A CROWN

Deeper and deeper into My brow

Go the thorns of the crown

They have woven for Me.

"Of what is it made?" you quietly ask Me.

Of all the deeds and misdeeds,

All the intentions not come to be,

Of all the unacknowledged sins and selfish pride that blinds the eye to see.

Love dies for these.

I have a chance now to weave thorns of unrepented sins and add them to Your crown, 

or to fall on my knees weeping for what I did not do for Thee.

I carefully reach for the crown on His head yet He gently chastises me, 

“No, My child, you cannot carry this for Me.”

My words in your heart and My love in your soul - these you carry to set others free.

Now go, into the crowds and bring them here to Me.

Stand with them bravely and gently as they gaze on this Tree.

Share the sorrow and pain of the Son of God broken for thee.

diane hallenbeck

Holy Week 2018

AN UNEXPECTED LENT

Perhaps the five NorEasters were an indication of what was happening in my soul~ I might have known that the outside would match the inside! I made a Lenten resolution to selflessly love and then the storms came. I loved and shoveled and loved and shoveled and did that again and again. Surgery recuperation prohibited help from my helpmate, so I persevered. Interesting what must be peeled away to serve another selflessly.

It takes courage to look inwardly and grasp the depths of one's self-seeking ways. Dying to self was like living a perpetual winter storm in my soul; winds of selfishness raged as I fought the desire to be right, to give my two cents, to get my own way, to be comfortable. Slowly all this was stripped away and I was left quiet and still. It reminded me of Isaiah, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and confidence is your strength," 30:15.

As the weeks ran, week on week, I stumbled and fell, caught in the storm of my soul, and yet, here, on the doorstep of Our Lord's Passion, I find love has entered in. All the whispers of the King of Kings, to know I am loved, to know He is with me, to know He will clothe me with garments of salvation, all these have melted my heart. Within me and without, He has quieted my fearful heart and given me peace. He loves without measure, without hesitation, without failing and without a doubt He carries me to Himself as I join Him on His journey of love. I am learning to walk in the light of His face.

How are you walking as we enter Holy Week?

Medicine from Sacred Writings:

"Paul gives us the Lord Himself for a garment;. the King Himself; for he that is clad with Him has absolutely all virtue. But in saying, "put on Christ" he bids us to be girt about (encircle as if with a belt) with Him on every side... for He would have our soul be a dwelling for Himself, and Himself to be laid round about us as a garment, that He may be unto us all things both from within and from without."

St. John Chrysostom  

Epistle to the Romans  Homily XXXIV

LENT'S TENANT

I forget in Lent that it isn't about me. It isn't about me trying harder, being more holy, eating less, not eating chocolate or drinking wine. Lent is a preparation for a feast. I get ready, I clean house, make my home ready for guests; it's like Thanksgiving. I know I'm having guests and so I go the extra mile to make my home spotless. How much more so my soul for the Guest and the feast to come.

Easter is the feast we are preparing for. Christ comes, lives among us, pitches His tent with His people and then suffers His Passion, but He rises from the dead. The church celebrates His life, death and Resurrection and we are invited to join in. Love woos us through Lent and grace carries us, it is like the waves crashing on the shore, the grace and love of God are unfailing. We need to remember to open our hearts and trust in Him.

The tenants in Matthew 21:13-41 were preparing for the owner to return, but they forgot. We forget that we are waiting for a Savior to return, that we discipline ourselves out of love for Him, out of longing for Him to come to us, return to us. Our hearts are preparing for God, that is what Lent is about. The life of the Son of God, restored from the dead, is celebrated at Easter, The Risen one comes and tells us He will make all things new, whispers to our hearts that we will be made new as well ~ this is the reason for Lent. I am like a tenant, waiting for God to come and claim me as His own. How am I waiting?

I want to be made new, in my attitudes and my actions, in my thoughts and in my words, not to be holier than thou, but to be made ready. I take my small faltering steps towards Easter, knowing I am weak and frail, and sinful and indulgent. I give all this to Him, I have little self-discipline, He whispers, "I know, Child." I lack the most basic of charity and kindness, and He stoops low, when I fall through my words, and picks me up again, brushes my dress smooth and says, "Let's try again."

Lent is a mirror, that I hold up to my soul and say, "What now? What can I do, small as I am, to make myself ready for so great a King?" Do I reflect His light, His glory, His love?

I could start by changing my clothes. The ones no one sees.

Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievance you may have against one another. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues, put on love, 

which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts."

Colossians 3:12-15