Lenten Meditations: Wednesday 3 April

Apr 3, 2019 by

Wed
April 3
am: 101, 109
pm: 119:121-144
 

Isaiah 26:21-27:9

 

Rom 8:1-11 John 6:27-40

FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF LENT Saint Nicetas, Abbot of Medicium, 824

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY Saint Nicetas lived in the eighth century and became the Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium, which was near the city of Triglia on the Sea of Marmara. For his Orthodox confession of the veneration of the holy icons, he was persecuted and exiled twice by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Armenian. He capitulated at one point but repented, he then repented of his deed, returned to Constantinople and fearlessly denounced the Iconoclast heresy. He ignored all the emperor’s threats and

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:  When one reads this landmark passage from Romans, a phrase jumps out …. those who are in Christ Jesus. This should cause us to pause and ponder. Does being in Christ” comprehensively describe my state of being? Does it define who I am ? It is possible that the secular culture is considering that such phrases are at best empty piety as the church is rocked by leadership that appear not to be in Christ. Whether it is a global evangelist who makes a salary in excess of 10 figures while the poorest of the poor are an second thought, or clergy amidst scandals of betrayal in areas of human sexuality or pastoral indifference to the very least, being in Christ will need some public relations help from the rank and file as well as the leaders. In a world increasingly troubled by materialism, relativism, bigotry and radical fundamentalism, the church can ill afford to contribute a new level of Phariseeism . If we  understand that being “in Christ” means belonging to Jesus, being in union and in unity with him, it means the corporeal works of mercy and the spiritual works of mercy  (https://fwdioc.org/works-of-mercy.pdf)  aren’t a random act of kindness but rather constitutive dimensions to the Christian life that are as second nature as breathing after a commitment to be “all in” .

PRAYER OF THE DAY: “Lord, what is Your will that I do? I am completely open to Your plan for me. I desire to live only in You and to be guided by You forever. Grant that Your holy will may be carried out perfectly in me.” Amen.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: He who has few things to desire cannot have many to fear.”—-William Blake

Lenten Discipline Go to the link on the works of Mercy and for a week commit to one a day. Each day make a note if you had a sense of being in Christ in those moments. Do you notice a change of your view after 7 days?

Related Posts

Tags

Share This