Lenten Meditations: Thursday 23 March
| Thu Mar 23 |
am 69 pm: 73 |
Proverbs 15:7-19 | Rom 8:12-27 | John 6:41-51 |
FOURTH THURSDAY OF LENT Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c.332
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: On this day, we remember the first Bishop of Armenia, Gregory. The ancient kingdom of Armenia was the first country to become Christian, and it recognizes Gregory as its apostle. Armenia was a buffer state between the powerful empires of Rome and Parthia (Persia), and both sought to control it. Gregory was born about 257. When he was still an infant, his father assassinated the King of Parthia, and friends of the family carried Gregory away for protection to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he was reared as a Christian. About 280 he returned to Armenia, where he was at first treated severely, but eventually by his preaching and example brought both King Tiridates and a majority of his people to the Christian faith.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: : The Old Testament lesson today is the Divine Office reading for the feast day taken from the Orthodox calendar. The Book of Proverbs is part of the Wisdom literature and for most of us, these phrases are difficult for us to access because we see them as Christian sayings that could go in Fortune Cookies. These Proverbs, like most of the wisdom literature, counsel us to take a step back and look at what we say and what we do. Wisdom literature tries to compel us to ponder our speech and our actions with the idea that there are consequences. This section reminds us that caring for other people is always going to be more important than cherishing things. This is difficult to integrate in the most consumer oriented society in the world but one whose time has come. e is a timely truth to ponder in this society of the upwardly mobile where the slogans “Image is everything” and “My way right away” have come to characterize the overall outlook of far too many people.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Almighty God, whose will it is to be glorified in your saints, and who raised up your servant Gregory the Illuminator to be a light in the world, and to preach the Gospel to the people of Armenia: Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light; 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: “The conversion of Armenia to Christianity was probably the most crucial step in its history. It turned Armenia sharply away from its Iranian past and stamped it for centuries with an intrinsic character, as clear to the native population, as to those outside its borders, who identified Armenia almost at once as the first state to adopt Christianity.” -RG Hovannisian
Lenten Discipline – The Armenian Church has suffered mightily, yet as an ancient home of the faith it was known for sharing its resources. Go through your closet today and give away to those in need abroad at least five pieces of unused clothing. Learn to live with less. Spruce up old clothing instead of buying new. Discuss what guides your clothes purchasing habits. Learn more at http://www.christianaid.org/Interactive_World/countryPages/Armenia.aspx
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