Lenten Meditations: Thursday 2 April

Apr 2, 2020 by Jill

FIFTH THURSDAY  OF LENT – St. Ebba the Younger, Virgin and Martyr, 879

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Ebba was abbess of the great monastic foundation of Coldingham in the Marshes on the Scottish border, which had been founded two centuries earlier by Saint Ebba the Elder (f.d. August 25). During a Danish invasion Saint Ebba feared for her virginity because of the Viking reputation for rape and massacre. She gathered her nuns in the chapter house and encouraged them to follow her example: with a razor she cut off (or cut open) her nose and upper lip to discourage rape by the invaders. The entire community did likewise. They must have made a frightful spectacle. Their appearance so disgusted the raiders that the women were saved from rape but not from death: The Danes soon returned and set fire to the convent. The entire community perished in the flames in 879.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: Can you name how many times in the Gospels Jesus’ direct invitation to come and be his disciple is turned down????  Well todays Gospel tells us …ONE as we see in the  story of the rich young man. The problem for him was not his wealth and possessions. Having them was not his issue. It seems the clear case is the possessions had hold of him. That created a problem because  in order to follow Jesus  each of us must be prepared to surrender some the things that have always been most meaningful  … home, family, and livelihood.  Jesus states without equivocation that all of these things we hold ( or that hold us)  must become secondary, subordinate to the call to  follow Jesus. Our inclination may be to hold on for dear life to the things of this world. IN this present crisis that seems absurd because we are learning quickly that the promise of a life beyond this one, when we will be gathered with those who have gone before us in a place where there will be no pain or suffering is something that will endure far after the money is counted and the cars are rusted.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  “The mind is lulled to sleep by luxury, but it is strengthened by  generosity ”. – Minucius Felix,

PRAYER OF THE DAY– Father, I know that I have resisted your call in my life and held onto vain things.  I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from  being possessed by things and turn toward you. Please forgive me and help me be open and humble. I desire to accept your invite to be a disciple  so you may rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me surrender to You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Lenten Discipline – Living a faithful Gospel witness can be very challenging as the life of the Rich Young Man h shows us today. For many this is true especially when family and friends do not appreciate the value of forgiveness and reconciliation. Reach out to a person you know who has a need to be released from possessions and whom you need to  share this story . If it a person far off write a note asking for the opportunity,  to have a time to share  with them and discuss the journey toward letting go.

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