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Reading
2 Timothy 3:10-12
Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Devotion
Yesterday was the Feast of St. Thecla. Never heard of her? Neither had I until recently when I was perusing the apocryphal Acts of Paul and there was a reference to her and another work, likely fiction, but also likely based on some historical evidence called the Acts of Paul and Thecla. Besides the legendary aspects of her life (surviving burning at the stake by a miraculous thunderstorm, defended in an arena of wild animals by a lioness, and baptism in a pool filled with angry seals that was struck by lightning leaving her unharmed among them!) the Early Church Fathers wrote of her great reason and spiritual life, her knowledge of philosophy, literature, and eloquent discourse. Working with Paul she was an ardent and courageous proclaimer of the Gospel inviting people to a new way of life in Christ Jesus.
In celebration of this remarkable woman, today's art features two works from two remarkable women who were involved in our faith community's recent exercise in "Soul-Painting." Quite independently of one another during and evening of meditation and prayer Kristy and Laura created these two beautiful soul-crafts. Both women are moms and wives. One is a reserve Army officer. They have what I would describe as very full lives. They came up with circles representing the many arenas, sometimes seemingly overwhelming, of their lives. I think this is fascinating, especially given the chronic anxiousness of our civic environment that they both came up with these. Kristy chose vibrant colors representing the intensity of the challenges. She holds them all connected with black lines and sometimes seemingly separated but representing the integrity of the whole. Laura chose pastels to show that despite all the chaos, it will all work out, proclaiming a hope in defiance of the almost overwhelming demands.
How do you dear reader hold things together these days? Where do you experience hope? May you this week be as indefatigable as Thecla, Kristy, and Laura!
Prayer
God of liberating power, who called Thecla to proclaim the gospel and did not permit any obstacle or peril to inhibit her: Empower courageous evangelists among us, that men and women everywhere may know the freedom that you offer us in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Lesser Feasts and Fasts)