Feast Day of St. Thecla of Iconium

28Sep
‘No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.’

-Luke:16-18



This week we celebrate the feast day of St. Thecla of Iconium. I confess that I was not familiar with the life of St. Thecla, but a short search on Wikipedia reveals she is remembered as a devoted follower of Paul, a woman of great personal fortitude and faith, and a martyr. The earliest record of her life comes from the ancient apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla (a text widely circulated throughout the Eastern Orthodox Church):


“Thecla was miraculously saved from burning at the stake (for following Paul and the Gospel) by the onset of a storm and traveled with Paul to Antioch of Pisidia. There a nobleman named Alexander desired Thecla and attempted to take her by force. Thecla fought him off, assaulting him in the process, and was put on trial for assaulting a nobleman. She was sentenced to be eaten by wild beasts, but was again saved by a series of miracles when the female beasts protected her against her male aggressors.


Thecla gained a massive "cult-like" following, and became perhaps the most prominent figure for female empowerment at the time. She listened to Paul's teachings to fear nobody but God… She demonstrates these teachings on several occasions starting from the first time she heard Paul speak by leaving Thamyris [her fiancée], fighting off Alexander, and surviving several life threatening situations. She traveled to preach the word of God and became an icon encouraging women to also live a life of chastity and follow the word of the Lord.”


-“Thecla” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia 


St. Thecla was a living example of the words we find above in the Gospel of Luke. She did not hide her faith, her light, under a bed, but went boldly with Paul to spread the Good News of Jesus despite obvious and repeated danger to her life. She has inspired and empowered many women throughout Christian history to share their stories of God’s grace. Many of the liturgical readings for today are filled with examples and admonitions that as apostles of Christ we must spread the Word to others. How will you share the Good News today?


Musical Reflection- "Méditation" from Thaïs, Massenet - Joshua Bell


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.

-Satucket Daily Lectionary

GraceWomen

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