This is a special series of posts follows a journey in prayer through the days of Lent and Holy Week using the Ignatian Approach to Contemplation | |||||
Suggested Reading / Reflection Schedule
Holy Week - one each day: Sunday - Tuesday to Friday
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Thursday, 15 February 2024
First Sunday of Lent - 2024
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Ash Wednesday - 2024
Lent begins with the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. The ashes are made from the palm branches used in the previous year’s celebration of Palm Sunday, recalling that triumphant day when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem with great jubilation. Jesus' followers, his disciples and apostles, waving palm branches like banners of praise, singing and proclaiming their undying faith in him, accompanied Jesus through the city gate like a triumphant king, entering to ascend his throne of victory. Then, a few short days later, Jesus’ throne became an executioners cross of death, as his followers abandoned him and fled in fear – their faith and hope turned into ashes. In our youth we are often accused of thinking we are immortal. It’s a result of the risks we are inclined to take in the pursuit of the excitement of living life on the edge. But on a higher level it is true, we are immortal. This is part of our religious belief. Death in the body is but the next step to a new life beyond this life. In life, we soon come to realize that the way we live our lives now and the choices we make now, will greatly influence how our lives turn out in the future. This is no less true of our spiritual destiny as well. Lent is meant to be a schooling in this wisdom. In his wilderness retreat, Jesus is presented with choices which the Deceiver lays out to him. In spite of their apparent appeal and practical usefulness, Jesus sees through the deception. Rather than advance his destiny, they would in fact destroy it. Lent is a time of schooling in the spiritual art of discernment. Who and what is controlling my life now? Where is this leading me? How strong a hold over me do these influences have? What is the truth that I must embrace in order to break free? Do I have the will and courage to take on this advisory? For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Mtt 6:21 Liturgy of Ash Wednesday Prayer Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Blessing of Ashes Dear brothers and sisters, let us humbly ask God our Father that he be pleased to bless with the abundance of his grace these ashes, which we will put on our heads in penitence. O God, who desire not the death of sinners, but their conversion, mercifully hear our prayers and in your kindness be pleased to bless + these ashes, which we intend to receive upon our heads, that we, who acknowledge we are but ashes and shall return to dust, may, through a steadfast observance of Lent, gain pardon for sins and newness of life after the likeness of your Risen Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. R. Amen.  |
Saturday, 10 February 2024
Sixth Sunday - 2024
Today, the World Day of the Sick, highlights the healing ministry of the Church. It reminds us that service to the sick and suffering cannot be neglected. It recognizes the great efforts of doctors, nurses, healthcare institutions and pastoral care givers to restore health to those afflicted with illness and disease. Appropriately, today’s gospel gives us account of Jesus healing the man of his leprosy. Leprosy, or Hansen's disease as it is also known, still exists today. It’s a bacterial decease affecting the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, thus loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries or infection. Today it is curable by medication. In the ancient world leprosy was grouped in with other visible skin conditions and was most feared and dreaded. People with these conditions were forced to live apart from the general population, they must keep their distance while warning that they were leprous. Chapter 14: in the book of Leviticus gives details on how leprous people were controlled and the complicated rituals they had to follow to be allowed to re-enter the population, should their skin condition clear up. That is why Jesus instructs the man he has just healed, to go to the priests. It is interesting to note that Jesus also instructs him not to tell anyone how he came to be healed. Why? Physical healing was not the reason why the Father sent his Son into the world. The deadly condition Jesus came to heal was much deeper – it was the condition of death itself, and not physical death but eternal death, the death of sin. Euphoria over physical healing would cause people to see only that, and so fail to hear the deeper message of the gospel, which is exactly what started to happen. We read: - “… the man went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly but stayed out in the country; (and even then) people came to Jesus from every quarter.” It is interesting in or world today to listen to those who deny God, use the argument of healing to make their case. They say that it is medical science that cures leprosy not religion. Then they go on to argue that if there is a God why does he let leprosy exist at all – the classic “problem of evil”. They fail to understand that Jesus has come from the Father to enable all of us to become healers, by turning our hearts from hatred to compassion and love. The man with leprosy came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling said to Jesus, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” What the atheist fails to recognise is that it was in the countries imbued with the gospel of compassion and love, in Christian societies, that the sciences of healing medicine were discovered, fostered, and developed. Where the gospel of love shaped man’s thinking, the work of caregiving and healing flourished. Just imagine what good would be ours today if the energy and efforts spent on god-less war and hate hand been spent on finding healing, not on making war. Today’s World Day of the Sick reminds us of this dimension of our Christian faith, to be healers as Jesus was also a healer. |
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Saturday, 3 February 2024
The Subject of Conscience
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