Lenten Meditations
|
Fri
Apr 3 |
am: Ps 22
pm: 141, 143 |
Jere 29:1, 4-13
|
Rom 11:13-24
|
John 11:1-27 or 12:1-10
|
FIFTH FRIDAY OF LENT - Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: St Richard, who was Bishop of Chichester for eight years in the mid-13th century, was well acquainted with both hard work and suffering. Though a gifted scholar and lawyer, he did not flinch from physical labor; and as Bishop he found himself a homeless outcast in his own diocese, until King Henry III finally accepted his appointment by the Pope. His prayer reflects the commitment and zeal needed by anyone who seeks to be a true follower of Jesus.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: Many of us know the wonderful song from the play Godspell based on the Prayer below of St. Richard of Chicester, commonly called Day by Day. It has the line, “To see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, Follow thee more nearly. " This is a wonderful description of a way to lead a Christian life. It describes a growth in understanding, a growth in love, and a growth in obedience. But it is not the way Jesus recruited his disciples. The fact is that choosing to join up with Jesus will not make you happier, skinnier, or beautiful. In fact as the Gospel lessons call to mind and the life of Richard illustrates, it has risky consequences. If we refuse Jesus, we can go on happily living by the world’s standards. But IF we join up with Jesus, we will be required to bless our enemies and not to curse them as we would like; we will be required to spend our precious time and energy and resources on people who don’t matter to the rest of the world; we will be required to refuse to repay evil for evil even when people think we’re crazy to do so; and somehow–God only knows–we must strive to overcome evil in this world with good, even if it takes us to a cross. If we choose to join up with Jesus, we must recognize that he is the one here placing his confidence in us; he is the one trusting us with the strange, sacred task of sacrificing ourselves in love.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: We thank you, Lord God, for all the benefits you have given us in your Son Jesus Christ, our most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, and for all the pains and insults he has borne for us; and we pray that, following the example of your saintly bishop Richard of Chichester, we may see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Lenten Discipline – Read the Ten Commandments as a preparation for a Confession and Examination of Conscience during Holy Week Have you fulfilled the spirit of Blessed Richard’s prayer? Assess yourself by commission and omission on each one.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
