Lenten Meditations: Thursday 30 March

Mar 30, 2017 by

Thur
Mar 30
am: 69
pm: 73
Jere 22:13-23 Rom 8:12-27 John 6:41-51

FOURTH THURSDAY OF LENT   St. John Climacus or John of the Ladder, 606

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:  He was a monk on Mount Sinai at age 16 he went on to become a hermit in various places in the Desert eventually becoming abbot at Mount Sinai Monastery. He is an Ascetical writer whose works have influenced those seeking the holy life for 15 centuries. His classic work was entitled: The Climax: The Ladder of Divine Ascent written in the mid-6th Century. The Ladder describes how to raise one’s soul and body to God through the acquisition of ascetic virtues. Climacus uses the analogy of Jacob’s Ladder as the framework for his spiritual teaching. Each chapter is referred to as a “step”, and deals with a separate spiritual subject.

 

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: All of us have had the experience of returning to our homes, neighborhoods or old friends after having been away. Perhaps it was at University, or an internship or just the journey of life. At times, it may have been challenging. People may ask what we are up to these days or perhaps want to discuss politics and religion and before you know it, he fireworks have been launched. As we consider this Gospel today that type of experience should not be far from our understanding as Jesus again encounters opposition to His teachings. Jesus had come back to include his neighbors, friends, and family offering to share of the great gift of salvation, but they could not see past how they knew him in previous days in order to recognize the gift he was offering.
Nonetheless, He states that everyone who is willing to learn, will eventually come to Him and that person will believe and have everlasting life. As the saying goes, no one likes a show off or a know it all and certainly to those who were stiff necked, they certainly wanted to perceive Jesus this way. Sadly, even the best and the brightest of us have a limited perspective and ability to grasp the essential truth It is not a question of being logical or insightful. Ultimately, it is about the willingness to be trustful and faithful.

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY: “O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your Sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future. Amen.

 

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “The man who has come to know himself with the full awareness of his soul has sown in good ground. However, anyone who has not sown in this way cannot expect humility to flower within him.”. –St. John Climacus

 

Lenten DisciplineWho in our circle of friends and family needs to hear the words of Promise. Make a list and start to pray for them to be open three times a day with the goal of approaching them at Easter and sharing that you have been praying for them.

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