Festival of St. Lucy, Martyr
Posted on December 13, 2021 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 13:44-52 (NKJV)
13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Devotion
The Gospel lection appointed for this Festival Day teaches the Church concerning the judgment which is to come at the end of the age, likening it to the way in which there is a division between that which is of value, and that which is not, in the midst of this fallen world. The prudence of the faithful is certainly seen in the discernment of the one who is prepared to commit all that they have because of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. There is a single-minded prioritization which is at the root of such decisions: the person who makes such a choice has firm faith as to where true worth may be found.
St. Lucy was martyred while still a young woman because of such commitment to the hidden treasure. Having her faith in the Christ, she was not ashamed to lose her possessions, her eyes, or even her life. In her age—and ours—the young are often told that they have “so much to live for,” but St. Lucy knew that what was given to her by grace through faith in Christ Jesus exceeded any of the imagined wealth the world might offer. Baptized into the Christ, she was made a partaker of the resurrection of our Lord, and knew that this salvation is worth more than all the world.
Prayer: O God, our Savior, hear us, we pray Thee, as we rejoice in the steadfast devotion Thou dost kindle and sustain in the hearts of Thy saints, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Gaudete: Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Advent: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
