FOURTH THURSDAY OF LENT – St Basil of Ancyra, 362
am: Ps 69
pm: 73
Exod 1:6-22
1 Cor 12:12-26
Mark 8:27-9:1
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ; he refused and was further tortured receiving the crown of martyrdom.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY:In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we learn the church is the body of Christ, the gathered community of Jesus, all with different and necessary gifts to share but at the end he makes it very clear that if one of the member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with that. When we consider each day that millions of Christians are persecuted what goes on in our being when we hear of the stories of courage and faith. Certainly the saint for today, blessed Basil serves too as a good reminder that there is a cost attached to living out the gifts faithfully . For Basil God’s gifts being actualized in his life was not the last resort, it was his greatest hope and surest strength. The Lenten journey is one where the gifts of the spirit in concert with the spiritual disciplines when taken seriously call is to live in a profound way ultimately trust Him in our hopes and needs..
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting God, the source and perfection of all virtues, inspired us your servants to do what is right and to live into our gifts: Grant that all your people may be stewards of your grace and gifts and impart to your faithful people, by word and example, the signs of your Kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “ Now that we are reborn, as I have said, in the likeness of our Lord, and have indeed been adopted by God as his children, let us put on the complete image of our Creator so as to be wholly like him, not in the glory that he alone possesses, but in innocence, simplicity, gentleness, patience, humility, mercy, harmony, those qualities in which he chose to become, and to be, one with us. — St Peter Chrysologu