Advent Meditations: Wednesday 13 December

Dec 13, 2017 by Jill

WEDNESDAY OF ADVENT II

NOTES ON THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR: The Feast of St. Lucy, Martyr of Syracuse, 304 According to the traditional story, she was born to rich and noble parents about 283. Her father died when she was young. Fifty-two years prior to Saint Lucy, Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr was executed. Saint Agatha’s fame attracted many visitors to her relics at Catania. Lucy and her mother, Eutychia, made the pilgrimage, where Eutychia was healed of a hemorrhage. Lucy persuaded Eutychia to distribute a great part of their riches among the poor. This angered the young man to whom she was betrothed. He reported her as a Christian. She was executed by with sword in the year 303. She was first condemned to suffer the shame of prostitution but in the strength of God she stood unmovable and could not be dragged away to the place of shame. God also saved her from being set on fire. According to some stories, Saint Lucy’s eyes were plucked out during her torture and God miraculously restored her sight. Her feast day is celebrated especially in Sweden, where elements of light and sight, as well as the martyr’s crown, are combined in a beautiful family custom appropriate for Advent celebration.

 SCRIPTURAL MEDITATION In the midst of a sinful people, in the midst of darkness, God’s grace will sustain a faithful remnant, writes Zephaniah. Moreover, a humble and lowly people will be glorified by God in the midst of a people who are arrogant and glory in their own achievements. In many respects that description can fit many countries, societies and cultures across the globe, it illustrates that the reason for our salvation is consistent, despite our great abilities we can be lost and completely fail to see.

It is fitting the feast day of Blessed Lucy comes in Advent. A season for people in darkness to see a great light. Lucy knew well the value of sight as it was used by others to objectify her. She encouraged that those around her see with the eyes of God and eyes of faith. They could not and so a martyr … a witness of light and life was given to the church

PRAYER: Relying on Your goodness, O God, we humbly ask you, by the intercession of your servant, Saint Lucy, to give perfect vision to our eyes, that we may serve for your greater honor and glory. And we pray for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in heaven. Amen

Spiritual Discipline or Activity – As Lucy is the saint for the visually impaired, reach out to those who are visually impaired. Perhaps you can assist in reading the paper or a book to the, also go to    http://www.allaboutvision.org to review the many local and global sites to help another person meet their vision challenges.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE “It is a horrible blindness, indeed, when a mortal man is not ashamed to oppose himself to God; but to such a pitch of madness does Satan carry those who set a higher value on their own ambition than on the truth of God.”. – John Calvin,

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