Lenten
Meditation—29 Feb 2012
“I offer these reflections to again
unite what should never have been separated: Sacred Scripture and Christian
spirituality.” (Things
Hidden, page 5)
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| Jesus in Golgotha by Theophanes the Cretan |
As I began thinking about a book
to pore through for Lent this year, I
found in my collection a volume that had been given me by a friend a couple of
years ago for Christmas and realized that it would be the ideal topic. Many of us take on a discipline of some
sort—either giving something up (preferably desired and not frivolous) or
taking something on. A Lenten discipline
that does not include both prayer and some Scripture reading is in need of some
adjustment, in my opinion. The “giving
up” aspect provides a myriad of opportunities for prayer, since as soon as we
choose to give up something our tempter puts that very thing right in front of
us; give up some food and see how many TV ads are about food. When temptation strikes, pray for strength to
persevere. Remember Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane? And as soon as we take on a
discipline such as a few minutes of meditation, it seems like we are distracted
by a telephone or door bell.
The book I have chosen for Lent is
written by Richard Rohr, a Roman Catholic Franciscan monk who lives in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The book title
is Things Hidden, Scripture as
Spirituality. Rather than taking the
Bible book by book or focusing only on one book of the Bible, Father Rohr
explores major themes that flow throughout both the Hebrew and Christian
scriptures. The author relates that this
work is based on a series of talks first given in 1998, but updated now some 25
years later.
I recommend that you read meditatively
with the volume in one hand and a Bible in the other. There are numerous scripture references which
may be read in context in order to fully understand the author’s meaning. Read slowly and let the words of Rohr and the
biblical authors take root, allowing prayer to arise out of your time. This will perhaps require giving up some
time, or more properly setting aside some time each day to immerse yourself in
the task. This discipline will open up
the opportunity to take on the study of biblical themes, some of which may be
uncomfortable.
It is my intention to offer written
meditations most of the week days through the remainder of Lent, although there
may be a day or two that are missing.
Saturdays and Sundays may or may not have offerings. I found during Advent that some on some
Sundays I just had to write, even before the busy-ness of Sunday services. So bear up and bear with me as we travel the
road to Jerusalem, following our Lord to Golgotha and ultimately to the empty
tomb.
