Lent, Day Twenty-One, Third Tuesday of Lent

Lent, Day Twenty-One, Third Tuesday of Lent
PREPARE

Life is a long journey of preparation--of preparing oneself to truely die for others. It is a series of little deaths in which we are asked to release many forms of clinging and to move increasingly from needing other to living for them. The many passages we have to make as we grow from childhood to adolescence, from adolescence to adulthood, and from adulthood to old age offer ever new opportunities to choose for ourselves or to choose for others. During these passages, question such as: Do I desire power or service: do I want to be visible or remain hidden; do I strive for a successful career or do I keep following my vocation? keep coming up and confront us with hard choices. In this sense, we can speak about life as a long process of dying to self, so that we will be able to live in the joy of God.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Beyond the Mirror: Reflections on Death and Life, pg42

Scripture: ⁴² The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Luke 12:42-48

PRAYER
God, eternal Father, as I walk my way through this life, I recall that I too easily do what is wrong instead of what is right. But you love me regardless of my sins and infidelities As I struggle on this path, remind me to choose service over power, a true vocation to your Word rather than a successful career, the anonymity of hidden help to others rather than self-aggrandizement. Help me to detach from self so that I may find a true sense of reality. Amen.

LENTEN ACTION
Make an examination of conscience and choose one area to work on and improve with God's help.

Lent, Day Twenty, Third Monday of Lent

Lent, Day Twenty, Third Monday of Lent
It is difficult to confess that perhaps the greatest servicec we can offer to our fellow [human being] is to recieve and allow them the happiness of giving. For much of the happiness in our lives derived from the fact that we can give and though our friends have been willing to receive our gifts, to make them part of their lives, and to allow themselves to become dependent on us through them. We feel happy when we see the picture we gave our friends displayed most advantageously on a wall of the living room. The question is: Would we have given [our friend] the freedom to put it in the attic? ...

As long as we keep living with the wrong supposition that giving is our first task, our scotosis [darkness] cannot be healed, and the most creative insights will stay out of our consciousness.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Creative Ministry, pg 40

Scripture:

33 I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they set me at nought, and despised the commandment of the Lord.

34 And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and understand, look for your Shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world.

35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.

36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my Saviour openly.

37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.

 2 Edras 2:33-37

PRAYER
Divine Giver, your generosity is so immense. I see your gifts in the smallest of living things and in the grandest sights of mountains, skies, forests, and seas. In this vast panoply, I am so small, and my offerings are so puny. Yet as I respect and give thanks for your works, let me also be grateful for the gifts given to me by my companions here in this life. Grant me the wisdom to accept these gifts with a pure heart. Amen.

LENTEN ACTION
List the gifts that have been given to you that you have overlooked or minimized. Write a prayer of thanksgiving for all these blessings. Nurture your sincere appreciation and concentrate on grateful receiving.

Lent, Day Nineteen, Third Sunday of Lent

Lent, Day Nineteen, Third Sunday of Lent
A [person] with hope does not get tangled up with concerns for how his wishes will be fulfilled. So, too, his prayer is not directed toward the gift, but toward the one who gives it. His prayer might still contain just as many desires, but ultimately it is not a question of having a wish come true but of expressing an unlimited faith in the giver of all good things... For the prayer of hope it is essential that there are no guarantees asked, no conditions posed, and no proofs demanded, only that you expect everything from the other without binding him.Hope is based on the premise that the other gives only what is good. Hope includes an openness by which you wait for the other to make his loving promise come true, even tough you never know when, where or how this might happen.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
  With Open Hands, pg 38

Scripture:
 ¹⁷ Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰ where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:17-20

PRAYER
Good Shepherd of all, help me to hear your voice of assurance when I am lost and hopeless. Let me find rest and safety in your presence. Though I may be tempted to be full of fear and. self-pity, though I may wish to run away from you, please never give up on me. Amen.

LENTEN ACTION
Establish a "prayer place" in your home. Adorn it with images, books, and music that foster prayer and contemplation Use this spot today and as often as possible in the future.

Lent, Day Eighteen, Second Saturday of Lent

Lent, Day Eighteen, Second Saturday of Lent 
Care for your fellowman means a growing acceptance. This acceptance led Jesus and his disciples to where they didn't want to go, to the cross. This is also the road for the [person] who prays. When you are still young and not yet adult, you want to hold everything in your own hands, but if you have your hands open towards prayer, you are able to stretch out your arms and let yourself be led without knowing where. You know only the freedom which God's breath has brought you will lead to new life, even if the cross is the only sign of it you can see.

Henri J.M. Nouwen

With Open Hands, pg 36

Scripture:

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 

John 21:15-18

PRAYER
God of peace, though you have given me my own special cross just as you gave your Son the circumstances of his crucifixion, let me embrace my cross and shoulder it willingly as befits your follower. Though I may not always recognize this cross-which is often cleverly camouflaged let me accept it as part of your will for me. Even though my cross may be an invisible one, let me see this challenge as a sign of your divine favor.Amen.

LENTEN ACTION
Choose a cross to wear daily during the next days of Lent. Let it be always a sign of solidarity with Jesus rather than a  mere decoration.

Lent, Day Seventeen, Second Friday of Lent

Lent, Day Seventeen, Second Friday of Lent 
Faithfulness

I now know ... that there is a long, hard journey ahead of me. It is the way of living, praying, being with peope, caring, eating, drinking, sleeping, reading, and writing in which Jesus is truely center. I know ... that his way exists and that I have not fully found it.

How do I find it? George [Father George Strohmeyer, co-founder of L'Arche community in Pennsylvania] gave me the answer::Be faithful in adoration." He did not say, "prayer" or "meditation" or "contemplation". He kept using the word, "adoration". This word makes it clear that all the attention must be on Jesus and not on me. To adore is to be drawn away from my own preoccupations into the presence of Jesus.  It means letting go of what I want, desire, and have planned and fully trusting in Jesus and his love.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey, pg 34

Scripture:

¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹² And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

¹³ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

 Luke 16:10-13

 PRAYER
God, bread of heaven, let the activities of my daily life be so centered on your presence that my friendship with you is solidly entrenched in my heart of hearts. Let me serve your will and purposes and have the sense to forego the hollow pleasures of success and wealth. Amen.

LENTEN ACTION
Spend a predetermined amount of time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Make a list of the places in your area that have Perpetual Adoration so that you might take the opportunity to visit more frequently. Be faithful in continuing this practice after Lent is over.

 

Lent, Day Sixteen, Second Thursday of Lent

Lent, Day Sixteen, Second Thursday of Lent
 

POSITIVE POWERLESSNESS 

God became a little baby.Who can be afraid of a little baby?... C5J That's the mystery of the incarnation. God became human, in no way different from other human beings, to break through the walls of power in total weakness. That's the story of Jesus. And how did that story end? It ended on a cross, where the same human person hangs naked with nails through his hands and feet. The powerlessness of the manger has become the powerlessness of the cross.... He hangs there, his flesh torn apart by lead-filled whips, his heart broken by the rejection of his friends and abuse from his enemies, his mind tortured by anguish, his spirit shrouded in the darkness of abandonment-total weakness, total powerlessness. That's how God chose to reveal to us the divine love.


Henri J.M. Nouwen
Finding My Way Home: Pathways to Life and the Spirit, pg 32

Scripture:
27Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

            Isaiah 40:27-31

 PRAYER

Sustainer God, though I very much wish to be in control, let me recognize the strength of Christ's manger and his cross. Transplant in me your humble heart and your heroic surrender so that I may cast out pride and share in the cup of your tears. Amen.

LENTEN ACTION

Promise yourself that you will maintain a dignified silence(just as Jesus did at his trial), at a point where you are eager to contribute your two-cents' worth or when you feel a strong need to defend yourself from criticism.

 

 

Lent, Day Fifteen, Second Wednesday of Lent

Lent, Day Fifteen, Second Wednesday of Lent

 
SUSTAINMENT 

To take the holy scriptures and read them is the first thing we have to do to open ourselves to God's call.Reading the scriptures is not as easy as it seems .... We tend to make anything and everything we read subject to analysis and discussion. But the word of God should lead us first of all to contemplation and meditation. Instead of taking the words apart, we should bring them together in our innermost being; instead of wondering if we agree or disagree, we should wonder which words are directly spoken to us and connect directly with our personal story. Instead of thinking about the words as potential subjects for an interesting dialogue ... , we should be willing to let them penetrate into the most hidden corners of our hearts, even to those places where no other word has yet found entrance.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Reaching Out. The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, pg 30

Scripture:

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.   John 5:19-24

 

PRAYER
Steadfast God, grant me the openness to read and accept the words of your .holy Scriptures as truth for my inner being, as a springboard for meditation, as urgent messages directed to the hidden places of my heart. Also grant me the willingness to listen and connect with your teachings. Keep me from stumbling over their simplicity. Amen.

LENTEN ACTION
Choose a passage from holy Scripture that is significant to you and memorize it.