Anglican Mainstream

FRIDAY St. Daniel the Stylite, 439 (Eastern and Western Church)

In the lesson from Timothy found in the Orthodox Lectionary for today, Paul writes “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” The patterns of sound words are what we may call the Spiritual Life, which is what the Advent Season seeks to assist us in living. Those of us in the liturgical tradition have a pattern of the spiritual life that is rooted in liturgy and the Daily Offices. It is that liturgical pattern of proclaiming the Word of God in the Daily Offices along with the Eucharist, day by day, week by week, year by year, which shapes and molds the spiritual values of the liturgical Christian. Some people think our pattern of sound words and sound praying (which has remained substantially unchanged for nearly two millennia) is odd! It would be wise for us to be aware of the witness of Blessed Daniel

Daniel was a 5^th Century monk who knew of St. Simeon the Elder, living on a pillar at Antioch and got to see him twice. At the age of forty-two, Daniel discerned that he was called to be a stylite (from the Greek word "stylos", meaning pillar) and live on a pillar at a spot near Constantinople. Emperor Leo I, built a series of pillars with a platform on top for him, and Daniel was ordained. He celebrated the Eucharist on his pillar, preached sermons, and dispensed spiritual advice. His life is a reminder that there are many ways to live the spiritual life. All of us have our own way to be close to God every day, it simply must be based on sound patterns and once on that slid footing follow it to the very end.

PRAYER: Lord, purify me of false patterns that I have devised for worship of you. Remove my weaknesses of disobedience, mold me, guide me so that I may walk on the path of authenticity and righteousness. I ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN

Activity – Consider a bold act on behalf of another person today in the spirit of generosity and compassion. Use the example of Daniel, who was not afraid to stand out, not for himself but for the Kingdom. What action could you take for a child today that would boldly point out the Kingdom? How about a Senior Citizen? A person who has lost this job in this hurting economy? Be bold in the pattern of the saints but with humility at all times.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: I pray that we may be found worthy to be cursed, censured, and ground down, and even put to death in the name of Jesus Christ, so long as Christ himself is not put to death in us. – -Paulinus of Nola ( 5^th Century Monk and Bishop)

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