Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
We hear in the first reading Azariah imploring God to protect him in his personal situation, as well as the people of Israel in their national situation. These people are cut off from the way they connected with God for generations: temple sacrifice. By worshiping God in the Temple, ancient Israel meet the Lord and were assured of his presence and covenant. We too sometimes feel cut off from God. The Sacraments can be a little more difficult to access these days. Worship looks and feels different than it once did. It is a long, desert time.
Here in Lent, it’s fitting that we walk in the desert. That doesn’t make it easy. Azariah prayed about how Israel was brought low. In this season, we intentionally humble and lower ourselves. What is the Spiritual benefit of this lowliness? One thing is certain- the benefit does not come automatically. Today’s gospel parable is proof of that. The first servant was humbled by the master, but it did not bring a conversion of his heart. This lack of conversion is exactly what the Master chastises the first servant for. So we see, one spiritual benefit of being brought low can be a connection to others who are also lowly. We can have greater compassion in our hearts for those who have heavy burdens to carry. A shared experience of suffering can bind us all together as one human family.
Ideally, this is what our communal Lenten fasts are all about. When we’re all hungry on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we can remember our Lord’s suffering. We can remember the suffering our sins have caused others, Jesus, and ourselves. When we’re craving meat on Friday’s, we can remember the poor, for whom meat is a rare luxury. This can strengthen our Spiritual understanding of suffering, transforming it from something bad into something fruitful. Finally, it can remind us that we need God. Azariah and the first servant have one thing in common; their prayer was fervent. Challenging times can remind us how much we need God, and how little we can reasonably rely on ourselves. So today, let’s pray for God’s protection and glorious transformation of all our challenges and suffering, small or great.
-Chris Nieport