PRAYING
Pray to God, allowing for transformation of your being and feelings. Give to God what you have found in your heart.
COMMENTS
O God of light and love, I am amazed that you made a way to enter our darkness. In the Incarnation, you began the tear in the veil, pouring forth your love in the person of your beloved Son. In Jesus’ death on the cross, the tear was complete. From your side, there is nothing that can come between us now.
If I believe this, the only thing that keeps me in the darkness is myself. Anxiety and worry overshadow my days, rather than trusting in your love to care for me. I do believe that your Word is true…and it says that “darkness came over the whole land until three” which means that my darknes has its limits. Anxiety and worry and all of those other areas of darkness which seem to have so much power over me, are not as strong as they might seem. Rather than dwelling in the shadows, I can respond to your loving light.
So dear Lord, on this third day of Lent, I will trust you to care for me. When worry creeps in, I will remember your love for me. When I am tempted to give in to discouragement, I will intentionally gaze at the areas where you are working in my life and in the lives around me. Lord, I pray for others battling in their own darkness. Help me to be a word of encouragement and hope in their times of difficulty. Let me point them to the undeniable love of the cross so that together we will remember with tenderness what Jesus has done for all.
CONTEMPLATING
Notice the transforming presence of God within you. Surrender all that is stirring and rest in God’s embrace.
COMMENTS
O loving God, I come into your arms of love and rest. I thank you that you love me just as I am, and that I can simply come before you and, for now, do nothing but rest. This time of being with you is pure gift. I love you, dear One. Restore my soul.
Kathy Janku
© Crucifixion, Donald Jackson, 2002. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.