Lenten Meditations: Wednesday 17 March

Mar 17, 2021 by

Wed
Mar 17
am: 101, 109
pm: 119:121-144
Jere 18:1-11 Rom 8:1-11 John 6:27-40

 

WEDNESDAY OF LENT IV- Patrick, Bishop & Missionary of Ireland, 461

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son of a deacon and grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart.

After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life in Aesir in Gaul [now France], under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labors bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock. His apostolic work was not accomplished without much ‘weariness and painfulness,’ long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner. The work of St Patrick and his brethren has been called the most successful single missionary venture in the history of the Church.

 

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In today’s passage from Romans, we have an excellent opportunity to ponder what this Lenten Journey we are on is all about. Saint Paul reminds us that “God sent his own Son in our likeness, that is to say The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. God revealed himself through his Son Jesus, who lived among us as a full human being. And through Him God has redeemed our broken humanity. The key here is the delivery system if you will. God saves us through the humanity of Christ, who lived among us, and died, and was raised from the dead.  Jesus pays the price for all the wrong we have done. All that is required is to surrender to Him….  “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. When you consider the feast day for today, imagine what God can do with us if we make that surrender in this day and age.

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me..” AMEN

 

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Before I was humbled, I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and, in his compassion, raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall. “—Saint Patrick of Ireland

 

Lenten DisciplineSaint Patrick’s Breastplate is one of the great prayers of Western Christendom. Go to this rendition and let it sink in. It is from the Seminary College Choir at Maynooth, Ireland  https://youtu.be/fCu-6dbtI9A

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