It’s the second Tuesday of Lent already, and only now have I downloaded the Lent pilgrim 2019 app from the Church of England. Yes, I know that sounds strange, here I am living in Ireland: what am I doing using that? Well, quite simply, it is available and seems to be a sensible thing to do. And I have to do something simple for Lent this year, what with everything else that is going on.
This year, Lent Pilgrim is taking us through the Beatitudes. Days 11 to 15 concentrate on
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Today, the reading is from St Luke’s Gospel, and is from chapter 17, verses 11 to 19: the story of the healing of the ten lepers.
The Message, from BibleGateway (accessed 2019-03-19 08:17)
11-13 It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14-16 Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.
17-19 Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”
Ten lepers come to Jesus and seek healing. All are made clean but nine go on their way without thanking Jesus, and only one comes back and does so. That one is a Samaritan.
A thankful heart is the flipside of the coin of meekness. The two go together. People who live in selfishness and pride easily miss God’s blessings: the everyday joys of creation, of family and of friends, of simple pleasures. Too often, our narrow hearts look for what is wrong or for one thing more. Contentment vanishes like the morning mist.
Meek hearts are wider and wilder: broadened and deepened by thanksgiving and praise. The daily disciplines of praise and thanksgiving are key spiritual exercises in meekness which many Christians try to practise daily.
We remember our place in the world when we bow before God in praise. We enjoy all that he has given us when we thank him. Meek people don’t so much inherit the earth as remember to enjoy it.
It is suggested by Lent Pilgrim to try and learn the General Thanksgiving and use it each day.
Book of Common Prayer.
A General Thanksgiving
ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; [*particularly to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.] We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
*This to be said when any that have been prayed for desire to return praise.
Extracts from The Book of Common Prayer, the rights in which are vested in the Crown, are reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Like so many prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, it is one that I used to know very well, but now do not as well as I should like. I will try and re-learn it for Lent. Will you do so too?
Gyronny Herald 