Lenten Thoughts

As stated previously here, I've been reading a Vatican I daily missal (St. Joseph's to be exact) as part of my Lenten prayer process. Wednesday, there was a reading from Matthew 12 that included 43-45...

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my home from which I came.' But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation."

And for some reason, upon reading this, I thought of our country. As we sweep God out of our daily lives, that void will have to be replaced by something.

Another thought... Thursday's reading was from Matthew 15 tells of the story of the Canaanite woman asking for Jesus' help...

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."

He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters."

Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

It made me realize that we often ask for Jesus' assistance, expecting him to respond like Santa Claus and just give us what we want, with no strings attached. But, as shown here, Jesus will test us.

When the woman asks for his help he tests her resilience by pushing back, by calling her unworthy of his mercy, but she persists because of her faith and that persistence of belief is what shows him she is sincere.

In that respect, all of us should expect to be treated like that Canaanite woman.

Anyway, just some thoughts...