Planted Near Running Water

Planted Near Running Water

February 14, 2013

Thursday After Ash Wednesday

“Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.  If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy."  Deuteronomy 30:15-16

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."  Luke 9:23-24

Piety

Lord, help us to walk close with you.  Take away all the obstacles and distractions that make us sinners.  Give to us the humility that leads to repentance.  Renew us through almsgiving love in action that we may always be planted near you. Amen.

Study

In our Little Lenten Instruction booklet, what is the price of admission to this cult of Christ?  There is no bumper sticker or slogan or talking point that holds the key.  To me, the Good News today is the answer.  If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 

We might be prepared for some suffering.  However, in our humanity, we hope that it will pass.  Maybe the latest pill will cure our bodily ills.  Once that occurs, will not some other suffering -- emotional, spiritual, and/or physical -- may rise up Job-like to take its place?

Action

In our first reading, Moses reminds us that the Lord wants us to walk in his ways.  The psalmist tells us to remain planted near His living waters.  When we close out or rosary by praying to imitate what it contains, we are praying for the strength to take up our cross -- daily -- to follow Jesus where we may not want to walk.  What is the cross that we take up today?  What was it yesterday?  What will it be tomorrow?

If for a minute you think that you have a day when your cross is lighter or your burden less, how can you be the Cyreanean -- helping another to bear her or his cross?