Lent 2 Meditation

Collect

O God, who sees that of ourselves we have no strength, keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Gelasian Sacramentary

Christ Washing the Apostles’ Feet by Dirck van Baburen

Henry Suso (AD c. 1295-1366) - from Little Book of Letters

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb.” (Isaiah 11:6)

When the Lord of nature came down and became man, he intended to work new marvels. And he made what was wild tame, what was fearsome gentle, as the prophet Isaiah had foretold. My child, I once read a saying in a book that I am just now beginning to understand. It is this: Love makes unlike things alike. This is why Venus is painted blind and without eyes—because seeing with the eyes of love she loses the ability to see objectively. And though this is true of transitory love, it is much more so concerning spiritual love. It has stripped many noble and worthy people of their lofty position. Some, who were exalted rulers in Rome, gave it all up and became servants of poor people so that they would be like their beloved divine Child. And so, my child, give up the arrogance…and bow down today to the Child in his crib, in his abasement, that he might raise you to his eternal dignity. If you sow sparingly, you shall harvest poorly. But if you sow lavishly, you shall harvest in abundance. Act in your own interest and bow down to the feet of all men as though you were a doormat. A doormat does not get angry with anyone, no matter what is done to it, because it is a doormat.

True subordination in a person is a root of all virtue and happiness. From it there springs forth a meek calmness for true detachment from self with regard to things both insignificant and great. This causes pain: to have something to say but to remain silent, to receive insult and not to retaliate, as a capable and respected person to keep silent in front of a bungler of no repute. This is modeled on our noble Christ. What can be more useful for a person or give more praise to God? For this it is useful to hold one’s tongue and not to open one’s mouth to speak except with genuine mildness and well-ordered prudence, so that nothing is said except for the bare minimum necessary for the glory of God or the advantage of one’s fellowman.

Iam, Christe, sol iustitiae

Anonymous, 10th c.

Spare not, we pray, to send us here

Some chast’ning kindly but severe,

So let Thy gift of pardoning grace

Our grievous sinfulness efface.