During Lent, we dedicate ourselves to prayer, fasting and alms-giving. These practices are simple ways of expressing our gratitude to Jesus for what He has done for us. This in fact is the very nature of penance. Penance is love which responds to mercy - and this love is not content with words, thoughts and feelings. This love needs to express itself in a prayer that cries from the heart, in sacrifice that really costs, and in little hidden acts of kindness that comfort those who most need it.
Why do we allow God to implicate us in the plights of others, especially during Lent? God's love suffers the personal plight each of us. He does this because He does not want us to suffer alone. So He seeks us out in our suffering - the suffering that we have brought on ourselves and the suffering that others have brought on us. He is concerned about our dignity and He is ready to do whatever it takes that we might be rectified and stand with Him who is Love Himself. The extent to which He enters into our misery for this purpose is revealed on the Cross. If we are to be His disciples, we must pick up our cross and follow Him. This is how the Lord extends His saving mystery through space and time - He loves us so much He implicates us in this great work of His Love.
No matter how many times we fail, no matter how great our weaknesses, no matter how inadequate we are to the demands of love -- He is there with us, loving us, providing exactly what we need in the moment, and this because He really loves us that much. How can we not respond by offering Him food and drink when we recognize Him in the disguise of those who hunger and thirst? How can we not respond by forgoing a little comfort and convenience when He has already suffered so much discomfort and inconvenience for us? How can we not respond by praying for those who need the love of God when He has never forgotten us in His love for the Father?
When prayer, sacrifice and generosity come together in thanksgiving to God for His goodness to us, deep places of the heart are purified and we rediscover the joy humanity was meant to know from the beginning. Lent is all about this joy - a joy God's love allows us to know, the joy of being sons and daughters of God, the joy of heart so beautiful it would be wrong not to share it with those who need a little joy as well.
Would you like to hear this in audio file? Click here. Courtesy of Kris McGregor of www.DiscerningHearts.com.
In an explanation of St. John of the Cross's teaching, I have offered some more thoughts on praying from the heart at Dan Burke's Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction.
Why do we allow God to implicate us in the plights of others, especially during Lent? God's love suffers the personal plight each of us. He does this because He does not want us to suffer alone. So He seeks us out in our suffering - the suffering that we have brought on ourselves and the suffering that others have brought on us. He is concerned about our dignity and He is ready to do whatever it takes that we might be rectified and stand with Him who is Love Himself. The extent to which He enters into our misery for this purpose is revealed on the Cross. If we are to be His disciples, we must pick up our cross and follow Him. This is how the Lord extends His saving mystery through space and time - He loves us so much He implicates us in this great work of His Love.
No matter how many times we fail, no matter how great our weaknesses, no matter how inadequate we are to the demands of love -- He is there with us, loving us, providing exactly what we need in the moment, and this because He really loves us that much. How can we not respond by offering Him food and drink when we recognize Him in the disguise of those who hunger and thirst? How can we not respond by forgoing a little comfort and convenience when He has already suffered so much discomfort and inconvenience for us? How can we not respond by praying for those who need the love of God when He has never forgotten us in His love for the Father?
When prayer, sacrifice and generosity come together in thanksgiving to God for His goodness to us, deep places of the heart are purified and we rediscover the joy humanity was meant to know from the beginning. Lent is all about this joy - a joy God's love allows us to know, the joy of being sons and daughters of God, the joy of heart so beautiful it would be wrong not to share it with those who need a little joy as well.
Would you like to hear this in audio file? Click here. Courtesy of Kris McGregor of www.DiscerningHearts.com.
In an explanation of St. John of the Cross's teaching, I have offered some more thoughts on praying from the heart at Dan Burke's Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction.
Loving God back = taking seriously our Baptismal promise. What a gorgeous description, an IMPLICATION. I love it! Thank you for starting off my Lent so well.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have found your blog after reading the above post from RC Direction. St. John of the Cross is my favorite saint and as a Secular Carmelite, I have always been drawn to his writings and poetry.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in your new book. Do you touch on John of the Cross frequently in it (the way you did in *The Prayer That Blazes*)?
Thank you for your inspiration.
Dear Theresa,
DeleteBeginning to Pray is a humble effort compared to what Dan Burke has built up over at Catholic Spiritual Direction - I am so amazed by the quality and diversity of spiritual reflection and good counsel he offers. It is an honor to begin to write for him. I do some work on John of the Cross - he is also one of my favorites. You will find references to his doctrine in two places - first, look at the index available on the left hand side. You will need to scroll down to find it -- but all the Carmelite Doctors are there plus Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity. The pieces I offered to Dan have a certain beauty to them that I do not know how to offer all the time. However, there are a few pieces on this blog that will help. Not so beautifully presented but helpful material is available when you click the picture that says "Attention Students and Seminarians" -- these are my lecture notes, something like what I use in class. This semester I am teaching St. John of the Cross -- so there will be a few more posts on him through the Spring. Thank you for your encouragement and your prayers - and I look forward to your comments as we move forward.
Thank you for your time. I will browse through today...looking forward to it.
DeleteWhat I meant was, do you write on John of the Cross in your book *Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden*? I have a sample on my Kindle but it only shows the beginning of the book, so I was curious. I have to wait to purchase it due to finances but I think it would be a wonderful addition to the books I have on the spiritual life. I am always particularly looking for ones that include John of the Cross.
Have blessed days this week.
Please forgive me... I was not reading carefully. Regarding the book - you will find more information on its Facebook Page -- www.facebook.com/HiddenMountainSecretGarden
DeleteAs far as St. John of the Cross in the book -- you will find his beautiful spiritual doctrine in Chapters 4 (the beauty of the soul); 5 (theology of the Night); 6 (confronting the irrational or demonic in the battle of prayer); and 9 (his vision of the role of sacred doctrine in contemplation).
Sorry for the confusion and God grant you a grace filled Lent!
No apologies needed! I am definitely investing in a copy and would be more than happy to place a review on my blog when I am finished. I will let you know when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteSo blessed that the Spirit led me to your writings.
Bless you for your time.
Thank you for considering offering a review on your blog and for the encouragement. I would love to visit your blog. Where is it?
ReplyDeletehttp://desertofmyheart.blogspot.com/
DeleteIt is mostly dedicated to prayer life in the Carmelite tradition but I also write on family life, depression, and various writings from other saints.
Thank you.