| Thurs Mar 20 | am: 70, 71 pm: 74 | Jere 4:9-10, 19-28 | Rom 2:12-24 | John 5:19-29 |
SECOND THURSDAY OF LENT – St. Cuthbert, Missionary Bishop and of Lindisfarne, 697
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Today we remember Cuthbert, who at the age of eight had a prophetic remark from a playmate turn his mind to sober and godly thoughts, and his upbringing as a shepherd gave him ample time for prayer. One night he saw in the sky a dazzling light and angels carrying a soul up to heaven, and resolved to dedicate his life to God. Some years later Cuthbert came to Melrose Abbey asking to be admitted as a monk. It was from here that he began his missionary work, which he continued from Lindisfarne when he became abbot there. Consecrated bishop in 685 he remained an indefatigable traveler and preacher, walking all over his diocese, and spending time as a hermit on Farne Island in between. After only a year however, he felt his end coming and resigned his office, dying on Farne in the company of a few of his monks..
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: The Psalm today contains a prayer we all have either felt or expressed at one point or another. O Lord, make hast to help me, do not delay. Why do we ask God to hurry? Is there an urgency that our prayer concern has that is time sensitive? Could it be that it is because we are impatient? Perhaps it is simply meant to express the longing that we possess? Whatever the rational might be typically if nothing else when I ask God to hurry, I at least feel that I am being fervent in prayer.
In a world where almost everything is rushed and instantaneous, the notion of waiting on something or someone for any extended period of time seems unnecessary. The struggle for the Christian perspective amidst that type of worldview is a struggle to be counter-cultural because God’s timing is perfect not Amazon.com’s. It may be that God in fact hears the cries of our supplications and answers without delay while at other times He waits until any response is in accord with his time and will. The wait is not always easy for us because of this false sense of time we have. What do we do in those circumstances? Do we grow in grace and virtue or do we choose the path of impatience, frustration, and disappointment because we are not waiting on God but making demands of God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: “Almighty God, you called Cuthbert from following the flock to be a shepherd of your people: Mercifully grant that, as he sought in dangerous and remote places those who had erred and strayed from your ways, so we may seek the indifferent and the lost, and lead them back to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord” AMEN
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: ‘“If I could live in a tiny dwelling on a rock in the ocean, surrounded by the waves of the sea and cut off from the sight and sound of everything else, I would still not be free of the cares of this passing world, or from the fear that somehow the love of money might still come and snatch me away.” ~ Cuthbert.”. – Saint Cuthbert of Lindinsfarne
Lenten Discipline – St. Cuthbert was well known for his affinity for nature and was given to the protection and gentle especially of birds and sea creatures, which is derived from the Celtic tradition. Today take an opportunity to spend some time in nature and where possible make an act of preservation of God’s gift to us in his creation.
Song For The Season- Cuthberts Song by Colin Syme