Anglican Mainstream

TUESDAY – Sainted Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surozh, 8^th Century

Today on this feast from the saint on the calendar of the Eastern Church we are offered from the orthodox lectionary a lesson from second Timothy, which calls us to remember that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” The message hear from Paul is not just for those in pastoral leadership but for all of God’ people! Each day as Advent reminds us we are to keep our ears tuned and our hearts alive every mindful of the need to handle the Word of God preciously and accurately.

This clearly stirred the heart of the saint commemorated on this day. It was Patriarch Germanus of Constantinople who heard of Stephen's humility and virtuous life living in the desert, and wished to meet him. He was so impressed with Stephen that he consecrated him bishop of the city of Surrentium (presently the city of Sudak in the Crimea). Within five years, St Stephen's ministry was so fruitful that no heretics or unbaptized pagans remained in Surrentium or its environs.

There was pressure on him to be co-opted by the pagan culture but he refused and was eventually martyred. We are called to hold fast to the Word, but perhaps the cultural pressures of secular holiday season are closing in. Are we compromising a b it and cutting corners on the Gospel so as not to offend those who do not treasure the Word of God? Like Stephen, there are many who would like us to be in the culture but not of it, while others think that the secular holiday and the festival of faith have more meeting points than not; so let them coalesce and celebrate. Christ was not born for coalescence but for convection

PRAYER: Lord of life, Strengthened by your, Blessed Stephen overcame the culture Lord’s of his day. Grant to us that same grace for the journey of Advent amidst a culture of consumerism. Give to us the joy that comes from being your faithful people and a peace that the world cannot give. In Christ name we pray Amen.

Discipline/Activity – This saint fought against iconoclasm. Advent icons offer an excellent opportunity to engage in an ancient prayer practice that involves keeping our eyes wide open, taking into our heart what the image visually communicates. We focus not on what is seen in the icon, but rather on what is seen through it — the love of God expressed through God's creatures. You can use these windows of grace by going to http://www.templegallery.com or http://aggreen.net/iconography/icons.html

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE : “visible things are images of invisible and intangible things, on which they throw a faint light. When sensible things sufficiently render what is beyond sense, and give a form to what is intangible, a medium would be reckoned imperfect according to our standard, if it did not fully represent material vision, or if it required effort of mind. A certain conception through the senses thus takes place in the brain, which was not there before, and is transmitted to the judicial faculty, and added to the mental store. Gregory, who is so eloquent about God, says that the mind, which is set upon getting beyond corporeal things, , is incapable of doing it. For the invisible things of God since the creation of the world are made visible through images.”

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