Lenten Meditation

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Book 1 Chapter 1: On Following Christ Our Model (Day 1) – Ash Wednesday

Today is the first day of Lent – Ash Wednesday.  It is day for us to reflect on what it means to be humble.  It is also a day to reflect on the majesty of God our Father.  We must realize that He is God and we are not.  We must realize that He is the Light and the Way.  “No one who follows Me will ever walk in darkness” (John 8:12).  In these words, Christ calls us to walk in His light; to be united in His mission; and to free ourselves from blindness.  He is calling us to imitate Christ.  It is by imitating Christ that we learn to live in the light while at the same time becoming a light for others.  You must meditate daily on the Life of Christ.  Over the next 40 days of Lent, a daily meditation will be sent out to help bring your closer to the light and to free you from the darkness.

Thomas A Kempis says it’s not enough to just listen, but we must hear the Word.  It must infiltrate your very being.  “To be learned and able to discuss the Trinity will get you nowhere if you do not have humility”.  We must humble ourselves so we can truly open our heart to hear his words.  To memorize the Bible will not get you into heaven.  “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing (Eccl 1:8).  The words of Bible must come alive in our hearts.  It is one thing to say that the Grand Canyon is a big hole in the ground.  It is another to take in the beauty, the grandeur and the awe of the beauty which is present in God’s creation.  Kempis states that nothing matters except to love God and to serve Him only. During this Lenten Season, you Lenten promise should be exactly that; to love God with all my heart and all my soul and to serve Him to the point where it becomes a sacrifice.    

"Without the Way, there is no going,

Without the Truth, there is no knowing,

Without the Life, there is no living." (Thomas A Kempis)

 

A simple prayer.

 

God,

Give me the grace to see the light,

Give me the grace to humble myself and recognize that you are God,

Give me the grace to imitate Christ, and

Give me the grace to become a light for others.

 

Peace

Michael Marcon