Thursday, 18 February 2021
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 20b – 6: 10
Scripture: “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10)
Reflection: The Lenten period has long been recognised and respected as a period for reflection, repentance and renewal. It is the time when we engage in spiritual spring cleaning, when we look deep inside and examine what has drawn us closer to God as well as determine those areas that cause disquiet in our relationship with God. We use the period to acknowledge where we have failed and look for ways to love and serve Him better. In the process, we ask ourselves, “Are we pleased with all aspects of our lives and service to God, and with our growth in faith?”
The additional confinement occasioned by the pandemic has given us much more time in which to engage in the necessary, quiet, deep reflection and introspection. Under the current circumstances, there is the strong temptation to see only the negatives and to focus on all that displeases us. So, we lament and complain about not having our way and not being able to do what we want when we want to – the murmurs of self will. In our lamentably blinkered approach, we overlook the wealth of blessings that remain ours, that we can share to help make our lives and the lives of those around us better.
Prominent among our endowment of blessings is His love, which is steadfast and unchanging. His love provides the reassurance we need, that feeling of belonging and the solace and succour in the hard and difficult times such as these. We give thanks too for the gift and blessing of prayer, as it serves as our most direct and intimate way in which we communicate with Him, bare our souls and listen for His voice of guidance and calm, in accents clear and still. We add to our wealth of blessings, the peace and inner calm that is ours that comes from knowing and trusting Him.
Whenever we are tempted to whine and complain, let us accept and rely on our simple yet profound blessings, our gifts from a loving and caring God, as the strength and support needed to build and increase our faith.
Meditation: His love is all we need.
Prayer: I thank You, Father, for the rich endowment of blessings, the greatest of which is Your love. Amen.
The St. Jude’s Writers
St. Jude’s Church
Stony Hill