A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: 4/14

Good morning, good God!

And so it has begun, Lord:

the week we call Holy...

I've read how theologians debate
whether time itself, or any unit of time,
can actually be or become holy -
but I'll leave that to the scholars, Lord,
and simply wonder here
about my being holy
or growing in holiness in the week ahead...

(Why are we afraid of the word - holy?
We all want to be strong, healthy, wise, just,
honest, fair, loving, prayerful, faithful,
kind, forgiving and compassionate -
why do we shy away from wanting to be holy?
Could it be we just don't understand holiness?)

I know that I can be holy, Lord,
and I certainly know I can be holier
than I am right now…

Just how holy do I want to be, Lord?

I want to be holy enough
to stand before you
without shame or embarrassment…

I want to be holy enough
to know that I've helped the poor
- and generously so…

I want to be holy enough
to know that my intentions and desires,
my dreams and schemes,
are just, pure and honest...

I want to be holy enough
to love you with a heart cleansed
of selfishness and pride…

I want to be holy enough
to recognize my lack of holiness
and to ask the help of your grace
whenever and wherever I need it...

Just four days left* in Lent, Lord:
four more chances to be holy
in this season of praying, fasting
and serving the needs of others...

I have four days to be more faithful to prayer,
morning or night or in between,
or whenever you and I can sit down
and just have a chat, one-on-one,
just the two of us, Lord...

I have four days to deny myself
some taste or sip, some pleasure or toy
and discover the hunger self-denial leaves in me,
that empty space in which to wonder
how I might better fill and feed the void...

I have four days to care for the poor,
to give to the poor, to be with the poor,
to work for the poor,
to discover how rich I am and learn to share
with those who have real needs...

There are four days for one such as I
(who has more than I need)
to be grateful for my abundance
and think on how I might share it...

Four days left in Lent, Lord,
and then three days of prayer so holy
they are but one-day-in-three:
the Triduum...

Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter…

Three days inviting me
to enter into the mystery of all mysteries,
the paschal mystery of Jesus...

Three days to remember with the whole Church
how Jesus suffered, died, was buried and rose
that we might have life and have it to the full...

Three days that will not come 'round again
until a year from now,
three days that promise me more
than I could ever hope to promise in return...

So, I ask you this week, Lord,
to make me at least a little more holy
than I have been...

I offer you this week
and ask you to come to me in prayer,
to fill my loneliness with your presence,
to draw me out of my self-contentment
to serve the needs of any
who wait for my assistance...

I offer you this holy week
and pray you keep me faithful to all it offers:
the promise of a life, a depth, a gift of peace
greater than all my hurts and fears...

I offer you this week, Lord:
make me holy, day by day...

And open my heart to all
whose paths cross mine in these holy days:
together, help us come into your presence
and be made one in your peace...

Amen.

*Lent ends at sundown on Thursday of Holy Week. With the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Triduum begins. The Triduum ends with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday night.