Reflections for Lent
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ow that we are in the season of Lent we ’re preparing ourselves to celebrate the new birth, the new life that we are given with the resurrection of Christ. Saint Paul talks about it as entering the tomb to rise again with him. And it ’s a pattern of death and rebirth that is at its fullness in Christ, but it is reflected in all sorts of experience as well.
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The Cardinal Hume Centre plays its part. It can bring people from a personal wilderness, from a time in the desert, and help them to grow, to purify themselves, to get themselves together again, to get their minds right. And to see their abilities, and then as it were to rise to a new life. So Lent is a good time for us all, it’s a cleansing, it’s getting ourselves right so that we can embrace life in its goodness and in its fullness as the most wonderful of all of God’s gifts. Cardinal Vincent Nichols - Archbishop of Westminster Patron of the Cardinal Hume Centre
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he season of Lent is a time of grace given to us by God, in order to live in a more deliberate and conscious manner. It is a time during which we should look forward to the celebrations of Holy Week, that is, to the joy of Easter, the foundation of all our hope.
Christ came to all of us, for all are in need. But by singling out the poor and the oppressed, he was laying particular stress on what today we call the ‘marginalised’; those who, for one reason or another, have been pushed to the margins of our society: the economically poor, the homeless, those mistakenly considered to have little or nothing to contribute to society. Cardinal George Basil Hume
Please pray for the Cardinal Hume Centre, that we do all we can to prevent and tackle youth and family homelessness. Pray too, for all the people we support, that they may find confidence and hope.
Ash Wednesday As we begin our Lenten journey, the Church has picked texts to help us reflect on what is at the heart of this blessed season: a fresh chance for new life. Today in Psalm 511, we ask for God’s mercy on us as we have sinned. The Lord God wants to grant us his mercy and He wants to restore to us the joy of his salvation as we take a step away from our sin and turn towards our merciful God, who is full of tenderness and compassion. The Book of Tobit* reminds us: “Before all men, honour and proclaim God’s deeds, and do not be slack in praising him. Do good, and evil will not find its way to you. Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life”2. What is one thing on my mind today, as I consider how to respond to this call to turn away from sin, and reach out for God’s mercy? As I begin the Lenten journey, is this area something I can bring to God for help and transformation? 1
Psalm 51(50):12-14 Saint Mark 12:38-44 (Tobit* 12:1, 5-15, 20) *The Book of Tobit is an ancient text, from the Catholic canon. 2
First Sunday of Lent At the start of his ministry on earth, Jesus goes into the wilderness and after forty days of fasting, the devil tempts him three times: The devil first tempts Jesus in the physical arena (hunger). Jesus responds that “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”3 He next tempts Jesus in the mental arena (vanity) “if you are the Son of God throw yourself down”. Jesus resists the devil by declaring a truth from Scripture “it is written, You shall not tempt the Lord your God”4. In a third challenge, the devil tempts Jesus in the spiritual arena, promising Jesus reward if he falls down and worships him. Jesus responds by quoting from Deuteronomy a third time “you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve”.5
This Lent, what things can I do better to resist temptations of the heart, mind or body? Jesus quoted the Bible, how can I know more of God’s word so it can strengthen me? 3
Matthew 4:4 quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 Matthew 4:6,7 quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 5 Matthew 4:8-10 quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 4
Second Sunday of Lent In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus is transfigured on a mountain and “his face shone like the sun”. God the Father speaks: “this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.”6 Peter, James and John are rightfully terrified. Jesus calls them to “rise and have no fear”. Today’s psalm reminds us that God will deliver us and provide for us if we keep on trusting in him and living that trust out by obeying him.7 We choose to trust Jesus who overcame death and brought us life and immortality as today’s second reading says.8 In the midst of the challenges of life and all our fears, am I willing to put my life into God’s hands and follow him in trust? 6
Matthew 17:1-6 / 7Psalm 33(32):18-20, 22 / 82 Timothy 1:10
Third Sunday of Lent In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and chooses to engage with her in conversation, trying to help her understand who he is: “everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”10 St Paul in the second reading reminds us that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” and “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”11 Today, can I make time to be alert to listen to God’s voice of love in conversation with him and with the people around me? 10
John 4:13-14 / 11Romans 5:5,8
Fourth Sunday of Lent Today’s Gospel reading tells us how Jesus heals a blind man.13 St Paul in the second reading14 instructs us to “Walk as children of light” to “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” And in the first reading the Lord says to the prophet Samuel who is looking to anoint a new king that the Lord God looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance15. What blindness might I want the Lord to help me overcome this Lent? Am I blinded by some bitterness of heart, lack of forgiveness, pride, legalism, perfectionism or irrational fear? 13
John 9:1-38 / 14Ephesians 5:8-14 /
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1 Samuel 16:6-7
Fifth Sunday of Lent In the last Sunday before Holy Week, our Gospel reading is Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.16 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” This is curious. How can Jesus love Mary, Martha and Lazarus and yet still choose to delay healing Lazarus? Jesus’ followers had already seen him raise Jairus’ daughter who had just died,17 they had seen him raise the widow of Nain’s son18 who had been dead for an even longer time, and we will now see him raise Lazarus.
Jesus deliberately waits to help us see that he “is the resurrection and the life”. This is not only about the afterlife as he explains to Martha but new life begins now. If I want this, can I tell God where I need him to bring me his life? 16
John 11:1-45 / 17Matthew 9 / 18Luke 7
Palm Sunday Today’s second reading is from Philippians 2: Jesus did not hold on to equality with God. Out of love, he humbled himself, becoming human and humbled himself again to the point of death on a cross. God exalted him as a result so that all those “in heaven, on earth and under the earth” would bow before Jesus. This Sunday, let me join the crowds that acclaimed Jesus in the procession, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest”19, not only acknowledging Jesus as a prophet but also confessing Jesus Christ as my Lord.20 19
Matthew 21:9-11 Philippians 2:6-11
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Holy Thursday The Gospel reading today has Jesus beginning to demonstrate what we will see unfold in the Paschal Triduum: how he “loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end”. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, including those of Judas who Jesus knew was going to betray him21. Next, the Good Teacher and Lord tells them to wash one another’s feet in turn. Maybe, like Peter, I need to accept the idea of Jesus washing my feet first in order to be able to do this to others. Where do I want him to make me clean today, so I can do likewise? 21
John 13:1,11,12-15
Good Friday After he questions Jesus, Pontius Pilate went out to the Jews again, and told them, "I find no crime in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover; will you have me release for you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!"22
The Passion of Jesus is not about apportioning blame as to who killed Jesus. In one sense, if God wanted to get rid of all the evil in the world, he has to get rid of me and you, because we all sin - we fall short. The paradox of Christianity: we throw our worst at God and he responds to it with love. Barabbas was let off the hook. Jesus suffered and died for each one of us, to forgive us and set us free from sin. One helpful pointer for meditation is to replace Barabbas’ name with my own. Do I know I am always welcome to come to Jesus for his freedom, especially if I am carrying a great burden? 22
John 18:29-40
Easter Sunday Jesus is Risen!23 In Baptism, “we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him”24. Let us add our voices to the Easter vigil’s night’s psalm: “give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever”. I “shall not die but shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord”25. There is a lot to rejoice about in Easter. Am I ready to receive God’s joy and let that joy overflow out of me to convey the goodness of the Lord to others around me? 23
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Matthew 28:1-10 Mass of Easter night’s reading Romans 6:3-11 25 Psalm 118(117):1-2, 16-17
We hope you have enjoyed these Lenten reflections, written by a friend of the Cardinal Hume Centre. These accompany the day's bible readings from the Common Lectionary. www.liturgyoffice.org.uk
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he great gift of Easter is hope - Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake.
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Cardinal George Basil Hume
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Cardinal Hume Centre 3-7 Arneway Street, Westminster London, SW1P 2BG Tel: 020 7222 1602 info@cardinalhumecentre.org.uk www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk