Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty... acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.
- James I (J. I.) Packer, In God's Presence: Daily Devotions
(This poverty of spirit is foundational for all of the spiritual gifts.)
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JER 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
LK 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied, ‘My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said,
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Reflection on the Scriptures |
What do we value? Where do we place our trust? Where are we planted, and how do we get nourishment for our soul? These are some of the questions that linger within my spirit during the second week of Lent. I can’t help wondering about the ways my choices can determine who I become, whom I encounter, where I will end up. I can’t help wondering if my
occasional emptiness this time of year, stems from trying to do all the right things for the wrong reasons, hoping that God would love me more, or that others will notice what a good Christian I am. It is almost like been planted by the stream but with blocked roots, unable or reluctant to drink from the stream.
The readings highlight what our lives may look like when we close our eyes; when we don’t place our trust in God; when we don’t recognize that our ‘now’ determines what our tomorrow will be; and when we value earthly riches over the richness of spirit. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus wasn't about admonishing those who are rich and only elevating those who are poor. The
parable was about our response and witness to the human condition, our awareness of those around us, and our willingness to care beyond just our concerns. I wonder how many times I came across a Lazarus in my life and didn't notice, or postponed caring because it was inconvenient or someone else’s problem. What will happen if the tables are turned and a cosmic balancing occurs? Who would tend to me? Who will heal my wounds? Who will notice me? What or whom
will I reach for? Who will provide? I ask again, what do I value, and where do I place my trust?
- by Vivian Amu
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 72
"As long as we be meddling with any part of sin we shall never see clearly the Blissful Countenance of our Lord"
But now behoveth me to tell in what manner I saw sin deadly in the creatures which shall not die for sin, but live in the joy of God without end.
I saw that two contrary things should never be together in one place. The most contrary that are, is the highest bliss and the deepest pain. The highest bliss that is, is to have Him in clarity of endless life, Him verily seeing, Him sweetly feeling, all-perfectly having in fulness of joy. And thus was the Blissful Cheer of our Lord shewed in Pity:[1] in which Shewing I saw that sin is most contrary,—so far forth
that as long as we be meddling with any part of sin, we shall never see clearly the Blissful Cheer of our Lord. And the more horrible and grievous that our sins be, the deeper are we for that time from this blissful sight. And therefore it seemeth to us oftentimes as we were in peril of death, in a part of hell, for the sorrow and pain that the sin is to us. And thus we are dead for the time from the very sight of our blissful life. But in all this I saw soothfastly that we be not dead in the
sight of God, nor He passeth never from us. But He shall never have His full bliss in us till we have our full bliss in Him, verily seeing His fair Blissful Cheer. For we are ordained thereto in nature, and get thereto by grace. Thus I saw how sin is deadly for a short time in the blessed creatures of endless life.
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