Thursday, March 4, 2021
Thursday in the Second Week of Lent
The Rev. Rob Stevens
The Collect of the Day
O Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of hosts and King of glory: Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hands pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away; so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Readings: Jeremiah 17:5–10, Luke 16:19–31 & Psalm 1
Anthony DeMello was a writer and theologian who wrote many books, but the one that influenced and inspired me was AWARENESS. In it he expressed his belief that most people are not aware or even awake. He suggested that most people simply sleepwalk through their life. Ugh…I’m afraid he may have point. So often, I have simply let my life live me instead of living my life. It is easy to sleepwalk and much more difficult to cultivate awareness and genuinely live.
I think that was one of Jesus’ main points. Wake up! Live your life! I think that in some ways is what he is attempting to express in Luke’s gospel reading for today. He describes a lack of awareness that the Rich Man had for Lazarus. He simply didn’t “see” what was in front of him. That is so often the case for us is it not?
The Christian Church is somewhat infamous, in my opinion, about fixating of life after death. I even know people whose only reason for following a religion is the hope of heaven after they die. Anthony DeMello, and I think Jesus, asks a different question. Anthony asked, “It’s not so much about life after death, but will there be life before death?” This Lent that has been my focus. My practice this Lent is leaning into the hard sometimes joyful, sometimes painful reality of being alive and aware. I struggle at this mightily and fail daily, yet each day each moment I am invited to begin again…and you are invited to do the same.
We have been isolated for almost a year and our lives have contracted.Travel, social gatherings, church, and countless other activities have ceased or at least changed drastically, and we have had to adapt.In some ways it has been a worldwide wake up call.A call to wake up and live today as best we can.To care for others by limiting what we do and changing how we do it.Change is hard for humans and darn near impossible for Episcopalians!Yet, together we can call each other to a life well lived.Pray for me as I seek to live life awake and aware.Be assured you have my prayers on this journey.