Lenten Meditations: Friday 27 March
| Fri Mar 27 |
am: 107:1-32 pm: 107:33-43 |
Exodus 2:1-22 | 1 Cor 12:27-13:3 | Mark 9:2-13 |
FOURTH FRIDAY OF LENT – Saint Alkeld , Virgin and Martyr , 800
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Akeld was a Saxon princess (and probably a nun). he was murdered beside the spring by two Viking women who detested her Christian beliefs. Legend says they used a long length of cloth or something similar to carry out the terrible deed. After her death on the 28th March 800 AD she was proclaimed a martyr. Her bones were discovered along with a Saxon stone (part of her shrine) in the church at Meddleham UK last century. A stained-glass window (partly14th century) depicts the saint’s martyrdom.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: As we consider the continuing story in the Old Testament because it resonates so closely the steps of our own Lenten journey. The Israelites have remained in Egypt after Joseph’s death. Proving again none of us really likes changes they stay put but have become quite populous, and Pharaoh, is threatened by their growing numbers. He responds in a typically worldly fashion: employ brute force and try to contain them by violent oppression. So, the stage is being set for God’s plan to deliver his people. As God delivered his people in Egypt so he seeks to do that for us, but we must be willing to be led which is not always our first inclination.
It is interesting to note that the sons of Israel and their families numbered 70 (v. 5) when they arrived in Egypt, a mere clan. But when the “sons of Israel” leave Egypt, they do so as a great nation with a vision and a leader! We are given a glimpse of the continuity of God’s plan by the fact that the promises and purposes of God commenced in the Book of Genesis will be continued in the Book of Exodus. However, as we see in these books human beings do try to interfere with God’s plan and God ultimately does work through such circumstances ( even slavery and oppression in this case) to demonstrate his power. The continuity of God is a good lesson for us to remember when faced with adversity because God does prevail.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: “ Jesus, I am humbled that You consider me worthy to be used—in ways big and small—to accomplish Your will here on earth. I pray you to please help me respond without hesitation whenever I perceive Your voice calling me into action, heeding not the cost by rather embracing the opportunity. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: – “The believing have, in love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not in readiness to die into his suffering, his life is not in us– Ignatius of Antioch,.
Lenten Discipline – Read the Gifts of the Jews by Thomas Cahill this day. which is a popular account of ancient Jewish culture, the culture of the Bible? The Gifts of the Jews encourages us to see the Old Testament through ancient eyes—while seeking a renewed faith.
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