Lenten Meditations: Wednesday 4 March
Psalm: am: 119:49-72 pm: 49, 53
Old Testament: Gen 37:25-36
Epistle: 1 Cor 2:1-13
Gospel: Mark 1:29-45
FIRST WEDNESDAY IN LENT St. Adrian, Bishop of St. Andrew’s, Scotland, 874. & St. Casimir, 1482 .
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: St. Adrian was bishop and defender of the faith in Scotland against the Danish invasion, Adrian was martyred on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth in Scotland with other monks. St. Casmir is the patron Saints for Poland and Lithuania as he was royalty from those regions. He was committed to being a Christian monarch who never married so he may be of service to his people. Generosity abounded from him and many miracles ascribed to his intercession
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: As we see the opening of Mark’s Gospel is quite unlike the other two Synoptic Gospel of Matthew and Luke. Mark’s is giving us a birds eye view of what life was like following Jesus. He moved among the people with great intentionality. There was nothing haphazard about where and with whom he moved. He goes to the home of Simon and Andrew where Simon’s mother-in-law is sick. Jesus heals her, and not surprisingly the crowds gather and the healings continue. Without due course the next day he makes clear in his preaching and teaching the why of all this wonder that has attracted so many . What we see in this passage are the many facets of Jesus as Messiah. He is the Compassionate One, The Wise Teacher but perhaps most importantly he is the one who holds a spiritual authority not previously seen or imagined. Jesus’ “asserts Jesus his solidarity and engagement with the least and is on the side of the poor in the various dimensions of their poverty. He acts on their behalf to make known the kingdom. As his followers the culture we live in must wonder if we Christian will act as he did. Teaching not with our lips but with our lives seeking to be instruments of healing in a broken and hurting world. It is unlikely that great crowds may follow us but there are indeed people watching us to see what we shall be and do.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: God our Father, teach us to find new life through care for those in need. Keep us from the sin of omission, and help us live by your commandment of love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Christ, like a skillful physician, understands the weakness of men. He loves to teach the ignorant and the erring he turns again to his own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith and to those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately.”– St. Hyppolytus (Treatise on Christ and Antichrist )
LENTEN DISCIPLINE – Seek out a person today who is in need of healing in heart, mind, body or soul and bring the presence of Christ to them.
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