This Daily Devotion is to help our members and others reflect on the understanding of Christian service to our Lord.
Devotion for Friday, December 6, 2024
The Rt. Rev. Archimandrite, Msgr. George Appleyard
An Invitation to Prayer
A shoot shall spring from Jesse’s stump,
a twig shall sprout from his stock.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him!
-Isaiah 11:1
Psalm 118/119, Zayin
Remember your word to your servant
by which you gave me hope.
This comforted me in my humiliation
because your promise strengthened me.
The arrogant are utterly unscrupulous,
but I do not swerve from your law.
I remembered your ancient judgments, O Lord,
and found comfort.
I became depressed because sinners forsake your law.
Your judgments were music to me wherever I wandered.
I remembered you name, O Lord, during the night
and guarded your law.
This was mine to do because I searched out your judgments.
A reading adapted from Basil’s, On the Human Condition
In giving us the ability to become like God, he allowed us to become artisans of this likeness so that the recompense for the work would be ours. So we are not like images created by a painter-inert-for then the work would be credited to someone else. When you see an image exactly depicting like its subject, you do not praise the picture but the painter. And so, that the admiration would be mine and not another’s, God has left it to me to make myself his likeness. As a rational being I look like God-I am his image-but in becoming a Christian I become like him.
From St. Ambrose’s most famous hymn, the Te Deum.
We praise you, O God;
we acclaim you, O Lord!
You are the eternal Father,
and all creation worships you.
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Come, then, Lord and help your people,
purchased with the blood of your Son,
and bring us to eternal glory with your holy ones
Amen!
Note
Ambrose was born in what is now France in 340 and was not baptized until 374 when he was called to be the bishop of Milan. He was a profound influence on Augustine of Hippo, and he is venerated in both East & West.