Lenten Meditations – Saturday 24th March

Mar 24, 2018 by Andrew Symes

FIFTH SATURDAY 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 Wyclif 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: Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you don’t believe me.” (6:63-64). “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked ‘Are you going to leave, too?’” (6:66-67)

Imagine a scene and you are in it, as ann observer on the sidelines. A large throng has gathered to hear Jesus speak. He talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. He goes on to explain what sustains eternal life. I see people whispering in small groups, shaking their heads and not understanding. Some are leaving the crowd, walking back to their homes. More join them. Jesus and the Twelve are watching them go. I am watching them go also then look back at Jesus. He is speaking to the Twelve, but he is looking at me. “Are you going to leave, too?“ he asks.

Each of us have a choice to make. Every day. Every hour. Every instant. It’s so easy to let the busyness of life crowd out the spiritual questions that are being asked of me. It’s so easy to put off making a choice, any choice, often because I know the right choice is the hard road. It will require work. It won’t be easy. WeI may be disappointed. We don’t want to think about it now. It is too hard to understand. We have so many other things that I think require my attention. To acknowledge a choice–the choice–is to acknowledge I must act upon it. Every day. Every hour. Every instant.

May our prayer be that God will help us hear the question and will give the strength, confidence and faith to choose with conviction.

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.

ANCIENT WORDS/PRESENT GRACE: The purpose of prayer is not to inform our Lord what you desire, for He knows all your needs. It is to render you able and ready to receive the grace which our Lord will freely give you. This grace cannot be experienced until you have been refined and purified by the fire of desire in devout prayer. For although prayer is not the cause for which our Lord gives grace, it is nevertheless the means by which grace, freely given, comes to the soul.- Walter Hilton

Lenten Discipline – What are your special gifts or talents? List them. How are we tempted by arrogance or pride to use our gifts primarily for our own satisfaction or personal gain? Offer praise to God for your gifts. Give one dollar to Sudan or Katrina relief for each gift you listed.

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