readings for the day Good morning. These readings are loaded with wisdom thoughts. Good for times of frustration, times of worry. The two readings of the day provide much fodder for the two days leading into the beginning of the Lenten season.
"All wisdom comes from the Lord (Sirach 1:1)" And whom has this wisdom? It subtleties? Its discipline? Its multiplicity of ways? ONLY ONE! "The God of dominion." "He created her through the Holy Spirit." "He has poured her forth upon all her works.... he has lavished her upon his friends."
The gospel scene of the post-tranfiguration is an example we might consider to be something of a presentation of our own times, perhaps our own lives at different times, maybe even at this very moment.
The request of the man in the crowd to heal his son from possession "but a mute spirit." He told Jesus as well that his request presented to the disciples was not successful. Then the man asked: "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Why did this caring father ask for compassion not just for the son but "for us"? Presumably for himself, the father and most likely the mother and other family members! This might suggest to us how evil impacts not only the son, in this case, but the family and others. Perhaps a simple scriptural sentence or a word, "us" for example, might lead us to consider our own lives and how evil in whatever form impacts not only ourselves but others as well.
As we go through these two days preparation for the beginning of Lent, perhaps these meaty thoughts might make us think about the purposes of Lenten practices our Church has recommended for centuries: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
The final two sentences of the gospel are worthy of more than a quick read: "Why could you not drive the spirit out? He said to them, 'This kind can only come out through prayer."
Don't wait until Ash Wednesday to decide what Lent can be for you. Use these two days, especially "Fat Tuesday" to beef up your plans for Lent. It is a marvelous time for slimming down all the distractions from our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. "Everything is possible to one who has faith."
