Thursday of the First Week of Lent

The Month of March Devoted to Saint Joseph

Saint: Saint Chad (-672); Saint Agnes of Prague (1211-1282)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 25 Serious Faults

Mass: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Resp Ps 138; Mt 7:7-12 

When I called, you answered me.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF SNOWS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

SAINT JOSEPH, MAN OF COURAGE,

PRAY FOR US.

As a child I used to hear the books of my forefathers that you, O Lord, always free those who are pleasing to you. 

(Esther C:16)

With Queen Esther's sincere and courageous prayer in today's first reading, coupled with today's Gospel, I think of something Sister Wendy Beckett of happy memory (1930-2018) wrote. Something I've quoted before. 

The essential act of prayer is to stand unprotected before God. What will God do? He will take possession of us. That He should do this is the whole purpose of our life. When you set yourself down to pray, WHAT DO YOU WANT? If you want God to take possession of you, then you are praying. That is all prayer is. There are no secrets, no shortcuts, no methods. Prayer is the utterly ruthless test of your sincerity. It is the one place in the world where there is nowhere to hide. That is its utter bliss - and its torment. 

(Sister Wendy Beckett, "Simple Prayer," The Clergy Review, February 1978, pp. 42-45, here p. 43)

As I wrote yesterday, you can run from God, but you can't hide. Esther certainly didn't run. She poured out her soul to the Lord. Your will, O Lord, be done. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Mt 7:7).

SAINT CHAD,

SAINT AGNES OF PRAGUE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Waiting. Your right hand saves me.

© Gertrude Feick 2023