Lenten Meditations: Monday 26 February
| Mon Feb 26 |
am: 58 pm: 38 |
Gen 41:25-47 | 1 Cor 4:8-21 | Luke 6: 36-38 |
MONDAY OF LENT II – Saint Porphyrius of Gaza, Bishop, 450
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Saint Porphyrius had Thessalonica as his homeland. He became a monk in Scete of Egypt, where he lived for five years. He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, after which he spent five years in much affliction in a cave near the Jordan. Stricken with a disease of the liver, he departed to Jerusalem, where he was ordained presbyter and appointed Keeper of the Cross at the age of 45. Three years later he was made Bishop of Gaza. He suffered much from the rulers and pagans of Gaza; but with the friendship of Saint John Chrysostom, and the patronage of the Empress Eudoxia, he razed the temple of the idol Marnas in Gaza and built a great church to the glory of God
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: The lessons today are taken from the Church of Ireland Daily Lectionary with today’s Epistle lessons striking a chord no doubt for many readers. As we consider the words of St. Paul in his challenge to the leaders of the Church in Corinth we must wonder how often we have experienced church leadership be immature and arrogant or perhaps how we in who are members have come across that way to people who are being exposed to the Body of Christ for the first time.
This lesson reminds us that the whole body of Christ leaders (clergy and lay ) as well as members are to engage in a ministry of humility. While being part of he community of redeemed is something to rejoice in it is not something that blesses others when condescension and pride are the fruits people encounter. In this season of Lent we must offer a model where we are not the greatest but the least, where we offer a witness that is not afraid of suffering and sacrifice. That is where real leadership in the church is found and followed. Perhaps that is why Paul puts himself forward as a model to consider as his life in Christ was marked as one that evidenced humility, self-denial and self-sacrifice. He suggests to the church at Corinth and to us today that these are the very characteristics that people are attracted to in the community of faith. As the church in the modern period continues to reel from scandals involving leaders engaged sexual abuse, financial malfeasance, egotism, deceit and many other offenses, the words of St. Paul in this lesson are timely and worthy of discussion.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: O giver of every good and perfect gift, if at any time you please to work by my hand, teach me to discern what is my own from what is another’s, and to render unto you the things that are yours. As all the good that is done on earth you do it yourself, let me ever return to you all the glory. Let me, as a pure crystal, transmit all the light you pour upon me; but never claim as my own what is your sole property. Amen – – John Wesley
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “True humility does not say humble words, nor does it assume humble looks, it does not force oneself either to think humbly of oneself, or to abuse oneself in self-belittlement. Although all such things are the beginning, the manifestations and the various aspects of humility, humility itself is grace, given from above. There are two kinds of humility, as the holy fathers teach: to deem oneself the lowest of all beings and to ascribe to God all one’s good actions. The first is the beginning, the second the end.”- St. Gregory of Sinai
Lenten Discipline – Use today as an opportunity to be deferential to others at work and home. Instead of promoting oneself consider building up others with every conversation and every action undertaken today.
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