Lenten Meditations: Saturday 16 March 2024
| Sat Mar 16 |
am: 102, 108 pm: 33 |
Exodus 2:23-3:15 | 1 Cor 13:1-13 | Mark 9:14-29 |
FOURTH SATURDAY OF LENT – St. Aristobulus, Bishop of Britain (1st c.)
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Anglicans especially will find it interesting that
on the Eastern Calendar is commemorated today St. Aristobulus of the Seventy, first
Bishop of Britain (1st c.). Tradition holds that he was born in Cyprus and was the brother of the Apostle Barnabas who aided St. Paul (and who mentions him in Romans 16:10). Aristobulus was commissioned and sent out landing in Britain where
he endured terrible torments, misfortunes, and malice from the people They were without mercy, dragging him through the streets, mocking him. But in the end this holy man came to success by the power of the grace of God. He enlightened the
people baptized them in the name of Christ the Lord, and established churches.
BIBLICAL MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In the New Testament Lesson, from 1 Corinthians, we realize this is one passage with which most of us are familiar. We are the body of Christ, and we are endowed with a variety of gifts, yet none has value without love. Paul refers to “love” as the more “excellent way.” What does that basic concept look like? Scripture tells us from St, Paul that we share a common dignity where there is no inequality arising from race or nationality, social condition or sex, because all are one in Christ. The idea of love and unity are not just ideals, but they are constitutive elements of how each member of the Body frames his or her life with the understanding that we all share in a common dignity.
Thus, as the body of Christ, when one is suffering, we all suffer together. When one member is honored, we all rejoice (cf. 1 Cor 12: 26). This is the basic principle of our communion in Christ. Yet, we in the church at times do create a type of caste system at times that prevents the fullness of the Body of Christ from being revealed. At this point in Lent when this would be a good occasion to pause and consider how the disciplines can empower us to live into the fullness of being members of the Body of Christ and recommitting ourselves to that common dignity help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Kindle in our hearts, O God, the flame of that love which never ceases, that it may burn in us, giving light to others. May we shine forever in Thy holy temple. Set on fire with Thy eternal light, Even Thy son, Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “All of us can attain Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be” — St Francis de Sales
Lenten Lyrics: The Hymn Jerusalem Sung by Katherine Jenkins; Parry /Blake
Lenten Discipline – Today would be a good inventory to assess how you are living your faith in accord with your gifts. If you are not clear on what your gifts are go to http://mintools.com/spiritual-gifts-test.htm and participate in the inventory to begin the process.
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