Lent Day 15: March 25

This morning we welcome my husband John as our guest blogger. He shares his reflection on persecution and ties it into today's celebration in the Church Year Calendar: The Annunciation of our Lord.

Lenten Reflection for Day 15

Date: Friday March 25, 2011

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

Matthew 5:10 (NRSV)

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Reflection:

March 25^th is the day the Christian Calendar celebrates the Annunciation of our Lord, the day we honor Mary and her visitation by the angel Gabriel. Luke’s story of this event, and Mary’s beautiful song of praise that begins with “My soul magnifies the Lord,” is a powerful reminder of the strength of a righteous young teenage girl as she gets a handle on the fact that she is about to become the Mother of God. And, an unwed mother at that!

What must have gone through her mind! Of course, we have her song that we sing at our mid-week Lenten devotions as part of the Holden evening prayer—that the Lord comes to the lowly, the meek, the God fearing, and, yes, even the persecuted. And, as I reflect on this morning’s beatitude, I cannot help but wonder what Mary must have thought as she pondered Gabriel’s words. She was well aware of Levitical law and what could happen to her as an unwed mother—public humiliation and death by stoning. She knew that she could suffer persecution for her righteousness, and yet, she joyfully accepts her mission, come what may.

As we reflect upon Mary, think about all the Christian disciples in history who have been “blessed” as they have suffered for a just cause. We should think upon all those who have suffered for social justice under totalitarian regimes around the world. We remember particularly the ministers and priests who have died under NAZI and communist governments. In our own time, we think about Christians in Latin America who have defied their Church hierarchy and have died at the hands of oppressive governments as they spoke out for justice for the meek and lowly.

Prayer: Give us strength. O Lord, to become true disciples of Christ. Help us to be righteous and upright in a world that may not persecute Christians, but, worse yet, is indifferent to us and to issues surrounding social justice. Finally, we ask Your blessings on all those who suffer for a just cause. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.