| Mon Mar 31 | am: 89:1-18 pm: 89:19-52 | Jere 16:10-21 | Rom 7:1-12 | John 6:1-15 |
MONDAY OF LENT IV- St. Aldhelm of Malmesbury, Bishop and Monk, 709
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Born in Wessex, at the age of fifteen, he was sent to the monastery at Malmesbury to study, as the monastery had a reputation for scholarship and an extensive library. He eventually took monastic vows, and ten years later went to Canterbury, from where in 675 he was elected Abbot of Malmesbury. St. Aldhelm established two other religious houses during the 30 years he was abbot. A noted scholar was St. Aldhelm on ascetical theology, and so it was not surprising when the Diocese where the Abbey was located divided, St. Aldhelm become bishop of a new diocese with Sherborne as his Cathedral urging the British church to conform to the Roman customs.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In this fourth week of Lent, we are mindful that we are on a journey of repentance and renewal with the hope that the Redeemer of us all will do just that redeem us. Psalm 89 resonates with the essence of our journey by recalling God’s unfailing love, which was expressed through the Lord’s covenant with David. The Lord promised: “I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity” (89:1-4). Even if David’s descendants rejected the Lord, he would still be faithful to David and deliver, redeem, and restore. We, like the psalmist, are called to put our trust in God on this journey. No doubt like Mother Harriet did in establishing her religious community. She, like us, must be mindful of the covenant despite the struggles and disappointments we may encounter.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: O Lord, you told us that “The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few. Pray, therefore, for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His fields.” We ask You to strengthen us as we follow the vocation to which You have called each of us to. May we be open and responsive to the call of serving You. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “At the center of the religious life is a peculiar kind of joy, the prospect of a happy ending that blossoms from necessarily painful ordeals, the promise of human difficulties embraced and overcome.” –Professor Huston Smith
SONG OF THE SEASON – Forever Will I Sing