PRAYER / Lenten Reflection 2005 Thursday, February 10, 2005

Today’s liturgy offers three invitations. The entrance song invites us to unload our burden on the Lord. Moses tells the people (and us): "I set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life." The communion antiphon could be a Lenten mantra: "Create a clean heart in me, O God; give me a new and steadfast spirit." Then we turn to the gospel to see how Jesus himself responded to these invitations. He is promising his disciples that he is on his way to suffering and death. Yet, in his prayer, surely he unloaded that burden, that fear of his onto God. In choosing to go forward to meet the "enemy" in Jerusalem, he is choosing to bless his enemies, and to choose life, paradoxically through his death. He must have prayed often for a steadfast spirit.

Let us join Jesus in responding to those invitations today. What burdens do you want to unload on God? Listen to your own heart. Then give God those burdens. "God bears our burdens day after day; our God is a God who saves!" (Psalm 68:19-20). How will you choose life –very specifically-- today? Ask the Spirit. Listen. Then pray the words of Psalm 51 above, "Create a clean heart..."

Contributor: Sister Rea McDonnell

---

---

School Sisters of Notre Dame, Baltimore Province 6401 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21212-1016

Voice: 410-377-7774 Fax: 410-377-6945 Comments or questions? E-mail us Technical questions about this website? E-mail our WebSpinner

---