Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: "Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more."                                                                                                                    Jer 11:18-20
 
These words of Jeremiah are taken from the first reading for today.  Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because he was a gentle, kindhearted man who was given a mission to speak the hard truth to the people of Judah who were unrepentant sinners.  As Peter Kreeft said; “He set his face like flint (Is 50:7) to deliver God’s message intact.  But the task made his heart break into tears for the message was judgement of the people both he and God loved dearly.”  Among other things he was beaten, put into stocks, humiliated, starved, and thrown down a well.  How could such a kindhearted man deliver such a harsh message and endure the many trials that Jeremiah faced?  It was his deep prayer life that led to a close personal relationship with God that brought him that grace.  In his love of God, he saw the great love that God had for His people, and mirrored in himself that love.  Jeremiah’s love of God was so great he could not stop from delivering God’s message to the Israelites no matter the risks to himself.  “The word of the LORD”, he said “ has brought me derision and reproach all the day.  I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more.  But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.”
 
While we are not being called to deliver such a stern message as Jerimiah, we are still called by our baptism to be prophets in our age.  To bear witness to the love of God in a society that more and more denies the very existence of God.  How can we have the courage and grace to be such prophets?  Prayer. 
 
Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Perfect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, in speaking on prayer said the following; “Prayer is, in the first place the work of the Holy Spirit, who prays in us, reshapes us interiorly, and plunges us into the depths of the One and Triune God.  This is why it is essential to keep silence and to listen, to agree to be stripped of our possessions and to give ourselves up to God, who is present in us.  What matters in prayer is not our talking but managing to be silent so as to let the Holy Spirit speak, to listen to him sighing and interceding on our behalf.  If we enter into the mysterious silence of the Holy Spirit, our prayers will certainly be heard because we have a listening heart.” Resolve today to discipline yourself to silence.  Ask for the grace to be silent interiorly, to allow the Holy Spirit to reshape you so that the Word of God is like a fire burning in your heart.
 
Lenten Action
 
If you are a regular practitioner of contemplative prayer, during your dedicated prayer time practice the presence of God as you normally do adding the modifications, if any, you incorporated from the PIPPG suggestions. 
 
If you are new to meditation and contemplative prayer, during your dedicated prayer time practice the presence of God as outlined in Section 1 of the PIPPG booklet.
 
Today is not a Fast day, but if you have a mind to abstain from a favorite food or drink, please do so as a means of strengthening your will power. Remember not to watch TV, or use your computer or your phone to access social media, computer games, or other unnecessary apps.