ST. BASIL THE
GREAT-MOTIVATION DAY
Psalm
23, verse 4:
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff
comfort me.
Saint Pope John
Paul II was an example of someone who walked through the valley of the shadow
of death and feared no evil. The Lord’s rod and staff sustained him through the
nightmare of the Nazis and the Communists. Both were evil empires devoted to
the destruction of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all except
for the few selected elite. These empires
systematically replaced God with the rule of the chosen ones of the State.
People from both the Fatherland and the Motherland sat by and watched the evil
grow without taking decisive action, making the adage ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men (or
women) do nothing.’ Remember to measure our nation and our politics with Gods Rod (Rods were often used in
ancient times to measure) and not the political States or the media nor the
opinion of the rich and the powerful. Let us be ever ready to speak up for what
is righteous using Gods rod, which are His laws of justice and mercy, working
tirelessly and remember Saint Pope John Paul II words of encouragement, “I plead with you –
never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become
discouraged. Be not afraid.”
Let us also carry with us for the journey the Staff
of God which is truth, not worldly truth but Gods truth. “The word of truth,
publicly, indeed almost liturgically, proclaimed was the antidote the Rhapsodic
Theater sought to apply to the violent lies of the Occupation. The tools for
fighting evil included speaking truth to power.” [1]
Reflect: "St. Basil, in a much-quoted
homily, once declared that the bread we clutch in our hands belongs to the
starving, the cloak we keep locked in our closet belongs to the naked, the
shoes we are not using belong to the barefooted. In these ways in the
post-biblical age Christians strove to keep a religious perspective on their
use of material things."
Act: St. Basil once wrote, "Do
everything possible to make yourself worthy of the Kingdom. Do not disdain the
invitation you have received" (Exhortation to Baptism, 7-8).
9th day of Christmas
and the nine lady’s dancing is a sign of the fruits of the Holy Spirit for
those who are not afraid: love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
For Catholics today is the Feast of St. Basil who stated, “
When
I think of all this, I am left terrorized and swallowed up with fear that,
because of fickleness of heart or preoccupation with things of no importance, I
may weaken in my love of God and even become a reason of shame or disorder for
Christ.”
Prayer
Leader:
Through the
prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us!
All: Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Most holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us of our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Leader: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All: Amen.
Troparion - Tone 1 Your voice resounds throughout the world * which has excepted the lessons so well taught by you. * You have given explanation of divine truths. * You have clarified the nature of created things. * You have made a rule of life for men. * By your royal priesthood, O venerable father Basil, * intercede with Christ to save our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Kondakion - Tone 4 O venerable and heavenly inspired Basil, * you were a firm foundation of the Church * by giving to all treasure * and impressing them with your teachings.
Leader: Let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.
Prayer of Blessing
Leader: O Lord, King of the Ages and Creator of all things; You are abounding in mercy and plenteous in goodness! You accepted the gifts of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. You are the Bread of Life Who came down from heaven. You put times and years under Your authority and hold our lives in Your hands. Hear us on this auspicious day of the beginning of this New Year of (name the year) and bless + this sweet bread which is offered for Your glory and honor and in memory of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodocia. O Generous One, look down from heaven and send down Your heavenly gifts upon us, those who prepared this bread and all who shall partake of it, because we have placed our hope in You, the Eternal Living God! Bless our coming and going, enrich our lives with Your abundant blessings and direct our steps in the working of Your Divine commandments, because we shall not live by bread alone. Through the intercessions of Your all-pure and holy Mother, of our Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, and of all Your Saints, who have pleased You over the ages.
All: Amen.
The leader takes a knife and incises the sign of the Cross in the bottom of the loaf. It is then cut. It is eaten after the prayers are complete.
Closing Prayers
All: Lord, have mercy. (three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify you!
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, our true God, circumcised in the flesh, through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of Saint Basil the Great, whom we honor this day and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us.
All: Amen.
Motivation and Inspiration Day[4]
It’s January 2nd, the beginning of a whole new year, and you’ve just gotten over your hangover—what time could possibly be better to be motivated and inspired? You have a whole 365 days ahead of you, and now is the time to start making them count! Even though to many, January 2nd is in fact just about finally getting over your New Year’s Party hangover, the history of Motivation and Inspiration day is much more somber. National Motivation & Inspiration Day was passed by The United States Congress on December 18th, 2001, after the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. That was when Kevin L. McCrudden became the first and so far, only motivational and leadership speaker to ever have had such a day passed by Congress, acknowledging the importance of “motivation” and “inspiration” in our daily lives. After the tragedy that was September 11th, 2001, McCrudden felt that all Americans needed something to remind them that there were still many things to live on for. The reality was bleak at that time, and many people felt sad, scared or lost—especially those whose family members or friends had gotten killed suddenly in the World Trade Center attacks of just a few months before. McCrudden originally intended for this day to be dedicated to helping people become the best they can be and maximize their potential through the creation of annual goals. The idea caught on quite quickly, and Motivation and Inspiration Day is now celebrated in different places across the world as well as in the United States, encouraging people everywhere to change their lives for the better.
How
to Celebrate Motivation and Inspiration Day
Watch a Movie at the Palm Springs International Film Fest[5]
(January
2-15)
Daily
Devotions
[1]
George Wiegel, Witness to Hope, 1999, p66.
[5]https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/travels-best/photos/awesome-things-to-do-in-january
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