Anglican Mainstream

LENT III:  Saint Bossa of York, 320

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:  Saint Bosa was a monk at Whitby, England, under Saint Hilda who was consecrated bishop of the southern half of Northumbria, now Yorkshire in 678 with his see at York, when Saint Wilfrid  was driven out by King Egfrid for refusing to accept the division of his see. Wilfrid returned in 686, but Bosa took over the diocese in 691 when Wilfrid was again exiled following a quarrel with King Aldfrid; Bosa was know as a chief pastor with  great holiness and pastoral ability until his death in 686. Saint Bede praises Bosa as "a man beloved by God . . . of most unusual merit and sanctity."

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: According to the Reformer John Calvin, Psalm 78:7 tells us to do three things: trust God, remember what God’s done and keep God’s commands. This is a pretty good summary of this important Psalm appointed for today so what seem to be our dilemma with a formula that is pretty straight forward. Could it be that some of us we see God as a provider but do not have the abiding love for Him as author and creator of all that we are? The Psalm today goes to the heart of needs and not wants and the reality that God knows when we speak words of sincerity knowing full well that our hearts do wander and our thoughts are far from Him. Unlike us, God is not contained or restrained with needs. There can be no doubt that God cares for His creation This psalm sharply contrasts God's faithfulness within the creation and, on the other hand, the faithlessness of those of us in a covenanted community.  As God’s people, what do we need to remember? What have we forgotten of the covenant God put forward for us? How is God still blessing us, and we are unwilling to see?

PRAYER OF THE DAY: O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge your sovereign power. While recalling how I have the wasted the gifts you have given me, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Broken as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me your grace, both now and in the future.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  “Remember that he who will always walk faithfully in God's presence, always ready to give Him an account of all his actions, will never be separated from Him by consenting to sin. – St. Thomas Aquinas

Lenten Discipline –   Share an answered prayer with a friend—give witness to the might work of God in your life. Commit to a private and public action to  give thanks to God for what you received.

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