“WARM WITH GOD’S LOVE”
Lenten Reflections
17thFebruary 2018.
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SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY
Reading 1: Is 58:9-14 Isaiah describes in vivid terms the glory of a sinner who has allowed the Lord to restore his heart. He will take delight in the Lord and the Lord in him.
Res. Psalm: Ps 86:1-6 Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.
Gospel: Lk 5:27-32 Jesus is accused of associating with tax collectors and sinners, and he in turn gives his reasons for preferring their company.
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VISITING THE DOCTOR OF OUR SOUL!
The true spirit of Lent, fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, is embodied in the idea of turning our back on our own interests, and becoming interested in God and his kingdom. This does not mean that one should take 40 days of leave in order to serve the poor during the Lent. We only need to seize upon the numerous opportunities that come our way in our everyday life. It is also a time to turn from sin and receive healing from the divine physician.
Jesus needs sinners. Jesus is the Savior, and a Savior needs those who need to be saved in order to save! Coming to Jesus, with the filth of our sin, brings great joy to His Heart. It brings joy because He is able to fulfill the mission given Him by the Father, exercising His mercy as the one and only Savior. Let Him offer mercy to you! You do this by coming to Him in a vulnerable and sinful state, unworthy of mercy and worthy only of eternal damnation. Coming to Jesus allows Him to manifest, in a concrete way, His Heart of abundant mercy.
Look at it from the perspective of Jesus as the Divine Physician who desires to fulfill His healing mission. He needs you to admit your sin and be open to His healing. In so doing, you allow the gates of mercy to pour forth in abundance in our day and age.
Henri Nouwen says: “Praying is letting one’s own heart become the place where the tears of God and the tears of God’s children can merge and become tears of hope.”Today we hear what our work is about in Lent: we are to become repairers of breaches and restorers of ruined homes and call sinners to another life and hope. Our prayer and worship must instill in us the attitude of humility and service that is necessary if we are to do this work.
Prayer: Dear Savior and Divine Physician, I thank You for coming to save and heal. I thank You for Your burning desire to manifest Your mercy in my life. Please humble me so that I may be open to Your healing touch. May I also bring others closer to you, so that they may also experience your love and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
Lenten Act: Examine your life, and narrow down areas which hinder your relationship with God (TV, internet, serials, movies, games etc.) These may be something you need to give up to experience Jesus. Let us leave everything and follow Jesus (Lk 5: 27-28).