Anglican Mainstream

LENT I – St Alnoth, Hermit and Martyr of Stowe, ( 700)

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Today we remember the life of Alnoth, Alnoth led the life of a hermit in the woods of Stowe near Bugbrooke and there in his solitude he was murdered by some robbers, who infested the wooded country. They could not have killed Alnoth for his wealth because he had none, and the local people were sure that it was hatred of his faith and holiness of life that had motivated his murderers. He was regarded as a martyr and his tomb was a place of pilgrimage for centuries, those visiting it attesting to miracles and answered petitions. He was a man of great piety and, although he was an unlettered serf, he practiced his religion with simple devotion. Such men tend to attract to themselves bullying persecution by the more worldly. 

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:
We see in the reading of today’s gospel that being mindful of who we are, and what we say we are about can be held to close scrutiny by those who wish to doubt and cast criticism. In today’s account form Mark, we see that the fact that  Jesus failed to observe the Sabbath in the manner expected seems is seen as most serous. The other incidents, like not fasting or eating with disreputable people, raised some eyebrows but didn't necessarily amount to a sin. Keeping the Sabbath holy was, however, commanded by God – and if Jesus failed to that, then his claims about himself and his mission could be questioned.

What do we do each day that calls into question our claims to be a follower of Jesus? Do the words we say in anger resemble grace or less than grace? Do the way we value persons versus objects reflect people who truly see the worth and dignity of other people? While it is easy to critique the Pharisees for their approach to Jesus, we must ask do we give people who are possible seekers, reason not to consider the faith because of the disconnect hat goes on in our valuing the faith?

Dallas Willard in his excellent work The Spirit of the Disciplines, maintains that many of us struggle with following the mandates of Christ because we’re trying to do it part-way. We think that we can keep most of our lives the same as others around us and just follow a few key commands, picking and choosing as we may see fit. This approach is unworkable because the commands are not minimum focused but seek to maximize what is required of us. However, if we were to set our hearts on full commitment and humbly seek the grace that comes from the Spirit and we live completely differently.

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  Lord Jesus, your ways are not our ways. Help us to joyfully seek to follow your ways with our whole being. Help us to discern how and why we hold back. We thank you that you offer us rest and wisdom as we seek to become more perfect in all our ways.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  “When I contemplate my Savior thus, I love the Lord, and there is a reverent adoration in that love, I love Christ, and there is a mysterious admiration in that love, but I love Jesus, and there is a tender compassion in that love, and I am content to suffer with Him, and to suffer for Him, rather than to see any diminution of His glory, by my prevarication.”—Blessed John Donne.

Lenten Discipline – Make today a day to invite a person who is doubtful about the Christian witness to your home for dinner and fellowship. Also invite them to church for the Second Sunday of Lent to show them that you care about them body and soul!

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