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The anointed one.

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The 41st word in my Lent lexicon is:

ANOINTED.

It’s a word that has deep roots in our faith history and in our liturgical practices. At baptism we are all anointed with chrism to share in Christ’s role as “priest, prophet and king.” We are anointed again at our death. Throughout the Scripture anointing marks someone as having a special role from God.

Today’s gospel opens a new perspective on anointing. In frightening and uncertain times the disciples gather at Martha’s house It offers them an oasis of hospitality and safety in the increasingly dangerous times.

In times of great danger questions and doubts that we thought we’d put to rest often resurface so it is easy to understand Judas’ distrust and questioning. I imagine he wasn’t the only one feeling that way.

In the midst of the tension Mary’s action provides a fresh focus. Her action doesn’t deny or banish the fear or the danger, instead it points to a deeper reality:

“Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was full of the scent of the ointment.”

Her anointing once again marks Jesus as the chosen one of God. Jesus tells his disciples that she has anointed him for his burial, acknowledging that he is facing death, and preparing his disciples for that. As the scent of her ointment fills the house her simple action is a sign that love is stronger even than death. As she anoints Jesus she reminds us that our Holy Week journey ultimately leads us through death to the new life of resurrection.

As we move through Holy Week how does the anointing of your baptism sustain you?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Gospel Lectio Divina Lent Scripture Uncategorized

Called to be compassionate.

The thirteenth word in my Lent lexicon is:

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COMPASSION.

We’re called to be compassionate as God our Father is compassionate. It’s always an important part of our call. In these challenging times when our structures seem so precarious it is even more essential to learn how to be compassionate.

There are so many ways we can misunderstand, misconstrue and judge others harshly that it can come to seem the norm. It can be difficult to take a stand against it, yet in today’s gospel Jesus makes it clear that being judgemental can never be the way of the gospel. His Kingdom is to be built on love and compassion:

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.”

His words are a call to a new way of being. It’s a way that has the potential to change and renew our relationships and our communities. But it has to begin with an inner transformation. The call to be compassionate requires us to weed out the attitudes that would incline us to harsh judgements of others.

It calls us to put aside our hurt and our anger enough to give others the benefit of the doubt. It invites us to believe the best of others even if that’s not on display. It seems to me that the best way to move towards this is to acknowledge our own need for compassion. Once we admit to ourselves that we can cause hurt it becomes much easier to be compassionate when we see others do the same.

Where is Christ inviting you to learn to be compassionate this Lent?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Divine Office Lectio Divina Lent Liturgy Rule of St Benedict Scripture Uncategorized

Fasting, a Lent challenge.

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The third word in my Lent lexicon is:

“FAST”

Often the first question anyone asks us about Lent is “what are you giving up? Fasting carries a heavy weight of history and of personal experience. This can make it a particularly sensitive issue. It can be an area that’s open to judgement and misinterpretation. It’s a word I find challenging and I’m coming to it with some trepidation.

I find St Benedict’s chapter on Lent helpful in facing the challenge. Instead of prescribing a particular fast for everyone he gives a list of things that we might fast from, food, drink, sleep, talking, idle jesting. He openly acknowledges that people have varying needs and capabilities. He knows that what might be manageable for one isn’t possible for another. His words carry a call not to judge ourselves or others harshly, allow people the freedom to choose the “fast” that will most help them on their spiritual journey.

In today’s first reading the prophet Isaiah gives another perspective on fasting:

“Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks –to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the person you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin? Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.”

While this is deeply challenging it is also helpful. It reminds me that our spiritual practices have to have a knock-on effect in the way we live our lives. They are not just for our personal benefit.

They are to draw us out of ourselves towards our neighbour, to help us become kinder and more compassionate. It seems to me that as Isaiah calls us to fast from the thoughts and behaviours that would harden our hearts to those around us.

How are your Lent practices helping you to become kinder and more compassionate?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Lectio Divina Lent Liturgy Scripture Uncategorized

Choosing Life.

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The second word in my Lent lexicon is:

LIFE

I have to confess that “life” has never been the first word that comes to mind when I think about Lent. Yet, the the Anglo-Saxon root of the English word “Lent” can be translated as “spring” and that brings to mind all the new life connected with that time of year. Already when we start our Lent journey new life is pushing its way up through the earth.

We are surrounded by spring flowers and the beginnings of new growth wherever we look. On another level the whole purpose of Lent is to prepare our hearts to celebrate the joy of the resurrection, and there is no more a life-giving gift than that.

Today’s first reading echoes the theme of “life” as Moses offers the people a choice. He says to them:

“I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life then, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists…”

In many ways his words sum up the purpose of Lent. All our Lent practices aim to bring us back to God, the source of all life so that we can live in God’s presence and shape our life by God’s love. The gift of life however does not come automatically.

As Moses points out we have to actively choose what is life-giving. On the surface that seems easy, but it is not always that straightforward. Often, at the outset at least the life denying choice appears easier or more comfortable, while the life-giving choice can feel harder and more challenging.

Our Lent practices help us discern what is truly life giving. They can help us decide what we have to let go of so that the things that are truly life giving can find the space to flourish and grow.

How are your Lent practices helping you to choose life this Lent?

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Ash Wednesday Benedictine Spirituality Christ Cross Divine Office Gospel Lectio Divina Lent Liturgy Scripture Uncategorized

Ash Wednesday

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One of the most helpful books I’ve read is “Amazing Grace, a vocabulary of faith.” By Kathleen Norris. She describes it as “an exploration and record of some of the words in the Christian lexicon that most trouble and attract me.”

The book reminded me of an important Benedictine principle, that words matter. They shape us, form us, challenge us and help us grow.

So this Lent I’ve decided to make myself a Lent lexicon. I’m going to explore some of the words we commonly hear in Lent. I’ve chosen words that attract and sometimes scare me. They also both shape and challenge my experience of Lent.

Ashes

Ashes mark the beginning of our Lent journey. With a small, but significant physical sign we give a powerful message about the significance of this time. The Ashes seem to me to be a signal of intent for the season of Lent. There are many ways that intention could be stated, it will vary from person to person and from year to year. But whatever variations it has I generally find that this verse expresses them all:

“O that today you would listen to his voice, harden not your hearts.”

It’s the first thing we sing on Ash Wednesday, and whatever Lent practices I choose this verse sums up their purpose and intent. Lent practices help us to move away from the clutter that disguises our hardheartedness. They invite us to allow our hearts to become vulnerable and open to receive the Word of God.

Ashes remind us of that intention and of our limitations. As we receive the ashes we hear one of these verses:

“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.”

Or

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Our Lent journey starts with high hopes. These verses bring us back down to earth. We are created from the stuff of the earth, that is both a humbling and liberating thought. In a world that sets impossibly high standards it allows us the freedom to accept our limitations.

As we journey through Lent our good intentions will get battered and even fall by the wayside. The ashes are a reminder that this is simply part of being human. We can fall, and get up and try again.

How are you being called to open your heart to God’s voice this Ash Wednesday?

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Keeping hope alive.

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We’re living in times that could easily tempt us to give up. The principles that underpin our societies seem to be shifting. Things that we thought were certain and essential for the smooth running of our communities and nations appear to be dissolving before our eyes. We’ve no idea how things will develop, but there’s a general feeling that outcomes are less than likely to be positive. We’re living with seemingly ever increasing levels of uncertainty and anxiety.

In such times we can easily give in to despair. We can feel powerless and that everything is pointless and beyond our control. It can make even the possibility of hope seem, at best, naïve and unrealistic.

In his first letter to the Corinthians St Paul takes a different approach as he calls us to never give up. He writes:

“Never give in then, my dear people, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord’s work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain.”

St Paul was no stranger to adverse circumstances, nor were the Corinthians. Knowing some of the situations he faced I can imagine that he was also tempted by despair. He knew suffering, frustration & disappointment. Through them all he was able to keep his eyes firmly on Christ. He trusted that, however hard life was, however little effect his work seemed to have, Christ would bring it to fruition. In our challenging time his message not to give up has an added resonance. We too are called to carry on working to bring about the Kingdom in whatever way we can.

Where is Christ calling you to keep trusting his promise today?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Gospel Lectio Divina Rule of St Benedict Scripture Uncategorized

Taking risks

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We live with an almost constant temptation to divide the world into “them” and “us”. Although the criteria for each group might change according to circumstances we seem to have a natural tendency to want to stick with the people we perceive as being “like us” and distancing ourselves from those we think of as “other”.

This is especially true in challenging and unsettling times. When life feels threatening we tend to stay with what feel safe and to become more judgemental about anyone or anything that doesn’t fit our image of how things should be.

Today’s gospel sees the disciples falling into exactly this trap. When they see someone from outside of their group casting out devils in Jesus’ name and try put a stop to it. The response they get from Jesus is a surprise for them and for us. Instead of commending their diligence he says to them:

“You must not stop them: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.”

His words are a challenge for the disciples and for us. He invites us to expand our horizons, and to reach out beyond our comfort zones. It’s a call that’s at the heart of the gospel. It brings to mind St Benedict’s instruction to welcome guests as we would welcome Christ.

It’s a challenge to be openhearted and to give others the benefit of the doubt. It’s an invitation to discover the best in others. In these difficult and frightening times to call we need to respond to more than ever.

Where is Christ inviting you to move out of your comfort zone today?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Cross Discernment Gospel Lectio Divina Scripture Uncategorized

Putting on the mind of Christ.

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There’s an undeniable tension between human thinking and God’s thinking. It comes up again and again in Scripture. From Isaiah to St Paul we hear a version of God’s word to Isaiah:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not my ways…”

In today’s gospel we see this principle played out in practice between Jesus and Peter. Peter is horrified by Jesus’ teaching that the Son of Man was destined to be rejected, suffer, die and rise again. He takes Jesus aside and remonstrates with him.

We don’t really know what Peter’s motivation was. He may have been shocked that the image of the Messiah Jesus presented wasn’t the one he’d been expecting. He might have been scared about where this path might lead himself and the other disciples. He may have been worried about the reaction of the disciples to such a stark message.

We do know that Jesus’ response is a rebuke and a challenge:

“He rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but the human way.’”

Jesus’ words challenge us as much as they do Peter. They remind us that, in following him we are to strive to align our hearts and minds with God’s way of thinking. It’s a call to be kind and compassionate, to give people the benefit of the doubt and not to judge. In these unsettling times that’s more important than ever.

What does it mean for you to “put on the mind of Christ” in your life today?

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The power of love.

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Today is the feast St Scholastica, sister of St Benedict and the patron saint of Benedictine women…It’s a feast about the power and importance of love.

We hear it in St Gregory the Great’s account of her last visit with St Benedict. At St Scholastica’s request they stay up all night “conversing of holy things”. This means Benedict has to spend the night outside his monastery. He initially refuses her request until her prayer results in such a fierce storm that he is compelled to stay with her. St Gregory comments:

“It is not surprising that the woman…was more effective than he [St Benedict] was on that occasion. For according to the saying of John, “…God is love.” So it was entirely right that she who loves more should accomplish more.”

The gospel is the story of Martha and Mary, so often seen in opposition. Mary is prayerful and contemplative and Martha as active and practical. The reality is more complex; they are both aspects of love. If we are to truly seek God, we need both of them, not in a hierarchy, but working together in union and tension.

We can see them come together in St Scholastica. She can only have recognised the significance of this last meeting with St Benedict if she had been a woman of prayer. She would also have been used to a life of practical service of others. She will have recognised the tension between them in her own life as Martha and Mary must have done. It may be that it was this that enabled her act out of love in praying for the extra time that she and her brother needed together on this last visit.

Where are you called to act out of love today?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Gospel Lectio Divina Scripture Uncategorized

Called to follow

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In today’s gospel Jesus calls his first disciples. Catching sight of a group of men washing out their fishing nets by the lakeside, he tells them to put out their nets for a catch. Simon’s initial response seems to suggest he wasn’t so impressed by that idea. Yet, something about Jesus makes Simon think twice, and while his response begins with suspicion it quickly moves on:

“Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.”

Despite his tiredness and possibly his better judgement he does as Jesus asks, and brings in such an enormous catch that they can barely carry it. Then Simon recognises he is in the presence of God and falling to his knees he says:

“Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”

This is often our first response too. It seems incredible that God should want to engage directly with us, and the first thing that comes to mind is how unworthy we are. That awareness is necessary and it can stop us from responding freely to the call.

Jesus, who already knows Simon’s faults and failings, response in a way that helps him beyond his sense of unworthiness by telling him not to be afraid. Hearing this response:

“They left everything and followed him.”

They can’t possibly have known what this would mean for their lives. Yet they they took the risk of stepping out into the unknown. Jesus offers us the same invitation. He asks us to sidestep our doubts and fears, and to put aside all that would stop us from following him.

What is Christ asking you to put aside in order to follow him today?