A Liturgical Note for You – Week of January 23
Why do we use different colours on the altar (and other hangings) throughout our Christian year? The colours represent various concepts and, over the ages, different church communities have given various meanings to those colours, so you might get different answers depending on who you ask. However, we can turn to the icons of the Orthodox Church to discover what is considered to be pretty close to the “original” significance of these colours—meanings with which the Anglican Church is closely aligned.
Icons have been around for very nearly as long as Christianity itself. Here is the information on the colour green that you will see on most days until Lent begins:
Green is the colour of natural, living things. It is the colour of grass and leaves, youth, flowering, hope, and eternal renovation. Ancient iconographers often painted the earth green to denote where life began—such as in scenes of the Annunciation and the Nativity.
So… why would we be using the colour green during this time? Well, for one thing, this is the time in between a couple of very crucial saving events on our calendar (Jesus’ birth and baptism and then, coming up, the season of Lent leading to his death on the cross). During this time in between, the Gospel readings proclaim the stories of people encountering Jesus, and we hear Jesus’ teachings.
All of this helps us to encounter Jesus and learn—growing our knowledge and understanding and love of God, helping us to flourish as Jesus’ disciples, and fuelling our passion to work with God as we journey toward the fulfillment of God’s promises:
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
For Your Devotions
Monday, January 26
The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle (transferred from Sunday)
Full disclosure—Paul is my biblical hero 🙂 (this is, of course, aside from the Holy Trinity). Upon experiencing Jesus on the road to Damascus and being converted, Paul tirelessly and selflessly pursued the single goal of bringing everyone to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour.
Paul’s faith in what God had accomplished in Christ and his zeal for proclaiming the Good News are truly inspirational, as are his teachings.
To read more: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/conversion-of-saint-paul/
Tuesday, January 27
John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith (d. 407)
John’s energetic and easily understood preaching earned him the nickname “golden-mouthed.” The people loved him—they felt he was one of them—but his lack of political savvy resulted in stormy relationships with bishops and the social elite.
He spoke out against the frivolity and abuses of the wealthy and did not entertain lavishly as other bishops did. Misunderstood and opposed by powerful figures, John eventually died in exile. To learn more: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-Chrysostom
Wednesday, January 28
Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Friar, Teacher of the Faith (d. 1274)
Thomas Aquinas is one of the greatest thinkers of our faith—too radical for some in his own time, as he incorporated much of Aristotle’s philosophy into his theology.
Born into an aristocratic family, Thomas defied expectations by joining the Dominicans, even enduring a year of captivity arranged by his family. His perseverance shaped a legacy that continues to influence Christian thought. For more information: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Thomas-Aquinas
Friday, January 30
Charles Stuart, King of England and Scotland (beheaded 1649)
Charles believed in the divine right of kings and frequently clashed with Parliament, a conflict that ultimately led to civil war. Captured by Oliver Cromwell, Charles was tried and executed after refusing to abolish bishops.
Throughout these events, Charles remained a staunch supporter of the Church of England. To read more: http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/92.html
Written by the Rev. Susan Montague-Koyle