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THIRD FRIDAY OF LENT – Feast St Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne (687)

Friday March 20    am: Psalm 88  pm: Psalms 91, 92    Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-20    Romans  6:1-11    John 8:33-47

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY – ‘Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed. After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in peace in 687. ‘Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life and at his tomb after death, he is called the "Wonderworker of Britain."

MEDITATION OF THE DAY : Who today would not want to dwell in the assurance of safety and protection? Only a person who was wrecked less perhaps. Psalm 91 is filled with promise for those who seek ultimate safety from the snare of the evil one. However, it seems that in order to reside in that dwelling place, our part of the covenant is  to yearn for the heart of God and as a result we shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

What we learn today in the Psalm and perhaps see in the life of St. Cuthbert that the person, who lives and desires to serve and love the Lord God, has no ulterior motives other than Godliness at the very core of his being. This person knows the presence of God!  Now despite the fact of this promise and that we  dwell in the stability and safety of God’s house, that doesn’t mean we become spiritual homebodies. Being connected to the Lord will require us to enter the desert in some moments or trek across the  valleys of death! . True stability is not in location geographically  but rather the real dwelling-place is found in the Lord and our ability to respond to his call to be ready to pick up everything and go where the Lord takes us–just like Cuthbert, who, when he heard the Lord’s call "got up, left everything and followed him"
 

PRAYER OF THE DAY : O God,, you have shown us your fidelity and made us a new creation by your passion, and giving us the ultimate safety. Keep us we pray this day from leaving that place and falling again into sin. Help us to deny ourselves today, so that we can reach out to those in need. May we receive this day of your dwelling place as your gift,  and share such a promise through our lips and our lives. We ask this in the Name of the Triune God, who is our shelter and dwelling place. AMEN

LENTEN DISCIPLINE – If you not observing the Fast on Fridays at lunch, grab a couple of Filet-O-Fish sandwiches for lunch, as they are on sale 2 for $4.00 each ( as  McDonald’s does a Friday Filet-O-Fish promotion pretty much every year in connection with the Christian observance of Lent). Use the sandwich to share with another person and tell them about the fasts and call to the spiritual life of a holy Lent. If you are fasting, take the time to meditate on the stations of the Cross.
 

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