Sunday
marks the midpoint of Lent. Have you ever had the experience that with the exception
of Lent time goes quickly? Staying with our Lenten practices when multiple
temptations set in makes the season, even for the strong,a challenge. We can
take some comfort knowing that even Jesus was tempted during his forty days.
For me"the demon of acedia –
“sloth or laziness” can set in. The early monastics referred to it as the “noonday
demon –the one who makes it seem that the sun barely moves.”
Keeping close to the daily liturgical
readings, pondering and responding to them provides an antidote.
One message from Wednesday’s
reading is to “observe God’s teaching and we will have life.”(Deut. 4:6) How does my life
reflect how I am observing God’s teaching?
Tomorrow,
God speaks to us directly “listen to my voice then I will be
your God and you will be my people.”(Jer. 7:23) How do I listen with the ear of the
heart? How have I become one of God’s faithful people?
On Friday, Hosea reminds us that we “have collapsed
through our guilt” (Hos.
14:2)and
it is our good and gracious God who “heals our defections,and loves us freely.”(Hos14:4)And in turn, Jesus,
in the Gospel for today is explicit in his expectation of us: “You must love
God with your whole heart. . . AND you
must love your neighbor as yourself.(Mark 12:29, 31)That is a very tall
order and ought to draw one out of acedia!
On Saturday, Hosea again reminds us, God is
much more interested in our love rather than our sacrifices. (Hos. 6:6)If our Lenten
practices are not leading us to be greater lovers we are missing the point of
Jesus’ presence among us.
The Sunday Gospel exemplifies that love, the merciful father daily scouring
the fields and “while his son was still a long way off caught sight of him, and
was filled with compassion.”(Luke 15:21)The father exudes joy and warmly embraces
his errant son and welcomes him home.
God’s
fidelity and love is so much greater than our malaise. May a renewed zeal drive
us into the remaining weeks of Lent.
Sr. Aileen Bankemper, OSB
