Supplied by Irish Jesuits: www.sacredspace.ie, assistance in the persistent battle against temptation, before going to sleep, the time my will is the weakest.

Truth and Discernment

It’s difficult to make a good decision when you don’t have all the information. It’s also difficult to move forward while trying to deny part of your reality. Jesus came from a tradition that was brutally honest; just read a bit from any of Israel’s prophets to see how forcefully they spoke the truth. Jesus continued in this vein as he talked about what it really took to be people of God, to participate in the kingdom of God. Jesus knew what John the Baptist knew before him and what the prophets knew before both of them: without truth, people cannot heal. If we ignore the root cause of our wounds, we will continue to be wounded, even if we heal some of the damage. We might fix what has been harmed. But if we continue doing what caused the harm in the first place, we will simply acquire (or inflict) new wounds because the core activity has not changed.

Lent is a good time to stop our activity long enough to look at it carefully, prayerfully, and to determine the specific truths of the situation. —Vinita Hampton Wright, Praying Freedom

The Presence of God

Be still and know that I am God. Lord, may your spirit guide me to seek your loving presence more and more. For it is there I find rest and refreshment from this busy world.

Freedom

“Leave me here freely all alone
In cell where never sunlight shone
Should no one ever speak to me
This golden silence makes me free.”

Part of a poem written by a prisoner at Dachau concentration camp

Consciousness

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the cares of this world. At times like these may I be aware of the comfort of your Presence, Your infinite love for me.

The Word

The Word of God comes to us through the Scriptures. May the Holy Spirit enlighten my mind and heart to respond to the Gospel teachings. (Please turn to the Scripture on the following pages. Inspiration points are there should you need them. YVhen you are ready, return here to continue.) Conversation Jesus, you always welcomed little children when you walked on this earth. Teach me to have a childlike trust in you. To live in the knowledge that you will never abandon me.

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end.
Amen.