Second Week of Lent: “A Season for Compunction and Tears”

The writer of the introduction reminded us that “…we are walled-up human beings, selfish and lacking generosity.” He raised these questions which seem a good place to begin our meditations this week:
What limits our love for God and neighbor?
What isolates us from the natural world of our interdependence with all beings?

Merton adds, “My ruin is my fortune.”, a hopeful reminder as we enter a season of confession.
I wrote:
God leads—forcing doesn’t work. The message of Lent so far: “I should feel this way; I should give this up; I should do this”, all these lead nowhere. Dangerous as it sounds I choose to ignore the demands, continue as I am, and wait for God’s word. As Merton says, until God “tells you that you are poor…of a sickness” you cannot truly know it. “When God tells you…it is because He means, at the same time, to provide a remedy. It is the Devil who tells us that we are ill and taunts us for it, reminds us of our helplessness b y making us even more helpless.” So what am I to do this Lent. LISTEN is the answer I hear.


Listen for the raindrops,
the birds’ songs, the
child’s cry.
Listen for the earth’s groans,
the fire’s warmth, the
snow’s silence.
Listen for the Word
spoken, unspoken,
felt as a dagger and
a hug.
Listen for the empty space
around, between,
breathing holiness and
love.
LISTEN, listen, listen.

Blessings
Caroline