Advent Meditations: Friday 6 December

Dec 6, 2019 by Jill

FRIDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT : Saint Nicholas of Myra, 343

consecrated by St. Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, as a missionary bishop among the Picts, and Nicholas was born at Patara in Lycia in the third century. His parents, who had been growing old without having a child, are said to have obtained him by force of prayer. Nicholas, losing his father and mother at an early age, devoted his life to the poor and afflicted of every kind. Late in his life, after he had been made Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) Nicholas suffered imprisonment for his faith. He died tranquilly in his episcopal city. Since 1087 his relics have been preserved at Bari in Italy and as a result is sometimes known also as St. Nicholas of Bari . Devotion to St. Nicholas began in his native Asia Minor, and was brought to Russia by an emperor who was witness to his miraculous works. The devotion spread through Lapland and into Scandinavia, thence to all Europe and across to the New World. In early times, Nicholas was pictured as a kind, lean, ascetic bishop, but in America he became fat and jolly. His miter turned into a winter bonnet, his vestments became a snow suit. He retained his reindeer from Lapland, his love for chimneys from his own Asia Minor, and his love of children from all time.

MEDITATION- Today and tomorrow the Office Readings are taken from the Book of Jude. While brief it can offer richness, if we but take the time to ponder and not just read it quickly. He describes himself as “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James.” He deliberately focuses on his spiritual relationship with Jesus, rather than the possible familial connection. That is not how we approach relationships necessarily but perhaps for Jude he knew the essence of life was in the spiritual relationship which is ultimately of eternal significance.

He claims that eternal promise by phrasing what has now  become almost a battle cry for Anglican orthodoxy, that is  “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” While Jude does not define it, he does point out however, that the faith had been “once for all delivered to the saints was not given to a privileged class of church leaders; it was given to “the saints,” that is, to all the faithful .  This is a  faith” does not change and develop over the centuries; it is given “once for all and so the relationships that are based in this reality are the one’s that will last in this life and the next!  A difficult but important question is simply this: Are all of our relationships based in the faith once delivered?

ACTIVITY – Consider a true celebration of St. Nicholas Day. Host a St. Nicholas party or tea.  Invite guests to bring an unwrapped gift for someone less fortunate, and you provide the wrappings. Contact a local shelter, nursing home, or hospital to ask what kinds of donations are most needed. Serve traditional St. Nicholas Day fare. And send out a note saying: Please join me for the cup that cheers, and make the season bright by bringing an unwrapped gift for someone very young or very old, December 6, 2–4 pm

PRAYER: O God our Father, we pray that through Your intercession of St. Nicholas You will protect our children. Keep them safe from harm and help them grow and become worthy in Your sight. Give them strength to keep their Faith in You; and to keep alive their joy in Your creation. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.. Amen

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  “For wherever both the true Christian rule and faith shall be shown to be, there will be the true Scriptures, and the true expositions, of all the true Christian traditions”. Tertullian from The Prescription of Heretics # 19.

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