Psalm51.1-18 │Joel 2.1-2,12-17│2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10 │Matthew 6.1-6,16-21
Psaumes 51.1-18| Joël 2.1-2, 12-17 |2 Corinthiens 5.20b-6.10 | Matthieu 6.1-6,16-21
On Ash
Wednesday, we are invited in the liturgy “to the observance of a holy Lent, by
self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by
reading and meditating on God’s holy word.”
Of the many
devotional exercises which may be used in Lent, Lectio Divina may be one of the
simplest to use in our homes, in these quiet hours as we continue in lockdown.
It is a way of reading Scripture reflectively and prayerfully, looking for
words, themes, or images that stand out. If you haven’t tried this practice
before, you will find a guide to Lectio right at the front of this book. For my
own part, I like to write a bit after Lectio Divina. From today’s readings the
following themes emerged:
One of the primary themes of Lent is
taken from the Corinthians today... “be reconciled to God.” The psalmist, whom
tradition names as King David, is ready to be reconciled through penitential
confession. He begins by demonstrating that penitence is not just knowledge of
sin, but a sensitive consciousness of how sin harms and disrupts all
relationships, including and especially the relationship with the Creator. When
the psalmist writes that he has sinned against God only, this is not to be
understood simply and absolutely, because he had unquestionably sinned against
many others, but as Matthew Poole comments, “Though I have sinned against my
own body and conscience, and against others; yet nothing is more grievous and
terrible to me, than to consider that I have sinned against Thee…” Repentance
understands all sin to be sin against God.
Yet it is precisely because our sins
are, in one way or another, against the Creator that we can hope for the
radical renewal that we so desperate need: “Create in me a pure heart, O God,”
the psalmist writes, fully confident that God is able to “renew a steadfast
spirit within me.” During this Lent, we can confidently bring to God the
reality of our sin in faithfulness to Christ, who will restore to us the joy of
our salvation.
Annie Bolger
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