Advent Meditations: Thursday 10 December

Dec 9, 2020 by Jill

Thur
Dec 10

am: 37:1-18
pm: 37:19-42

Isa 7:1-9

Timothy 2:20-26

Mark 8:11-21

ON THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR Sts, Menas, Hermogenes, & Eugraphos, Martyrs of Alexandria, 235

As we consider the plight of Christians in Egypt these days, 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 New Testament Lessons today are both taken from the Office Readings from the calendar of the Orthodox Church for the feast of the Martyrs of Alexandria. In the gospel passage the Pharisees demanded a sign to test him for they did not believe in Jesus. What if Jesus had given the sign they desired, would they believe or have the outcome be any different? The key to signs is that you must be open to receiving them, not whether or not they are to be given. Signs in this context point beyond the present context to something else, something more, and is often a means of communicating this more to those who experience it.

However, none of that is possible if you are not open to the possibilities. So, for some this season of Advent may be a time where candles that serve as quaint lighting and evergreen serves as a house freshener, but to those who are open to the possibility they are so much more. As we find ourselves in the shortest and in some cases darkest days of winter, the Light of Christ. Those candles remind us of the journey of the one who came into the world and comes in and shines great light. We who are open can place our hope that the power of God can still break into the darkness and change lives but only if you are open to that possibility. No wonder the Pharisees never understood!

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

Spiritual DISCIPLINE: Bring Candles and an Advent wreath to a person whose light is dimming spiritually or emotionally and share the prayers with them. Consider also sharing with them Candle for the Feast of St. Lucy on the 13^th of December

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Candles represent the Eternal Light, and also the light which shines from the righteous.” St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem from Writings of the Holy Fathers.

See also: Advent Devotion 09 – Kingdom of Righteousness, from GAFCON