Lenten Meditations: Friday 24 March

Mar 24, 2017 by Jill

THIRD FRIDAY OF LENT – Walter Hilton of Thurgarton, Mystic ,1396

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:  Born in 1343, Walter Hilton studied Canon Law at Cambridge but after a period as a hermit, he joined the community of Augustinian Canons at Thurgarton in Nottinghamshire. Highly regarded in his lifetime as a spiritual guide, he wrote in both Latin and English and translated several Latin devotional works. Controversy with the Lollards (The Lollards followed from the teachings of John Wycliffe a prominent theologian at Oxford in the mid-14^th Century. They wanted reform of the Church and taught that piety was a requirement for a priest to be a “true” priest and perform the sacraments. They also maintained that a pious layman had power to perform those same rites, believing that religious power and authority came through piety and not through the Church hierarchy) gave a sharper definition to his exposition of the aims, methods and disciplines of traditional spirituality. Amongst his major works, Ladder of Perfection (Book Two) declares that contemplation, understood in a profoundly Trinitarian context as awareness of grace and sensitivity to the Spirit, may and should be sought by all serious Christians.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: Have you paid a dear price for the faith you hold and cherish? That is an essential element to the Eucharistic lessons today and the festival day that is an optional commemoration. As a prophet, Jeremiah certainly suffered for his message and his identity. He was misjudged, maligned, and rejected and his ministry was plagued to be sure. Think about the times you have been misunderstood, judged unfairly, maligned or rejected. Do we look for solace, strength and comfort or revenge?

The days of Lent are a good time to think about what it means for us to “take refuge in God,” rather than seek revenge. Jeremiah’s shows his struggle with this when he says: “the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!”  How often is this approach to and consider that “trusting in God”. At the very least we may be the types who simply sit back and wait and watch for misfortune or trouble to land on those who wronged us – and then we feel justified?! Ultimately this approach hardens our hearts.

Walter Hilton whose feasts commemorated this day, promoted the spiritual life through the advancement in love of God and neighbor. He pointed out that this often involved stages of spiritual nurture and development was classic that is not just for the monastic life but for all those who seek to be the people of God.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Knowledge by itself stirs the heart with pride, but united to love it turns to edification.” By itself this knowledge is like water, tasteless and cold. But if those who have it will offer it humbly to our Lord and ask for His grace, He will turn the water into wine with His blessing. – Walter Hilton

PRAYER OF THE DAY: Lord, what you ask of my life seems so right.  It is how I want to live, following your Son, Jesus, so closely. And yet I fail so often to stay on that path. I cannot do it alone, loving Lord.  I need your help and guidance.
I need to remember your love for me and I want to remember how very much I need you in my life.

Lenten Discipline –  Go to http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hilton/ladder.html  or http://www.jesus.org.uk/vault/library/hilton_ladder.pdf and read a selection of Walter’s Hilton’s Work. Hilton provides a truly systematic theology of the contemplative life, describing the dynamics of the mystical life in a manner both pastorally sensitive and psychologically astute. Select two key points from book two and seek to implement them this week.

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