May 6th, 2020
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Wednesday Words 5-6-20
Psalm 41, 52 Exodus 32: 1 – 20 Colossians 3: 18 – 4: 18 Matthew 5: 1 - 10
Welcome to Wednesday Words – a brief stop in the middle of the week for reflection and prayer. Our Gospel reading is from Matthew, chapter 5:
The Beatitudes from St. Matthew 5: 1 - 10
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Among the Saints whose Feast Days fall in this week, we find Saint Monica. The city of Santa Monica in California was named to honor this saint, and there is a graceful statue of her in one of that city’s parks. Who was Monica and what do we know about her?
Saint Monica’s most obvious claim to fame is her son, St. Augustine of Hippo. His books, The Confessions of St. Augustine and City of God have come down to us as classics of Christian thought. But I find St. Monica’s own story to be quite interesting.
Monica was born in what we now know as Algiers about the year 330 CE. She came into the world shortly after Christianity had been made a legal religion by Emperor Constantine. Monica’s parents were Christians, but her mid-teens, her parents married her off to a pagan man. He seems to have been a good provider, but he also had a volatile temper and – as they say – he liked the ladies and the night life. The household included Monica’s mother-in-law. Monica is described as a quiet woman who loved God, prayed often, and gave many charitable gifts to the poor. These religious practices of Monica’s did not set well with dear mommie-in-law and irritated her husband. He consistently criticized Monica’s obvious piety, but always acted with respect toward her.
Monica and her husband had at least three children who lived beyond infancy, 2 sons and a daughter. Her eldest son, Augustine, and her daughter, Perpetua, are both celebrated as saints. Augustine proved to be Monica’s problem child. He was smart and handsome, but lazy. Augustine also followed his father into the halls of wine, women, and song.
Monica prayed daily, sometimes hourly, for her husband, her mother-in-law, her children, and especially for Augustine. God heard those prayers. Monica’s husband and his mother both became believers before Augustine left home for school in Carthage. It took many more years before Augustine found his way to God, but when he did, he turned all his frantic energy and deep intellect into a courageous life for the kingdom of God.
In these weeks as we watch the illness and grief that Covid-19 is wreaking on the whole world, as we worry about going out safely and we miss being with friends and family, we wonder if our prayers have any meaning at all. Looking at the numbers pile up, I find myself not wanting to think about every number represents people, each a person loved or hated, cherished or hardly remembered. Each a soul created by God for God’s joy and God’s kingdom. Each a beloved son or daughter of the Almighty God. The very same God to whom St. Monica prayed for her family. God stands at every bed in every sickroom giving comfort and strength to those of us who will listen. The eternal, steadfast God of St. Monica’s faith is the same eternal, steadfast God of our faith. Maybe we should have an additional Beatitude: Blessed are those who are persistent in prayer, for they shall see the works of our God.
COLLECT PRAYER
O God, who console the sorrowful and who mercifully accepted the motherly tears of Saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine, grant us…that we may bitterly regret our sins and find the grace of your pardon. Help us to be persistent in our prayers that we may be drawn closer to Christ Jesus in love and mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
