Ember Wednesday
SUPERMAN DAY
Now
the fear of the LORD was upon all the
kingdoms of the countries surrounding Judah, so that they did not war against
Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was zealous for God and as a result peace
comes to the land. Seek first the Kingdom of God.
EPISTLE.
Acts v. 12-16.
IN
those days: By the hands of the apostles were many signs - and wonders wrought
among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. But of
the rest no man durst join himself unto them; but the people magnified them.
And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was more increased:
insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on
beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow
any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities. And there came
also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing
sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits, who were all
healed.
GOSPEL.
John vi. 44-52.
The term “Ember Days” is derived
from the Latin term Quatuor Tempora, which literally means “four times.” There are
four sets of Ember Days each calendar year; three days each – Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday. Ember Days fall at the start of a new season and they are
ordered as days of fast and abstinence. The significance of the days of the
week are that Wednesday was the day Christ was betrayed, Friday was the day He
was crucified, and Saturday was the day He was entombed.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the purpose of Ember Days, “besides
the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to thank God for the
gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist
the needy.”
Why is the Devil
still in action? God is
infinitely more powerful than the Devil and his hosts. So why doesn’t God
prevent them from their evildoing on planet earth?
We could ask a similar question about why God
doesn’t stop human beings from committing wicked deeds. Evil’s continuing
presence among us is a mystery we can’t fully figure out in this life.
Nevertheless, we can say this much: God allows evil because He’s powerful
enough to bring out of even the greatest evil a much greater good. The
crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides a vivid illustration of this reality.
According to the Gospel, when “Satan entered into Judas,” one of the twelve
Apostles, he went out to betray Jesus (see Lk 22:3–4). So, the worst evil we
can imagine—the torture and murder of God’s innocent Son—occurred through the
Devil’s influence. Yet the triumph of the empty tomb transformed the horror of
the Cross. Satan was thwarted. When Jesus rose from the dead, He displayed
God’s power to bring out of the greatest of evils an even greater good: the
world’s redemption.
What’s
that?! There in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No! It’s
the Man of Tomorrow! Superman has gone by many names over the years, but
one thing has remained the same. He has always stood for what’s best about humanity, all of our
potential for terrible destructive acts, but also our choice to not act on the
level of destruction we could wreak. Superman was first created in 1933 by Joe
Shuster and Jerry Siegel, the writer and artist respectively. His first
appearance was in Action Comics #1, and that was the beginning of a long and
illustrious career for the Man of Steel. In his unmistakable blue suit with red
cape, and the stylized red S on his chest, the figure of Superman has become
one of the most recognizable in the world. Superman has been through a lot of
changes since his initial creation, his original Golden Age incarnation being a
villainous character that bears absolutely no resemblance to our current hero.
Superman as we know and love him today didn’t appear until Action Comics #1,
published on April 18, 1938. Such was his success that he got his own comic in
1939, and the world has never looked back since.
Since that time, our boy in blue has seen appearances
in every form of media the world has to offer. Comic books, video games,
movies, novels, stickers, T-shirts, there isn’t a place that the Man of Steel
hasn’t made
an appearance. He’s
even been represented in more than one TV show throughout the years, most
recently “Smallville”, which retells his time as a youth
in the town he grew up in. Examining the Man of Steel during his developmental
phases shows him in a rarely seen state of vulnerability, living through the
turbulence of adolescence.
How
to Celebrate Superman Day
·
For
those desiring to celebrate Superman Day, there are many options that range
from entertaining to altruistic. The best way to celebrate Superman Day is to
host a Superman themed get together with your friends, complete with a cake
decorated with the iconic S emblem.
·
For
the dastardly a little green food coloring can change Marshmallow Crispy Bars
into Kryptonite bars, and a trampoline in the yard will give everyone a bit of
the experience of flying like the Man of Steel.
·
Finish
it all off with a marathon of movies and` you’ll have a “Super Celebration” this day.
·
For
those looking to be a bit more altruistic, Superman Day is also a great day to
remember what the Man of Steel actually stood for.
·
The
Red, White, and Blue of his uniform stood for what made America great, which at
that time was a desire for Justice, to help those in need, and a powerful
spirit. So, you could spend your day working at Soup Kitchens, Blood Drives, or
a volunteer organization that serves your community. The opportunities to be a
little bit “Super” are limitless, just get out there
and help your fellow man!
Daily Devotions
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