January 17: Feast Day of St. Anthony the Great

The Catholic, Coptic, and some Orthodox churches, celebrate January 17 as the feast day of Anthony the Great, aka St. Anthony of the Desert.

In the late third century, Anthony became one of the first Christian ascetics to seek solitude in the desert, where he wrestled with a great many temptations. Many years later, other men joined him in the Sahara Desert, forming a monastery of sorts, where the men kept spent their time praying and doing manual labor.

Although Jesus spent much of his life crowded by “tax collectors and sinners,” in Mark 1:35 we see Jesus seeking a time of solitude to pray. Perhaps we need to do the same, and find time both to spend with people, ministering to them, and time to be alone with our Maker.

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1

January 10: Feast Day of Obadiah

13th century illumination

The Coptic Churchcelebrates the Feast Day of Obadiah on January 10.

A minor prophet, Obadiah is best known for his short book prophesying the destruction of the nation of Edom.

Tradition states that the prophet Obadiah is also the evil king Ahab’s servant Obadiah. This servant is called a devout believer, and is known for hiding 100 prophets in two caves when Queen Jezebel went on a prophet killing spree.

18th century Russian icon of Amos and Obadiah

The day of the LORD is near
for all nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you;
your deeds will return upon your own head.
But on Mount Zion will be deliverance;
it will be holy,
and the house of Jacob
will possess its inheritance.

Obadiah 15 & 17