- Psalm 121:1-7 -
I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you -
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm -
he will watch over your life...
____________________________________________________________________
This song expresses assurance and hope in God's protection day and night.
He
not
only made the hills but heaven and earth as well. We should never trust a
lesser
power than God himself. But not only is he all-powerful, he also watches
over
us. Nothing diverts or defers him. We are safe. We never outgrow our need
for
God's untiring watch over our lives.
<<>><<>><<>>
April 26th - St. Marcellinus, Pope, Martyr
296 - 304 AD
St. Marcellinus was to see the end of the long period of peace and the
start
of
a most violent persecution, the persecution of Diocletian.
St. Marcellinus was a Roman, the son of Projectus. When he first became
pope,
Diocletian was already on the throne, but he had not yet drawn the sword
against
the Christians. Indeed, at first under the influence of his wife, Prisca,
and
his daughter, Valeria, the despot left the Christians fairly free. The
peace,
however, had caused Christianity to grow and grow. This provoked a fierce
reaction among the pagans, and they had a leader in no less a dignitary
than
the
Caesar Galerius.
According to Lactantius, the historian of the persecution, Diocletian was
first
angered by the Christians when the augurs or soothsayers told him that
they
could not prophesy because Christians made the sign of the cross. The
Emperor
promptly ordered all Christians to apostatize or get out of the army. This
was
in 302. The next year at a conference in Nicomedia, Galerius urged the
Emperor
to extend himself against the Christians. Diocletian asked the opinion of
the
oracle of Apollo at Miletus. Naturally, the oracle saw eye to eye with
Galerius.
But Diocletian started easily. At first he ordered the confiscation of
Church
property and the destruction of Christian books. When a rash Christian
actually
tore down the imperial edict right under the imperial nose at Nicomedia
and
two
very convenient fires broke out in the imperial palace, Diocletian,
enraged,
took off the gloves. It was apostatize or die, and soon blood was
streaming.
The persecution hit Rome with disastrous results for the historians. The
papal
archives were seized and destroyed. The famous Cemetery of Calixtus was
saved by
the Christians, who blocked up the entrance.
Pope St. Marcellinus was accused by Donatist heretics of having handed
over
the
sacred books. Some went so far as to accuse him of having sacrificed to
idols.
The "Liber Pontificalis" repeats this but adds that St. Marcellinus
repented
and
died a martyr. Actually it is not certain either that St. Marcellinus
weakened
or that he was a martyr. St. Augustine denies openly that the Pope had
weakened,
and there is no conclusive evidence of his having been killed.
At any rate, St. Marcellinus did die a confessor of Christ in 304.
According
to
the "Liber Pontificalis", after his head was cut off, his body, along with
those
of other martyrs, was left lying on the street for twenty- six days to
terrify
the Christians. Then a priest buried the Pope in the Cemetery of
Priscilla.
Saint Quote:
Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the
vehicle,
like the "throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant," and "the mystery
hidden
from the ages." A man should turn his full attention to this throne of
mercy,
and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope, and
charity,
devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise
and
jubilation. Then such a man will make with Christ a "pasch," that is, a
passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red
Sea,
leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden
manna,
and
rest with Christ in the sepulcher, as if he were dead to things outside.
He
will
experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was
promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: "Today you will be with me
in
paradise."
-from Journey of the Mind to God by Saint Bonaventure
Bible Quote
29 I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among
you,
not
sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men speaking
perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, keeping in
memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every
one
of
you night and day. 32 And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his
grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the
sanctified. (Acts 20:29-32)
<><><><>
Imitate Christ
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live
a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,
or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, becasue these are improper for
God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse
joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you
can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an
idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no
one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath
comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with
them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose
them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in
secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is
light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.'
Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do
not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with
the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God
the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-21
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