Lent JourneySample

DAY 12-18

Scripture of the week:

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39 – 43


WHEN DEATH COMES

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut; when death comes
like the measle-pox

when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering: what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea, and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth, tending, as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something precious to the earth.

When it’s over, I want to say all my life I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

Mary Oliver

When you live close to death, you have greater appreciation for life.
Take note of the different images that the poet uses to describe reality and nearing death.
She does not fear death. She is curious about what awaits her in the cottage of darkness.
And therefore I look – important words! Because she made peace with death, she looks at life with different eyes, eyes that bring her to amazement.
When it’s over . . . I was a bride married to amazement.
When read together, the title and the last sentence reveal the message of the poem:
When death comes, I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

DAY 12
The robber and paradise

It is not strange to hear Jesus talking about life after death. He did it on a previous occasion as well (John 11:25). But here, on the cross, is the only time He mentions paradise.

In these moments, the words of Jesus make me aware of what lies ahead after my death - death that at times feels so dark and ominous.

The fear and suffering of the robber on the cross have already had a huge impact on his body and emotions. There is a definite change in his conversation with Jesus. Where he previously addressed Him as Lord or Rabbi, the conversation turns into a more personal and intimate one and the robber calls Jesus by his name. It is Jesus himself who gives the robber access to paradise. He encourages him with words of hope to strengthen him in these dark hours. And all the robber asked was that Jesus would think of him when He entered paradise. But Jesus ensures him that everything will work out for the best and that he will be with Him in paradise. The gift comes without reservation – no baptism, no keeping of the Sabbath, no good deeds or atonement – just grace, and it is free!

The way and the fact that Jesus loves until the very end, is poignant. It is a sign of a huge inner world. In moments like these one can get caught up in one’s own world where personal suffering gets preference. But Jesus has the knowledge and consciousness of eternity and no circumstance can change that. The robber must surely recognise that there is something bigger than what he is experiencing here – an eternity with God, paradise!
The inner world of Jesus attracts me.

EXERCISE
You are invited to do an imagination prayer*.
• Imagine yourself close to Jesus on the cross.
• See Him in his suffering and hear Him saying: ‘You will be with Me in paradise.’

Take a few moments to reflect on your experience and to talk to God about it. It may help to write your prayer in a journal.