Advent Meditations: Monday 10 December

Dec 10, 2018 by Jill

FEAST DAY: Saints, Menas, Hermogenes, & Eugraphos, Martyrs of Alexandria, 235

ABOUT TODAY ON THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR –  As we consider the plight of persecuted Christians, in our prayer and reflection it may be worth a moment of reflection to consider the long Christian witness in that place. Saint Menas, of Athens was a military officer, an educated man and skilled in speech, Eugraphos was his scribe. Both had Christian parents. The Emperor Maximinus (235 to 238) sent Saint Menas to Alexandria to employ his eloquence to end certain strife among the citizens. Saint Menas, having accomplished this, also employed his eloquence to strengthen the Christians in their faith, which when Maximinus heard, he sent Hermogenes, who was an eparch born to unbelievers to turn Menas away from Christ. But Hermogenes rather came to the Faith of Christ because of the miracles wrought by Saint Menas. Saints Menas, Eugraphos, and Hermogenes received the crown of martyrdom in the year 235.

MEDITATION – The psalm 122 clearly joins the resounding voice of expectation for the coming King for Israel. The sense of expectation they have about it is almost palpable. That coming King shall bring a reign of Peace and it will go forth from Jerusalem. The Psalm exudes one of the central themes of Advent, namely Hope. The hope that David seeks in the holy sanctuary of worship and justice is the hope of all ages. IN these tense times where there are concerns about everything from Brexit to nuclear escalation what better opportunity in the days of Advent than to “ pray for the peace of Jerusalem”. Because to seek that in prayer is  to pray for the coming of the Promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. We, Christians many centuries later are called into the sanctuary of the Lord to be instruments if hope, peace, justice and mercy. However, we know well that it is a peace that only God provides.. It is a  is peace and security  that turns swords into plowshares. That marvels at the beauty fo Jerusalem for all God’s people. Here is an opportunity this Advent for us to enter a presence for which all people long in the for: “Peace be within “.

Prayer: God of Grace, I need your help to accomplish the peace that I so desperately seek. I know you do offer me such grace and strength in the promise of your Son’s coming. Give me the perseverance to seek your pathways to peace and justice and open my heart to accept your gifts for my life in service of Your Son’s Kingdom. AMEN

Spiritual DISCIPLINE: Find a place today that is quiet, a place set apart. Compose a list of all those who you know who are not open to be at peace with you . Pray for each of them by name by using the prayer appointed for today.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “If your brother does not wish to live peaceably with you, nevertheless, guard yourself against hatred, praying for him sincerely and not abusing him to anybody.”-+ St. Maximos the Confessor,

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