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.
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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
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February 23rd - St. Willigis of Mainz, B (AC)
Born at Schöningen, Brunswick; died at Mainz, Germany, in 1011. Saint
Willigis
was a man of humble origin, son of a wheelwright, who by 975 was imperial
chancellor to Otto II, and archbishop of Mainz. As a canon of Hildesheim
(near
Hanover), Willigis attracted the attention of Otto II through Otto's
precentor
Wolkold, who became archbishop of Meissen in 969. Willigis also served
Otto
III
as chaplain and chancellor, and left his mark as a capable and
conscientious
ecclesiastical statesman. Through his efforts Christianity increased in
Schleswig-Holstein and southern Scandinavia; he consecrated a succession
of
excellent bishops, provided for the building of several great churches and
other
public works, and established or restored collegiate churches in Mainz and
Halberstadt. His personal life included daily study of the Scriptures and
the
organized relief of the poor. Willigis was a notable patron of the arts;
his
motto was "by art to the knowledge and service of God."
On the death of Otto, Willigis became one of the most important and
influential
people in the empire. Confirmed by Benedict VII in the right to coronate
emperors, Willigis crowned Otto III and later influenced him in favor of
abandoning Italy and concentrating his resources north of the Alps. Otto
III
died young in 1002. The succession was disputed but ended with Willigis
crowning
Saint Henry II and his wife Saint Cunegund at Paderborn. He then served
his
third monarch faithfully.
Unhappily Willigis had a long disagreement with Saint Bernward of
Hildesheim
about jurisdiction over the convent of Gandersheim, a quarrel apparently
provoked by one of the nuns, a sister of Otto III. At long last Willigis
admitted he was in the wrong and gracefully withdrew his claims. This
seems
to
have been the only blot on a vigorous and beneficent episcopate.
After he died of old age, Willigis's body was buried in St. Stephen's
Church
in
Mainz. His cultus arose immediately and spontaneously. It is claimed that
some
of his Mass vestments have survived (Attwater, Benedictines, Farmer).
Saint Willigis is represented in art as a bishop with a wheel, which he
chose as
his insignia to symbolize his father's trade (Roeder). He is the patron of
carters and wheelwrights, who is venerated at Hildesheim and Schoeningen
(Roeder).
Saint Quote:
Let us relieve the poverty of those that beg of us and let us not be
over-exact
about it.
-Saint John Chrysostom
Bible Quote:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it
shall be
opened to you. St. Matthew 7:7
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PRAYER ATTRIBUTED TO ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (347-407)
Archbishop of Constantinople & Father of the Church
I know, O Lord my God, that I am not worthy nor sufficient that You should
come under the roof of my soul's habitation, for it is all deserted and in
ruins, and You have not in me where worthily to lay Your head. But as from
the height of Your glory You did humble Yourself for us, bear now also
with
my lowliness; and as You did deign to lay Yourself down in a manger in a
cave, so deign now also to enter into the manger of my sinful soul and
defiled body; and as You did not refuse to enter into the house of Simon
the
leper and to sup there with sinners, so also deign to enter into the
habitation of my humble soul, leprous and sinful; and as You did not
reject
the sinful woman who approached and touched You, so also have pity on me,
a
sinner, coming to You and touching You. And grant that I may partake of
Your
precious Body and Blood to the sanctification, enlightenment, and
strengthening of my humble soul and body, to the alleviation of the burden
of my many sins, to my preservation from all the snares of the devil, to
victory over my sinful and evil habits, to the mortification of my
passions,
to the fulfillment of Your commandments, to the increase of Your divine
grace, and to the inheritance of Your kingdom. For it is not in lightness
of
heart, O Christ my God, that I venture to approach You, but trusting in
Your
infinite goodness, and in the fear that being drawn afar from You I may
become the prey of our spiritual enemy. Therefore do I pray unto You, O
Lord, who alone are holy, that You would sanctify my soul and body, my
heart
and mind, and, renewing me entirely, would implant in my members the fear
of
You. And be You my Help and Guide, governing my life in the ways of peace,
and making me worthy to obtain with Your Saints a place at Your right
hand,
through the prayers and supplications of Your most pure Mother, of Your
Angelic Ministers and Powers, and of all Your Saints who from ages have
found favor before You. Amen.
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