VOICES of Lent - Part Three

This is the third part in this series. For best results, read one & two first.

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Good Spirit: Let us return again to your place of solitude and prayer. We have been with the Lord, in the wilderness. The Deceiver has visited him, attempting to entrap him by his wily arguments.

Then he led him to Jerusalem,
made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, 
for it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, 
to guard you, and:
With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.

Good Spirit: Who, when they come upon an unfamiliar footbridge, would not first tread cautiously upon its threshold, testing, that it is sound and safe to walk on? Clever indeed, this argument, for sound reasoning and good judgement demands it. Is not the saying, "Fools rush in ....."

Soul: Good Spirit, as each day passes, I grow more skeptical, and my trusting grows weaker. Who in today's world trusts enough to have real faith, save the naive? 

Good Spirit: Remember Peter, when he climbed from the boat, at Jesus' beckoning, and walked on the water, only to have his trust fail him. Jesus' hand was there to protect him, (proof for a man's failing trust.) In a tone of chiding affection, Jesus says, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Mtt. 14:22

As you consider now, the quality of your trusting faith, do not judge yourself harshly. Rather, holding tightly to the side of the boat (with Peter). Ask the Lord to call you to step forward into the things you now fear; for only in this way can your faith grow stronger. Look into your heart and let not fear cause you to hesitate.

Soul: Good Spirit, help me now to discover where my trusting is weakest, that God's good grace may build up my faith.

........................................footnotes......................................

Review again the structure of this approach to prayer:

• PLACE: choosing a place with a measure of quiet and solitude.
• PRESENCE: entering this prayer expecting to be guided by Grace.
• PETITION: asking for the graces that will make this prayer fruitful.
• PASSAGE: preparing a passage of scripture for reflection.
• PRAYER: entering the passage, looking, listening, imagining you are there,    focusing on various persons, collecting your thoughts, feelings, reaction. 
• PRAISE and thanks: closing with a prayer formed in your own words, as one speaking face to face to another; expressing your gratitude for the blessings and guidance received in this prayer time.