{"id":36003,"date":"2019-04-09T15:13:20","date_gmt":"2019-04-09T13:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lourdes-france.org\/?page_id=36003"},"modified":"2021-03-02T16:08:31","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T15:08:31","slug":"meditation-for-wednesday-of-holy-week-17th-april-2019","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lourdes-france.org\/en\/meditation-for-wednesday-of-holy-week-17th-april-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditation for Wednesday of Holy Week 17th April 2019."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Let us reflect on Isaiah (First Reading at Mass)\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIsaiah <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t50:4-9<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As with the reading yesterday, once again Our Lord Jesus Christ is addressing<\/span><\/p>

us in the first person. \u00a0 <\/span>This is always a reminder to be aware that we are being addressed personally and as the Church. \u00a0 <\/span>For the purpose of individual reflection, we know that we are being spoken to in the context of a personal relationship. \u00a0 <\/span>Saint Bernadette spoke of Our Lady addressing to her as one person speaks to another.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In the first place we are brought into the relationship that the Lord Jesus has with HIs Father. \u00a0 <\/span>Nothing that could be for our true good is hidden from us. \u00a0 <\/span>We are first made aware of what the Father is doing, that He takes the initiative, waking His servant at the beginning of a new day – the Servant even seems to be made to listen. \u00a0 <\/span>As Jesus was addressed by the Father so we too are addressed by Him. \u00a0 <\/span>As He was given to\u00a0 <\/span>listen, so too are we. \u00a0 <\/span>Do I presume that I am always open and listening, or do I make some effort to be quiet as I begin to reflect and pray? \u00a0 <\/span>As the Servant listened in the morning, before the distractions of the activities of our day encroached, do I pray at a time when I am able to focus on The Lord and His Word?<\/span><\/p>

The Lord listens in order to\u00a0 <\/span>reply to the wearied. \u00a0 <\/span>A tired person may well be rebellious and angry. \u00a0 <\/span>Being wearied is one of the consequences of the Fall, the pains in childbearing and of hard labour (Genesis 3:16-17), also the struggle of the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land representing our journey through life. \u00a0 <\/span>The Lord\u2019s message is to people who are fallen, harassed by life, that is to all of us in some way or at some time. \u00a0 <\/span>In my weariness, am I disposed to listen to the message of the Gospel, or do I behave like Thomas and refuse to believe (John 20:25)?\u00a0 <\/span>Do I tend to despair when the trials of life seem to get the better of me? \u00a0 <\/span>Am I like Peter who thinks he knows better than the Lord (Mark 8:22)?<\/span><\/p>

The Lord\u2019s message that we trust, love and be humble before the Father when we are attacked and spontaneously want to fight back may not be acceptable. \u00a0 <\/span>Do we first of all have the will to follow Christ\u2019s example of not turning away from the situation<\/span><\/p>

(verse 5)?\u00a0 <\/span>Are we ready to be faithful to the Lord and His Gospel even when we are rejected?\u00a0 <\/span>In order to remain in the realm of reality as we reflect on these questions it would be helpful to recall concrete examples from our lives to support our answers.<\/span><\/p>

Let us also notice that the Lord comes to His Servant\u2019s help (verse 7) in unexpected ways – being untouched by insults. \u00a0 <\/span>The more we engage with the Gospel in our lives, the more likely we are to face opposition and encounter suffering. \u00a0 <\/span>As Mary followed her Son it led her to Calvary where she had to watch Him being tortured to death but she was given the strength to\u00a0 <\/span>stand\u00a0 <\/span>at the foot of the Cross.\u00a0 <\/span>Let us remember that we too can experience the wonder of the Lord\u2019s help to the extent that we are prepared to suffer for Him.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Father Paul Anthony Horrocks<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Chaplain at the Lourdes Sanctuary<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lord, may I never allow myself to be so distracted by the events of life that I subtly reject the ability you give me to listen to your Word. \u00a0 <\/span>Help me to follow Your Son\u2019s teaching in my weariness even when my weaker nature wants to rebel. \u00a0 <\/span>Ma I never despair of Your powerful help amidst the trials of life.<\/span><\/p>

Let us pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let us reflect on Isaiah (First Reading at Mass) Isaiah 50:4-9 As with the reading yesterday, once again Our Lord Jesus Christ is addressing us in the first person. \u00a0 This is always a reminder to be aware that we … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-36003","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMeditation for Wednesday of Holy Week 17th April 2019.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lourdes-france.org\/en\/meditation-for-wednesday-of-holy-week-17th-april-2019\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" 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