Readings:
Psalm 116:1-8 31:1-5
Romans 8:35-39
John 12:23-26
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39
PRAYER
Almighty God, we praise you for your bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch, who offered himself as grain to be ground by the teeth of wild beasts that he might present to you the pure bread of sacrifice. Accept the willing tribute of our lives, and give us a share in the pure and spotless offering of your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in the city of Mosul in Iraq, who are being killed or forced to flee their homes because of what appears to be deliberate targeting of Christians.
From CNN:
At least 900 Christian families have fled Mosul in the past week, terrified by a series of killings and threats by Muslim extremists ordering them to convert to Islam or face possible death, officials said Saturday.
....
"Where is the government and its security forces as these crimes take place every day?" asked Azoz, a carpenter who is staying with his wife and three children in a town about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Mosul, according to AP.
The history of certain of the Iraqi Christian communities stretches back to the early church. They have suffered terribly during the war. Nearly half their numbers were killed, or kidnapped, or forced to flee for their lives to neighboring countries. It appears that their suffering is far from over.
Icon of Ignatius being martyred from Wiki.
UPDATE: More on the Christians in Mosul and one of their leaders, the Anglican Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, at OCICBW.
This is in no way reflecting on your excellent post, Mimi, but on iconography and my twisted sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteThe icon looks like me playing with my cats. Of course, Katzie doesn't defy gravity like that lion on the right.
One time, in an illuminated 1662 BCP I had, the Transfiguration was depicted, with the disciples staring up, and, at the top edge of the painting, were two adorable little sandaled feet dangling down. The disciples had hands outstretched, and I could almost hear them saying:
"Whoops! He's stuck!"
"Whack him loose with a stick!"
Mark, I dunno, love. Those kitty cats are large, and they seem quite serious.
ReplyDeleteAs to your twisted sense of humor, don't worry. Mine sometimes gets in a bit of a twist, too.