Advent Meditations: Tuesday 11 December
| Tue Dec 11 |
am: 26, 28 pm: 36, 39 |
Isa 5:13-25 | 1 Thess 5:12-28 | Luke 21:29-38 |
St. Damasus, Bishop and Biblicist, 343.
ABOUT TODAY ON THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR: Damasus is perhaps best well known for commissioning St. Jerome to complete the translation of the Bible into the Latin language. It was under his wishes that the various books of the Bible, scattered in different parts of the Orient, were collected into one volume. So committed to the Psalms, he insured that the practice of singing the Psalms day and night in the churches would be a norm and was the person added “the Glory Be”/Gloria Patri at the end of each Psalm.
MEDITATION – It is fitting on this day that we consider the Psalms appointed for today and perhaps especially Psalm 36. In this psalm the psalmist echoes some of the very themes we face now. He contrasts the experience of living in the dark places of life as opposed to seeking the light of God in Christ Jesus. Again we are confronted with that theme that haunts us throughout Advent. There are choices to be made as the calendar moves toward December 25th through January 6th. The choices that we may make could lead us to darkness because it reflects a life and vision that does not seek to honor or acknowledge the Lord and his ways. Conversely, the psalmist also describes the possibilities of choosing the path of God and how the fruits of this very season love, peace, faith and joy are experienced. The psalm does not leave us in a state of darkness wallowing in the abyss but instead draws us to embrace a God who cares. Not only about his own but all the peoples of the world; which in turn compels us to see the world differently.
PRAYER: Gracious and loving God and Father, we pray that in this season where you call each of to make a clear change in life’s direction, your grace will abound in those of us who seek you. We pray that a renewed faithfulness will strengthen not only me but everyone I am in relationship with so that they too may be called to greater faithfulness to you. Amen.
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE/ACTIVITY – Read the Booklet by Rick Warren entitled Taking an Honest and Spiritual Inventory. Ask another spiritual friend to also read it and discuss it with each other
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “The Psalms heals the old wounds of the soul and gives relief to recent ones. It cures the illnesses and preserves the health of the soul. The Psalms brings peace, soothes the internal conflicts, calms the rough waves of evil thoughts, dissolves anger, corrects and moderates profligacy. Every Psalm preserves friendship and reconciles those who are separated. Who could actually regard as an enemy the person beside whom they have raised a song to the one God? ”. St. Basil the Great from The Commentary on Psalm 1.
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