Lenten Meditations: Friday 7 April

Apr 7, 2017 by Jill

Lenten Discipline – Seek out a person in your life who needs a substitute as they are struggling to fulfill an obligation at church, school or home. Offer to take their place, no strings attached. Express to them your desire that this will give them some breathing room that perhaps they can have their strength renewed and refreshed. If Wednesday is your family night, as it is with some families, use this time to view the film Chariots of Fire and go to http://www.krigline.com/chariots.htm to have a family discussion based on this Christian study guide.

FIFTH FRIDAY IN LENT – Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Teacher, 1719

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY – Born of a wealthy family in Rheims, France in 1651, he was only eleven when he discerned the call to become a priest. He received the best education and with his family connections, everyone believed that he would become an important person in the Church, as he was first assigned to the cathedral in Rheims. While serving there, he came across Arian Nyel, a man from another part of France who had opened four schools for poor boys. In those days, only wealthy children could afford an education. Mr. Nyel convinced John Baptist that he must establish schools for poor boys in Rheims.

John’s first school attracted so many students that a second school had to be started. But John was disappointed with the teachers. They were not well educated and were often cruel to the children. It is said that he fired all of them and began to train new teachers who would do a better job. Thereafter, he formed a religious community called the “Brothers of the Christian Schools.” They were the first religious order established to educate the poor and continue that vital ministry throughout the world to this day. He is the patron saint of teachers.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:  There is an old saying that people often say to a person when trying to encourage them or bid them farewell and it is simply, “Keep the Faith”. Perhaps there was a time that it would be a given as to what faith would be kept but in this day and age it may not be so clear nor so easy to do! But is it ever easy to keep the Faith? Is it supposed to be? If so where does it say that? We are reminded din the Psalm appointed for eventide that sometimes the playing field doesn’t seem level as we read Asaph describing what he is seeing in the world he lives. He says the ungodly don’t seem to have any stress, they are open and proud of immoral behavior; they are not afraid to be violent; have no reservations about planning evil in their hearts; or talking badly about God; they threatened people; and viewed themselves as superior to others. These are the basic elements that Asaph viewed which almost led him to fall away from the faith.

Is it possible that we in the church can say and do things in our living of life that might cause people to question why and how we are people of faith? Lent is a time of repentance, sometimes what we should repent from is the self-righteous smug attitude that denies the humility of Christ and the charity of his church. De La Salle who is remembered this day, reached out to the poorest of the poor because he thought the attitude of the church towards them gave an impression not to different from what Asaph was viewing some centuries ago.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: “Lord God, your spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us your ways. Look upon those called to vocation of teacher. Let them strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience and endeavor always to bring the truth which has its source in you to eager minds. Grant that they may follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, for ever and ever. Amen.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty… acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.”—-J. I Packer

Lenten Discipline –  – On this day when the church commemorates the challenge of teaching in this day and age, it would be good to remember those who seek to live out their faith by being stewards of the values and knowledge in the service of children through teaching. it would be a good discipline to pray for them this day. You can go a step further by doing an act of kindness for the teachers (gift card for Starbucks, a lunch, a letter of thanks) in your life this day.

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