The spiritual life is a stern choice. It is not a consoling retreat from the difficulties of existence, but an invitation to enter fully into that
difficult existence, and there apply the Charity of God, and bear the cost.
- Evelyn Underhill
(What kind of “cost" is Charity calling forth from you lately?) Help to grow this newsletter by forwarding it to someone.
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1 KGS
8:22-23, 27-30; PS 84:3, 4, 5 AND 10, 11
MK 7:1-13
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with
unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the
elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"
He responded,
"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God's
commandment but cling to human tradition."
He went on to say,
"How well you have set aside the commandment of God
in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said,
Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
Yet you say,
'If someone says to father or mother,
"Any support you might have had from me is qorban"'
(meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of
God
in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.
And you do many such things."
UCCB Lectionary
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In contrast to many other Lenten prayer guides, this booklet is more than a series of rote meditations. Instead, you will find brief reflections to use as springboards for your own unique meditation on the gospels of the Lenten liturgy. To enhance your meditation, a brief commentary or background on the gospel passage is also provided. - 40 page perfect-bound paperback; 8,400 word digital. - Liguori Publications
paperback edition, 1994. Contemplative Ministries, Inc. editions, 2018.
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
Allow God's word to purify your thoughts, intentions, and actions
Jesus accused them (the Pharisees) specifically of two things. First of hypocrisy. Like actors, who put on a show, they appear to obey God's word in their external practices while they inwardly harbor evil desires and intentions. Secondly, he accused them of abandoning God's word by substituting their own
arguments and ingenious interpretations for what God requires. They listened to clever arguments rather than to God's word. Jesus refers them to the prophecy of Isaiah (29:31) where the prophet accuses the people of his day for honoring God with their lips while their hearts went astray because of their disobedience to God's laws.
If we listen to God's word with faith and reverence, it will both enlighten our mind and purify our heart - thus enabling us to better understand how he
wants us to love and obey him rather than love and follow our own unruly desires and wrong behavior. The Lord invites us to draw near to him and to feast at his banquet table. Do you approach with a clean heart and mind? Ask the Lord Jesus to cleanse and renew you with the purifying fire of his Holy Spirit.
"Lord Jesus, let the fire of your Holy Spirit cleanse my mind and my heart that I may love you purely and serve you
worthily."
DailyScripture.net
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The Ascent of Mount Carmel, by St. John of the Cross E. Allison Peers Translation. Paperback, Kindle, Audio Book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1935785982/?tag=christianspiritu
BOOK THE FIRST Wherein is described the nature of dark night and how necessary it is to pass through it to Divine union; and in particular this book describes the dark night of sense, and desire, and the evils which these work in the soul.
CHAPTER XIII
Wherein is described the manner and way which the soul must follow in order to enter this night of sense. 7. And it is meet that the soul embrace these acts with all its heart
and strive to subdue its will thereto. For, if it perform them with its heart, it will very quickly come to find in them great delight and consolation, and to act with order and discretion.
8. These things that have been said, if they be faithfully put into practice, are quite sufficient for entrance into the
night of sense; but, for greater completeness, we shall describe another kind of exercise which teaches us to mortify the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which, says Saint John, are the things that reign in the world, from which all the other desires proceed.
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