Lenten Meditations: Friay 19 February
| Fri Feb 19 |
am: 95, 31 pm: 35 |
Eccl 4. 20-28 | 2 Timothy 4. 1-8 | John 12. 24-32 |
Friday After Ash Wednesday – Feast of Janani Luwum, Archbishop & Martyr of Uganda, 1977 (transferred from Shrove Tuesday)
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: On this day we recall the witness of Archbishop Luwum who exercised exceptional and courageous leadership when he opposed Idi Amins regime of tyranny, gross human rights violations and “islamisation” agenda in Uganda. The Anglican Church of Uganda under his leadership was on the verge of centennial celebrations of its birth through the seed of the blood of the Ugandan Martyrs. Thus, Archbishop Luwum became the first martyr of the second century of Christianity in Uganda.
On July 9, 1998, Westminster Abbey, London, unveiled the statue of Abp. Luwum among 10 statues of 20th Century Martyrs, Thus, Luwum became recognized as a 20th century Anglican Christian martyr of the entire Anglican communion. He was the first sitting archbishop in the Anglican communion martyred in office in 400 years.
Secondly on the Fridays of Lent, it is customary (in the Church of the East and West) to abstain from meat as a sign of our common penance. It represents our efforts to abstain from – do without – so many other patterns that get in the way of our happiness and wholeness. Sacrifice and doing without is a worthy thought to ponder when one considers the life and witness of the saint remembered this week.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: The lectionary today is taken in part from the Eucharistic Readings for the Commemoration of the Archbishop. What is the implication of this Gospel passage in our lives today? This is an important question when we consider the life and witness of Archbishop Luwum and all those who are persecuted for the Christian faith. Despite his faithfulness the road of faith was rough but he often recounted how he was strengthened by Word and Sacrament.
The bread of the Eucharist, made out of grains of wheat, is offered to us as food for the journey so that we have the strength to face what the world may throw our way. Who of us does not need spiritual renewal and nurture?
Archbishop Luwum’s witness reminds us that martyrdom always bear fruit; this is why the Scripture says, those who love their life, paradoxically, destroy it. How do we hear that passage in our place and time? Is there something that we love more than God? Meaning would we be willing to face offering a witness of faith amidst great adversity .
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Prodigal sons, are forgiven and reconciled with their heavenly Father, could they do other than forgive one another? A fellowship of prodigal sons came into being — the church of Christ. Love begets love. A new power … was let loose upon our suffering world, the power to love those who have not deserved love, the unworthy, the unlovely and unlovable, a man’s enemies, and even his torturers. Christians, in imitation of the Savior, became, as it were, Christ’s to one another and to the world”. – Archbishop Luwum, 1977
PRAYER OF THE DAY: God our Redeemer, whose Church was strengthened by the blood of your martyr Janani Luwum: so bind us, in life and death, to Christ’s sacrifice
that our lives, broken and offered with his, may carry his death and proclaim his resurrection in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord..
Lenten Discipline – Abstain from lunch today and make your other meals simple. During that time of lunch, make a commitment to yourself to spend time in reflective prayer on the action of God’s grace in your life. Listen to God so that you may draw closer to God this Lent
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