Lenten Meditations

Apr 10, 2019 by

 

Wed
April 10
Psalm.

am:119:145-176
pm: 128, 129, 130

Old Testament.

Jer 25:30-38

New Testament.

Rom 10:14-21

Gospel.

John 10:1-18

FIFTH WEDNESDAY IN LENT –Blessed Margaret of Costello, 1320  

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:   Margaret was born in Florence, Italy in 1287. She was a great disappointment to her wealthy parents. She was born blind and with very serious spine and leg problems. Her parents were ashamed of her and told people that she had died at birth. They kept her hidden away. Only her parish priest was allowed to visit her. He taught her about God’s love took away her loneliness because she knew Jesus was always with her. When she was a teenager, her parents took her to a shrine in Costello. They prayed that Margaret would be healed during their pilgrimage. When she was not cured, they abandoned her, leaving her alone in the strange city. The people of Costello reached out to Margaret. The street people taught her to beg. Even though she slept in doorways or empty buildings, she never complained. In time she met men and women who were lay members of the Dominican order. They prayed together and performed good works for people in need. They invited Margaret to join them in their ministry. In spite of her physical difficulties, Margaret visited prisoners, helped the sick, and comforted people who were suffering. Soon everyone in the city of Costello knew about Margaret and admired her. It is said that after her death, the entire city attended her funeral and that a crippled young girl was healed during the Mass.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: St. Paul reminds us today in the Epistle to the Romans: “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.” The great spiritual directors in the Christian Tradition in the East and West remind us that the Christian life is made up of two distinct but important parts: the inner life and the outer life. The inner life is everything that goes on inside our heart mind and soul. It is our private thoughts, deep emotions and hidden prayers. It is here that our relationship with God happens and is the place where the Spirit moves mightily. It is hear that true hearing of the Word of God takes place. Once that strikes us profoundly and deeply. We are called to praxis, actions based on the reflections of our inner life. Praxis is the outer life that people see, namely our public words, actions and reactions. The inner and outer lives must work together for an authentic Christian witness that is hearing by the word of Christ and Christianity starts with the inner life !

PRAYER OF THE DAY: “Direct, I pray you, O Lord, my heart and soul with your Holy Spirit. Grant that your Word may be witnessed with your gracious assistance, that every word and deed of ours may begin always with you, and through. Amen

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “The real failures, difficulties and weaknesses of the Church are spiritual and can only be remedied by spiritual effort and sacrifice, and that her deepest need is a renewal, first in the clergy and through them in the laity; of the great Christian tradition of the inner life.” –Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism.

 

Lenten DisciplineSeek out a person today who suffers from a severe health condition similar to that of Blessed Margaret. What act of compassion and service can you offer to uphold that person as a child of God, in your thoughts words and deeds Pray for them and offer a non anxious healing presence to them.

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