Lenten Meditations: Thursday 4 April

Apr 4, 2019 by

Thur
April 4
am: 69
pm: 73
Jere 22:13-23 Rom 8:12-27 John 6:41-51

 

FOURTH THURSDAY IN LENTSt. Isidore of Seville, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, 636

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Today we remember, Saint Isidore born in Cartagena of a devout family who with his brother Leander both served consecutively as bishops of Seville in a time of conflict and growth for the Church in Spain. As the Dark Ages began to touch parts of Europe with the barbarian invasions, the Visigoths invaded shortly before Isidore’s birth. People of orthodox faith were tested they as many were Arians— apostate Christians who said Christ was not God. Spain was split in two: One people (Catholic Romans) struggled with another (Arian Goths). Eventually, Isidore reunited Spain, making it a center of culture and learning, a teacher and guide for other European countries whose culture was also threatened by barbarian invaders.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In the Gospel Lesson,  we are offered some of the richest and hopeful imagery that comes out of the New Testament. We know well that the principal  food staple for these people is  bread . Having it meant life, not having it meant starvation and death Jesus shocks the gathering would by saying he would feed the world by

  1. “coming down from heaven” and 2. giving bread to the faithful so that “they might may not die”. Here we see the intimacy of the nature of God because it is the Father who gave the bread (i.e., the life of Jesus) for “the life of the world.” Creation sees its fulfillment acts which identified the promise of. Followers would receive the “bread of life” as a result of the loving saving God’s invitation. What is our response to this invitation. When we consider the Eucharist has it become a customary ritual action or the Summit and Source of the outward sign and inward grace of resurrection hope?

PRAYER OF THE DAY: O Jesus, present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist teach all the nations to serve you with willing hearts, knowing that to serve God is to reign. May your
sacrament, O Jesus, be light to the mind, strength to the will, joy to the heart. May it be the support of the weak, the comfort of the suffering, the wayfaring bread of salvation for the dying and for all the pledge of future glory. Amen

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: A law will be moral, just, possible, in accord with nature, in keeping with the custom of the homeland, suitable to the place and time, necessary, useful, clear so that it not mask something unsuitable, not for private benefit, but conceived for the common utility of the citizens.” St. Isidore.

 

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