Lenten Meditations: Monday in Holy Week

Apr 6, 2020 by

Mon
Apr 6
am: 51
pm: 69:1-23
Lam 1:1-12 2 Cor 1:1-7 Mark 11:12-25

HOLY MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: As early as the fourth century, St. John Chrysostom referred to Holy Week as The Great Week, “Not that it has more days in it than other weeks, or that its days are made up of more hours than other days; but we call it great, because of the great mysteries which are then celebrated” [Homily 30, on Genesis]. In other Christian cultures we find the week before Easter referred to by several names such as the Painful Week because of the sufferings of the Christ and of the fatigue and physical sacrifice required of the faithful in observing them. It has often been said that the purpose of the days of Holy Week from Palm Sunday through Spy Wednesday, is not to recall the events of the week in the life of Jesus but rather to discern who we are in this cosmic story. For the Christian today the challenge for us with is our ability to be open to the ultimate meaning of Pascha and to prepare us to the understanding and acceptance of it.

 

This reality is brought to us in the liturgical lessons appointed in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, with the story of the fig tree, offered for our reflection as a symbol of the world created to bear spiritual fruits and failing in its response to God (Matthew 21:18-43); while at the Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts, the great eschatological discourse of Jesus tells us clearly of the signs and announcement of the End Time calling us to ponder who we are as we consider eternity.

 

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:

The lessons appointed today from Lamentations call us to ponder a prayer of pain and petition. The opening words “how lonely sits the city that once was full of people” strikes an image that resonates with many in places such as New York and Milan which are devoid of people because of the lockdown due to COVID 19.  We can relate to the very tone of this lesson as the images and experiences of ways of life that we once knew such as simply going to church are simply at this time. When one reads the book of Lamentations and considers the changes and chances of life, that have been placed upon the world, the images and prayers of Holy Week resonate now perhaps more than they have since the days of World War II or 9/1. This Monday of Holy Week we are called to give a witness that resists the despair that the world easily falls into.  This lesson like the trajectory of this week calls us beyond ourselves. It calls the church to be a visible communion though dispersed at this moment to stand as the Body of Christ giving life to a world that feels life is being snuffed out a world of lamentation that needs healing.

PRAYER OF THE DAY:   Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that we, who are in so many occasions of adversity, by reason of or frailty are found wanting, may yet, through the passion and intercession of thine only begotten Son, be continually refreshed; who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end.  Amen.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: Whoever has known the love of God loves the whole world and never murmurs against his fate, for the burden of sorrow for the sake of God gains eternal joy”– St. Silouan the Athonite

Holy Week Discipline Who have mourned with this week? Seek out a person who is struggling with grief and find ways to minister to them that will have them sense God’s grace amidst the grief of this time.

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