There come times when I have nothing more to tell God. If I were to continue to pray in words, I would have to repeat what I have already said. At such times it is wonderful to say to God, "May I be in Thy presence, Lord? I have nothing more to say to Thee, but I do love to be in Thy presence.
- Ole Kristian O. Hallesby
(And God will say "yes," of course! It is good to just "be" with God when such times come.)
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DT 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
LK 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Reflection on the Scriptures |
As we enter the season of Lent, we begin to receive hints about what lies ahead. Very appropriately, Jesus tells his disciples that he will be rejected, suffer greatly and ultimately be killed by the chief priests and scribes. He mentions being raised on the third day. I can only imagine the reaction of his friends as they hear these words—shock, fear, sadness,
confusion?
This leads me to wonder if they even heard the next thoughts Jesus shared:
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."
What does Jesus mean? Many refer to a ‘cross to bear’ when talking of a chore, pain or hardship. As we travel through Lent I believe we are challenged to consider the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord as we encounter difficulties in our lives. Jesus owns that being a follower of him may be a source of suffering. A relationship with Jesus might put one at risk
for ridicule and pain. However, if we remain faithful to Jesus the reward is incredible—eternal life with Jesus Christ!
Nobody gets through this life without some kind of suffering. Some days there are disappointments, other days loss and the accompanying pain and suffering. Many of the saints and holy people have concluded that pain is a source of purification or a way one can become stronger.
For today, let's allow ourselves some time for quiet reflection.
- by Angela Maynard
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 70
"Above the Faith is no goodness kept in this life, as to my sight, and beneath the Faith is no help of soul; but in the Faith, there willeth the Lord that we keep us"
For our faith is contraried in diverse manners by our own blindness, and our spiritual enemy, within and without; and therefore our precious Lover helpeth us with spiritual sight and true teaching in sundry manners within and without, whereby that we may know Him. And therefore in whatsoever manner He teacheth us, He willeth that we perceive Him wisely, receive Him sweetly, and keep us in Him faithfully. For
above the Faith is no goodness kept in this life, as to my sight, and beneath the Faith is no help of soul; but in the Faith, there willeth the Lord that we keep us. For we have by His goodness and His own working to keep us in the Faith; and by His sufferance through ghostly enmity we are assayed in the Faith and made mighty. For if our faith had none enmity, it should deserve no meed, according to the understanding that I have in all our Lord's teaching.
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