A CROOKED GENERATION
- From: "Waldtraud" <richarra@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:36:04 -0600
A CROOKED GENERATION
Philippians 2:12-16
Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work (complete) out
your own salvation with fear & trembling. For it is God which works in you
both to will & to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings
(complaining) & disputings: That you may be blameless & harmless, the sons
of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked & perverse nation, among
whom
you shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored
in vain.
You could call today's generation "crooked & perverse," just as Paul
described his own generation in Philippians 2:15. Even Moses would have
understood what Paul was talking about, for he said of Israel, "They have
corrupted themselves; they are not His children, because of their blemish:
a perverse & crooked generation" (Deuteronomy 32:5).
Crookedness refers to the means by which people accomplish their
objectives - doing whatever it takes to get what they want. Shortcuts to
success are applauded. Some even boast about how they circumvent the law.
Perversion refers to the way people distort the truth. For example, I heard
about 3 teenagers who wanted to end their stay in a youth hostel long before
their expected departure. They angrily insisted that the manager return
their nonrefundable deposit. Then he finally gave in & the 3 teens were on
their way out, they exclaimed to the hostel's other guests that they had
been forced to leave.
We may sometimes get hurt by the crooked behavior & distorted thinking of
people. But we are called to be "blameless & harmless: & to "shine as
lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).
Let's show the world a different way of living.
We are called w/a holy calling
The light of the world to be,
To lift up the lamp of the Savior
That others His light may see.
______________________________________________
The straight & narrow way is God's way
for a crooked generation.
What we love we
grow to resemble.
Whoever has my commands & obeys
them, he is the one who loves me.
John 14:21 NIV
<<>><<>><<>>
February 23rd - Serenus the Gardener M (RM)
(Also known as Cerneuf, Sirenus of Billom)
Born in Greece; died February 23, c. 303. The garden represents the
continual
progress of the Christian on the path of virtue. Plants reach upwards and
continue growing until they reach the maturity that God has prescribed for
them.
All the nourishment they are given should be used to this end, any
superfluous
growth is a waste and a kind of disease. So it is for Christians. Everything
should carry us toward the perfection that God has ordained for us, the
reason
for which He made each individual. Every desire of our souls, every action
should be a step toward God. When all our energies are directed toward God,
we
can make great progress.
The saints possessed heroic virtue because all their actions were regulated
by
the yearning for perfection: their meals, their studies, their conversations
and
visits, their business and toil. Every action had the love of God as the
motive
and the accomplishment of His will their only ambition. Our desire for God
and
tender affection for others in His name allow all our actions to be
consecrated
to God. A virtuous life is the sweetest, most beautiful flower we can offer
to
our Lord.
According to his probably fictitious legend, Saint Serenus left his home and
friends in Greece to serve God in an ascetic life of celibacy, penance, and
prayer. He went to Sirmium in Pannonia (Mitrovica, Yugoslavia), where he
bought
a garden to cultivate with his own hands. He lived on the fruits and herbs
it
produced.
When the persecution of Christians began in the area, Serenus hid himself
for
some months but later returned to his garden. One day a woman and her two
daughters took a walk through his garden. When asked what she wanted, the
lady
replied that she particularly liked visiting it. Thinking that she was up to
mischief because the Romans normally rested during this noon hour, he asked
her
to leave and return at a more proper time.
She took affront and wrote about it to her husband, a guard in the legion of
Emperor Maximian. The husband went to the emperor to demand justice, saying,
"While we are waiting on your majesty's person, our wives in distant
countries
are insulted." The emperor gave him a letter to take to the governor of
Pannonia
to enable him to obtain satisfaction and he set off for Sirmium.
Upon receiving it the governor had Serenus brought before him and questioned
about the insult to the wife of an officer. Serenus could remember no
insult,
then he recalled the woman, "I remember that, some time ago, a lady came
into my
garden at an unseasonable hour, with a design, as she said, to take a walk:
and
I took the liberty to tell her it was against decency for one of her sex and
quality to be abroad at such an hour."
This caused the officer to blush at his wife's action, which was too plain
an
indication of her wicked purpose, and he dropped his accusation against
Serenus.
But the governor, understanding by this answer that Serenus was a man of
virtue,
suspected that he might be a Christian and therefore continued to question
him.
Serenus admitted that he was a Christian.
"Where have you concealed yourself? And how have you avoided sacrificing to
the
gods?" Serenus replied, "It has pleased God to reserve me for this present
time.
It seemed awhile ago as if he rejected me as a stone unfit to enter his
building, but he has the goodness to take me now to be placed in it; I am
ready
to suffer all things for his name, that I may have a part in his kingdom
with
his saints." For this, Serenus was sentenced to beheading.
The acta of Serenus, attributed to Saint Jerome and published at Lucca,
Italy,
by Florentinius, joined Serenus to 62 others martyred at Sirmium. The Roman
Martyrology says that there were 72 others (Benedictines, Delaney,
Encyclopedia,
Husenbeth).
Saint Quotes:
"To change your mind from good to bad is the height of absurdity. True
goodness
changes from evil to righteousness."
-Saint Polycarp
"God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, increase us in faith and truth and
gentleness, and grant us part and lot among His saints."
-Prayer of Saint Polycarp.
Today is also the feast of St. Polycarp
<><><><>
This is the prayer St. Polycarp prayed before he died:
Lord, almighty God, Father of Thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ,
through whom we have come to the knowledge of Thyself, God of angels, of
powers, of all creation, of all the race of saints who live in Thy sight, I
bless Thee for judging me worthy of this day, this hour, so that in the
company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ, Thine anointed one,
and so rise again to eternal life in soul and body, immortal through the
power of the Holy Ghost.
May I be received among the martyrs in Thy presence today as a rich and
pleasing sacrifice. God of truth, stranger to falsehood, Thou hast
prepared this and revealed it to me and now Thou hast fulfilled Thy promise.
I praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee through the
eternal priest of Heaven, Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son. Through him be
glory to Thee, together with him and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.
.
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