Lenten Meditations: Saturday 9 March 2024

Mar 9, 2024 by Jill

SATURDAY OF LENT IIII – Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, 394

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Today we remember Gregory of Nyssa, who with his brother Basil the Great, and Basil’s best friend Gregory of Nazianzus, collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers. They were a major force in the triumph of the Athanasian position at the Council of Constantinople in 381. A professor of rhetoric, he was persuaded to devote his learning and efforts to the Church. By then, Gregory went on to study for the priesthood and become ordained (this was at a time when celibacy was not a matter of law for priests). He was elected Bishop of Nyssa (in Lower Armenia) in 372, a period of great tension over the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Briefly arrested after being falsely accused of embezzling Church funds, Gregory was restored to his see in 378, an act met with great joy by his people. He wrote with great effectiveness against Arianism and other questionable doctrines, gaining a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy. He was sent on missions to counter other heresies and held a position of prominence at the Council of Constantinople

BIBLICAL MEDITATION OF THE DAY:  Changing our ways and customs is not easy. Many of us struggle with it for the better part of our lives. That which is familiar and comfortable for us is difficult to give up whether it be for our betterment or our detriment. St. Paul is struggling with this reality as he deals with the Christian community in Corinth. In this section of Scripture Paul is trying to get the Christians there to see the big picture. These are sophisticated people in some measure who have a certain level of arrogance and self-righteousness which as Christians in Corinth was causing a misunderstanding about the nature of this new religion. Not only were they arrogant in embracing their new way of life, but they also had little qualms about visiting the temples of idols and eating meat that had been sacrificed to them. They felt free to do this because there is no God, but YHWH and they knew it. But in their minds, they didn’t see the incongruity of going back to the old religion. Very simply, in their thinking, an idol was not  God and therefore if they weren’t “worshiping” idols, they believed they could do anything they wanted. Such justification of behavior shocks us at this level, but we all tend to that behavior at one time or another. We embrace our faith in Christ Jesus but often stray away from his call on our lives. When that occurs, we look for ways to justify it. For example, we use the idea of speaking the truth in love as a justification at times to be brutal on a person who has little maturity for that spiritual disposition. We feel correct and righteous, and they may feel demoralized. That outcome is justification of intent more than it is speaking in love. What are some of the ways this Lent we have disconnected our words and actions or vice versa as disciples?

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  Lord, guide us in your gentle mercy, for left to ourselves
we cannot do your will. Grant that on this day we may live faithfully to your Holy Word and in any good that we do give Glory to your Father. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever. Amen

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Rahab the harlot was justified by one thing alone, her hospitality,(a) though she receives no praise for the rest of her conduct; and the Publican was exalted by one thing, his humility,(b) though he received no testimony for anything else; so that you may learn not easily to despair concerning yourself.”. – St. Gregory Nazianus

Lenten Lyrics:  Give Us Clean Hands by Chris Tomlin-  https://youtu.be/Rv55qS7v2-c?si=yyCQd_KmTvTbXjc2

Lenten Discipline   Use today as a day to make amends with people in your life where your words and actions have been inconsistent and have hurt them and the witness of your faith to them. .

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