| Mon Feb 23 | am: 41, 52 pm: 44 | Gen 37:1-11 | 1 Cor 1:1-19 | Mark 1:1-13 |
MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT – St. Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop and Martyr, 166
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: In 167, persecution broke out in Smyrna. When Polycarp, who was the humble and beloved bishop, heard that his pursuers were at the door, he said, “The will of God be done,” and meeting them, he begged to be left alone for a little time, which he spent in prayer for “the Catholic Church throughout the world.” He was brought to Smyrna early on Holy Saturday, and, as he entered, a voice was heard from heaven, “Polycarp, be strong.” When the proconsul besought him to curse Christ and go free, Polycarp answered, “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me wrong; how can I blaspheme my King and Savior?” Can we this Lent, be like St. Polycarp, and maintain our constancy in the faith by love of Jesus Christ
BIBLICAL MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In our society, the more impressive, more famous, more influential you are, it seems the further your values and visions are from Christ. While there are exceptions, Psalm 52 does cause us today to stop and take pause on how we come across. The Psalmist asks – Why does the mighty man not need the Lord’s steadfast love? The conventional wisdom of the culture is that such a person has no need for the steadfast love from God or for God because that person has himself and his wealth. He is his own love and in himself is his boast, which is of evil because self-love is turned in upon itself. The Good News is that the Lord’s steadfast love “endures all the day”, in all the light of day, turning the psalmist out to the Lord. The mighty man’s boast is of darkness. It is the Lord’s steadfast love that makes us good and full of grace. In our Lenten Journey, we must seek that humility and that grace that Saint Polycarp exemplified.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: O God, the maker of heaven and earth, you gave your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, the boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Savior and the steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, following his example, to share the cup of Christ and to rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth and in all gentleness and in all freedom from anger and forbearance and steadfastness and patient endurance and purity;”. –Saint Polycarp
LENTEN DISCIPLINE – – Read the newspaper, or watch the television news, intentionally. Look for stories behind stories, incidents that indicate how people may be persecuted for their faith or who are living as martyrs, and reflect on what the implications and calls to service might be for you. Share what you learn with family and friends.
SONG OF THE HEART, SONG OF THE SEASON – Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me by CityAlight