Forty Days of Lent

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Gabriele . . .
To: Donald Nunraw . . .
Sent: Wed, February 24, 2010 12:35:15 PM
Subject: Lent Meditation

Thank you, Gabriele.
It was good of you to use the Nunraw Cloister Station scene with your Lent Meditation:
"The forty days of Lent can be a fruitful time, when we look at ourselves, our everyday lives, and when we accept, in places where we may be challenged, to go with this Jesus and bear his cross however short the distance may be".

Wishing you St. Benedict's blessing of the joy of the Holy Spirit of Lent.

Meditation: February / March 2010

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene , who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)

How do I cope with situations like that in everyday life, when the usual routine is „crossed“ and when my plans are being thwarted? A sudden illness makes it impossible to go on holiday. Or, the partner has changed so much that everyday life can hardly go on because of his or her psychological problems? - But we also have to look at the small things in everyday life: someone is looking for help while you are having your break. How often do we think that whatever has just been put in our way, we want to get rid of it.

The forty days of Lent can be a fruitful time, when we look at ourselves, our everyday lives, and when we accept, in places where we may be challenged, to go with this Jesus and bear his cross however short the distance may be.

The piece of art shown above also brings into mind the words of the Holy Scriptures: „If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.“ (Matthew 5,41) That makes the matter even more radical: it means, not only to keep walking when you are convinced, it is doing you some good; much more, you are asked to keep going when it seems absurd and hardly bearable to share the next step with a certain person or to proceed in a particular matter, when you cannot expect anything or even have to fear scorn and derision.

The love Jesus is talking about is radical, indeed. What do I do with my colleague who is an alcoholic and gets on my nerves and leaves the work to me? What do I do with a student who is acting up all the time disturbing the schedule? What do I do with a good friend who has disappointed me because I know he acted in a very unethical way? You know someone has acted against you, you know it was defamation, yet, you are asked to stay polite, forgive, love, even bless?

Often it may hurt to walk the second mile; yet, this second mile is often the place where evangelization takes place, without words, „just“ acting. It is the chance to let the love of Christ become alive among people. Walking the way of patience transforms.

This Simon was a plain man, who was on his way back from the field. Thus he can be an image of how holiness can be achieved in everyday life. Following Jesus, helping him bear the cross, begins in the simple things and in moments, when we, although it may hurt, do not give up hope.

As long as we are living on earth we are again and again invited to join Jesus on his path, the path we joined through baptism. Lent is also the time to fasten our steps on the path of communio with our fellow men, to firmly orientate our tasks and decisions in this world towards Jesus, to strive for deeper decisiveness, for a stronger Christian orientation and to find strength.

Photo: Sancta Maria Abbey, Nunraw / Scotland , Stations of the Cross

http://www.weggemeinschaft-st-benedikt.de/