MetroMonk

“You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him” Mark 1: 11b-13 (Common English Bible). I’ve had the same routine for about 5-6 years now. For Lent I’m fasting from my routine. It has only been one week and I’m going nuts. I feel so unproductive, but through this whole thing I feel this sense that something in me needs to die. I need this challenge. I find some sense of irony in the verses scribed above. As a father myself, my first instinct wouldn’t be to send my son off into the wilderness for temptation. (We could delve into how important the Father’s love is to the Son and even how great the Father’s love is by letting his Son go), I’m just saying, it wouldn’t be my first instinct. Would it be yours? What did Jesus do in the desert? This desert experience seems to be vital for Jesus...

“ Desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matt. 6:33 (Common English Bible) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matt. 6:21 God is not concerned with our comfort. God wants our allegiance, our loyalty, our fidelity. The inspiration behind this piece comes from readings on St. Anthony (251-356 C.E.) and the Desert Fathers, prominent leaders and pillars of our faith, who, through their lives of asceticism, experienced the Lord in profound ways and blessed visitors from all over the world in extraordinary ways. Asceticism is defined as: severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons....

I'll be giving up my place of study and peace for 40 days. I guess I'll be finding a new routine for something of comfort and devotion. Are you practicing anything for Lent? If so, what?

Thomas Merton on " Contemplation ." "There are so many Christians who have practically no idea of the immense love of God for them, and of the power of that Love to do them good, to bring them happiness." Read Ps. 1:1-6 for a follow up passage.

A holy blast from the past: "A Godly Meditation" by Thomas More (1478-1535) I fell in love with this poem. I resonated so much with what he writes here. I find myself writing the same types of things. There's something really encouraging about sharing something with someone who lived centuries before me. Give me thy grace, good Lord, To set the world at nought, To set my mind fast upon thee. And not to hang upon the blast of men's mouths. To be content to be solitary, Not to long for worldly company, Little and little utterly to cast off the world, And rid my mind all the worldly things, But that the hearing of worldly phantasies may be to me displeasant. Gladly to be thinking of God, Busily to labour to love him. To know mine own vilety and wretchedness, To humble and meeken myself under the mighty hand of God, To bewail my sins passed, For the purging of them, patiently to suffer adversity. Gladly to bear me purgatory here, To be joyful of tribul...

This old worship tune brings me back to center every time I hear it. It has become like a "life tune" for me.

I waited to hear a word from the Lord and this is what he said... Proverbs 3:5-6 (funny how that works).

Days come and go, People come and go, My coffee is always warm, And The Lord is always there! Tweet