths were bought with one dying man, who was the grain of wheat that would not have been multiplied if he had not died! You have heard his words when he was drawing near to our passion, that is, when he was drawing near to our redemption: Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. — St. Augustine Sermon 329 (Sermon 329, 1-2: PL 3)
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