Advent Meditations: Wednesday 9 December
| Wed Dec 9 |
am 38 pm: 119:25-48 |
Isa 6:1-13 | 2 Thes 1:1-12 | John 7:53-8:11 |
ON THE CHURCH CALENDAR: St. Engratia and the Martyrs of Saragossa, 304: Engratia was a native of Braga who had been promised in marriage to a nobleman. He sent as her escort to Gaul her uncle Lupercius (sometimes identified with the Luperculus who was a bishop of Eauze) and a suite of sixteen noblemen and a servant named Julie/ Julia. Upon reaching Saragossa, they learned of the persecution of Christians there by the governor Dacian, who reigned in the time of the emperors of Diocletian and Maxilmilian. She attempted to dissuade him from his persecution but was whipped and imprisoned when it was discovered that she was a Christian. She died of her wounds. Her companions 18 others at the time were decapitated.
MEDITATION: The story in Thessaloniki is an interest one as we know that Paul Silas and Timothy went to Thessalonica, where on three successive Sabbaths they attended the synagogue and presented their case for Jesus as the Messiah. They made a number of converts, primarily among devout Greeks (Acts 17:4)—Gentiles sympathetic to Judaism, but who had not yet become full-fledged Jewish proselytes. Following that Paul sent Timothy to assist there. The reports are mixed and so in Paul’s Second letter to the Thessalonian Christians community he wants to uphold them as he is quite aware that they have endured persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:4). Paul assures the Thessalonians that God will reward their faithfulness and punish their persecutors.
When we in the West read this, we should take pause and consider that the reality that Paul is writing of is not from a bygone era but of today. In fact almost 300 million Christians around the world—or 1 out of every 7—live in a country where they suffer some form of persecution, such as arbitrary arrest, violence, a full range of human rights violations and even murder. Open Doors puts the number of Christians murdered for their faith in 2018 at more than 4,000 and reports that at least 11 Christians are killed every single day in the 50 worst-offending countries. At a time in the West when there is increasing media focus on the rights of people regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexuality – it stupefying that most media outlets throughout the West, give little or no coverage to massive persecution experienced by so many Christians.
The Thessalonians had Paul as their advocate. Who do the persecuted Christians have? How about you?
PRAYER: O God of all the nations, in your providence you willed that your Church
be united to the suffering of your Son. Look with mercy on your servants
who are persecuted for their faith in you. Grant them perseverance and courage
to be worthy imitators of Christ. Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations
to work for peace among all peoples. May your Spirit open conversion
for those who contradict your will, that we may live in harmony.
Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom, and to always seek your will in our lives.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SPIRITUAL Activity/DISCIPLINE –
Go to the AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED and learn about what us taking place around the world so you may be able to pray and act. https://www.churchinneed.org/christian-persecution or in the UK https://acnuk.org
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems” – John Stott, Anglican Theologian
See also: Advent Devotion 08: Allegiance and Trust in God from GAFCON
Please right-click links to open in a new window.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
