SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Giving What Has Been Given

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. Psalm 86:4

In solitude we can slowly unmask the illusion of our possessiveness and discover in the center of our own self that we are not what we can conquer, but what is given to us. In solitude we can listen to the voice of him who spoke to us before we could speak a word, who healed us before we could make any gesture to help, who set us free long before we could free others, and who loved us long before we could give love to anyone. It is in this solitude that we discover that being is more important than having, and that we are worth more than the result of our efforts. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended, but is a gift to be shared. It’s there we recognize that the healing words we speak are not just our own, but are given to us; that the love we can express is part of a greater love; and that the new life we bring forth is not a property to cling to, but is a gift to be received.

Today, Lord, the first part of my Lenten journey has ended. This Saturday I will spend at least two minutes to examine within myself the many ways that I seek selfishly after power for myself; I will renounce them and pray, “Teach me your ways.”

Henri J. M. Nouwen, Renewed FOR LIFE

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