The Virtual Hermitary

Archive for January, 2010

Friday January 29, 2010
Psalm 40

For evils have encompassed me
without number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
until I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails me.

This passage brought tears to my eyes this morning. Like the psalmist, I stood convicted and helpless – a woman in great need of the mercies of the Most High.

And with the psalmist I rejoiced, for God is merciful and just.

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God.

I am reminded in this psalm that while I live out my faith in comfort, many brothers and sisters around the globe struggle against poverty and oppression. This in an email yesterday from Open Doors shows just how severe circumstances are in North Korea:

…the report from the field states that the North Korean government recently declared “100 Days of Combat.” This means everyone must work for the state during this time of “mobilization.” If someone is on the street without a valid reason, they are arrested and sent to a labor camp… Our contact reports that the situation is dire:
“People don’t have much of an opportunity to keep themselves alive. It’s normal again to see dead children on the street. Parents die or leave their children because they can no longer bear to see their sons and daughters starve.”
But he also says that in spite of the dire situation, Christians in North Korea are a shining light in this deep spiritual darkness. They are very brave. Secretly they share their faith with others and help others. And he tells us they plead for our help:
“North Korean Christians recently held a secret prayer meeting. They came to the conclusion that it was important to continue with our projects. They have asked us for more help, especially for fervent prayer.”

Dead children on the street. Let us say a prayer along the lines of the psalmist for the deliverance of the people of North Korea:

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver the people of North Korea; O Lord, make haste to help them. Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away the lives of children; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to harm your faithful followers in North Korea. Amen.

Thursday January 28, 2010
Wisdom 7:7-14
St. Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas was a church scholar in the Middle Ages. He is best known for analyzing the teachings of Aristotle in light of the Christian faith. He wrote extensively, although his Summa theolgica is the work by which his thinking is most defined. His firm belief in tackling secular beliefs head on was radical for his era. We can thank him for paving the way for modern Christian scholars.

A few months before he died, Aquinas suffered some type of stroke or “ecstasy” after which he never wrote again. His response upon being urged to return to writing was that it had been revealed to him that all he had written was meaningless.

Detailed information about Aquinas can be found in the Catholic Encyclopedia. There are also some excellent resources listed today on the blogs at the National Catholic Reporter.

Here is a prayer in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas:

Almighty God, you have enriched your Church with the singular learning and holiness of your servant Thomas Aquinas: Enlighten us more and more, we pray, by the disciplined thinking and teaching of Christian scholars, and deepen our devotion by the example of saintly lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Wednesday January 27, 2010
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:7
John Chrysostom – Bishop of Antioch and of Constantinople

John was called “Chrysostom,” meaning “Golden Mouth,” because of his eloquence. He was a prolific preacher who taught mainly by plain exposition of the Holy Scriptures. He was an outspoken critic of abuses both within the church and among secular authorities. His bluntness in calling down authorities for their corrupt practices led to his being exiled from Constantinople. Chrysostom is one of the four Doctors of the Ancient Eastern Church (the other three are Athanasius of Alexandria, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus).

His boldness and eloquence in speaking the Truth of our Lord should stand as an example to all Christians. He was willing to risk his position, his authority, his livelihood, and his life for the sake of the Truth. Here is an excerpt from one of his letters to a friend:

And the same apostle, in writing to the Corinthians, said, “Lest when I come I should mourn over many of those who have sinned beforehand and have not repented;” 2 Cor. xii. 21; xiii. 2. and again, “as I have said beforehand, so do I again declare beforehand, that if I come again I will not spare.” 2 Cor. xii. 21; xiii. 2. Seest thou who they are whom he mourns, and whom he does not spare? Not those who have sinned, but those who have not repented, and not simply those who have not repented, but those who have been called once and again to this work, and would not be persuaded. For the expression “I have said beforehand and do now say beforehand, as if I were present the second time, and being absent I write,” implies exactly that which we are afraid may take place now in our case. For although Paul is not present who then threatened the Corinthians, yet Christ is present, who was then speaking through his mouth; and if we continue obdurate, He will not spare us, but will smite us with a mighty blow, both in this world and the next.

Chrysostom was quite blunt in his call for repentance and the consequences for failing to do so. This is typical of his style of preaching and writing. You can read many of his sermons and letters at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Here is a prayer in honor of St. Chrysostom:

O God, who gave to your servant John Chrysostom grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellency in preaching, and fidelity in ministering your Word, that your people shall be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Tuesday January 26, 2010
Titus 3:4-8
Timothy and Titus

Today is the day to honor Timothy and Titus, companions of St. Paul. Two letters in the New Testament are addressed to Timothy and one to Titus. They are commended as fellow workers, faithful servants, and defenders of the faith.

Paul trained many believers just like Timothy and Titus to carry on the work of the Lord. Even today, the church calls on believers, all the companions of the Cross, to be faithful workers, servants, and defenders of the faith.

Here is a prayer in honor of Timothy and Titus:

Just and merciful God, in every generation you raise up prophets, teachers and witnesses to summon the world to honor and praise your holy Name: We thank you for sending Timothy and Titus, whose gifts built up your Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Grant that we too may be living stones built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Read more about these companions of Paul HERE.

Monday January 25, 2010
Acts 26:9-21 - Paul tells his conversion story while on trial before Agrippa
Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul talks about what his conversion means

January 25 is the day we remember how Paul (formerly Saul) was transformed from a man who vigorously persecuted the early church to a man who vigorously defended the faith. Many of Paul’s letters to churches and individuals (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon) are included in the biblical canon. His encounter with the resurrected Christ changed him forever — just as it still changes men and women today.

Here is a prayer in remembrance of St. Paul:

O God, who by the preaching of your apostle Paul have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Saturday January 23, 2010
John 4:27-42

Jesus was a rule-breaker. He did things a Rabbi wasn’t supposed to do. Here he talks to a woman. A strange woman. A woman who was socially beneath him. A woman with a bad reputation. His disciples didn’t know what to make of his actions. They didn’t even dare ask what was going on. Perhaps they thought he was delirious from lack of food: they were quite determined to get him to eat something.

But Jesus was preparing a messenger. This socially outcast woman becomes the bearer of the good news of the coming of the Messiah. The Samaritans, like the Jews, were looking, waiting for the savior. I’m sure they were suspicious of this woman’s story. After all, she wasn’t a model citizen. But upon meeting Jesus, they believed and asked him to stay with them for a while — and he did, ignoring the customs governing interactions between the much despised Samaritans and the Jews.

Jesus didn’t care about the rules or the customs of his time. He was focused on one thing: “to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.”

What are we focused on? Customs? Rules? Appearances? Or are we focused on the harvest around us, jumping in as laborers alongside our Lord and Savior?

We’re Tweeting a Bible Verse each morning and a prayer each evening. Start and end your day meditating on God’s word and his promises! Our devotionals and sermons will also be shared on Twitter.

Wednesday January 20, 2010
Luke 24
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days? (Luke 24:18)

During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we seek to be aware of God in our everyday
events and experiences. We meet people who are familiar and others who are strangers. In these
encounters we learn from each other’s spiritual experiences and so get a new view of God’s
reality. This awareness of God’s presence challenges us to work for Christian unity.

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, You encounter us and remain with us in everyday life. We pray for the grace to be aware of all you do for us. We ask that you prepare us to be open to all you offer us and bring us together in one flock.

More info: World Council of Churches

Monday January 18, 2010
Jeremiah 15:19-21

Let your words change them.
Don’t change your words to suit them.
I’ll turn you into a steel wall,
a thick steel wall, impregnable.
They’ll attack you but won’t put a dent in you

We thank God for prophets and preachers
for leaders and teachers
Who speak your word and profess the truth
show us the way and instruct our steps.

We thank God on this day for one, Brother Martin…
who preached and led and as a prophet to the nation and the nations…
speaking the words the Spirit laid upon his heart.

Let your words change them

“It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.” (MLK)

For so long we have loved war
worshipped its power
lusted after its glory
profited from its destruction

You call us to love peace…
sacrifice for shalom…
cherish justice.

Let your words change them

“We must learn to live together as brothers [and sisters] or perish together as fools.” (MLK)

We are weary of the stranger
afraid of the immigrant
threatened by the other

You call us to see ourselves in the other
their future is our future
their dreams our dreams
their peace our peace.

Don’t change your words to suit them

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (MLK)

We have been satisfied
comfortable with status and division
maintaining racism and sexism and classism.

You call us to tear down the walls that divide us
shatter the barriers that separate us
eliminate the categories that define us.

Don’t change your words to suit them

“The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” (MLK)

We play it safe…
stay under the radar
avoid conflict
keep the boat steady.

You call us to trouble our conscience…
afflict the comfortable
disrupt the arrangements
abandon the status quo.

I’ll turn you into a steel wall, a thick steel wall, impregnable

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” (MLK)

We pray on the run…
mouthing pet verses with no meaning
listing petitions like grocery lists
more in love with our words than the pleas.

You call us to pray without ceasing…
ask and seek and find without stopping
walk humbly beside the Lord never tiring.

I’ll turn you into a steel wall, a thick steel wall, impregnable.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”  (MLK)

We hide behind hate believing love is weak.
live in the shadows believing darkness is safety.
shun the light believing we will be exposed.

You call us to walk in the sunlight of love…
march in the brightness of justice
dance in the showers of grace.

They’ll attack you but won’t put a dent in you

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” (MLK)

When we are hit we hit back…
when attacked we counter attack…
our pursuit of our enemy relentless

You call us to love our enemy…
pray for our despisers
comfort those who defeat us.

They’ll attack you but won’t put a dent in you

“A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.” (MLK)

Jesus, our Lord, died so that he could defeat the powers of death.
Like so many others…
bothers Abraham and John… Malcolm and Romero
You died to defeat the enemies of truth and justice.

May we find the courage to sacrifice for truth…
stand up for justice
and oppose with our very lives
the powers of death.

We praise you, O God, and thank you for the life and witness of our prophet and brother, Martin Luther King Jr.

May our lives bear witness to his call and be worthy of his dream.

Amen.

courtesy Rev. Stephen Brown, A Place for Prayer

Monday January 18, 2010
Matthew 16:13-19

On this day we honor Peter’s acknowledgment of Jesus as the Christ. Through the grace of God, may we all do the same.

Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the Living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.