THURSDAY, SECOND WEEK OF LENT
Jer 17: 5-10 Ps 1: 1-4, 6 Lk 16: 19-31
SEARCH THE HEART, TEST THE MIND
“I, the Lord, search the heart…” And what shall He find in our heart, the seat of desire; where all our ‘treasures’, our attachments are stored; where all our ‘beloveds’ reside? “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…” (Mt 10:37ff). Lent is the time to make this examination between the reality of our life, and the call of the gospel; i.e. between what is and what should be. Christ cannot be one among other treasures; rather, the value of all things must be measured through Him. In other words, their significance must be discerned in the light of the fulfilment of His will. Therefore, take time to search your own heart this Lent, and clear it of its unhealthy treasures to make space for the one Treasure that deserves it all.
“…and test the mind” – What shall the Lord find in our mind, the seat of reason? For here it is we discern the principles that guide our actions. Here it is we define our philosophy of life. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock…” (Mt 7:24ff) Jeremiah calls us to examine our principles, our convictions, our theoretical foundations. And while it might seem that a conclusion that is arrived at through reason cannot be wrong, there are times it can be a front for an unhealthy desire in the heart. A classic example is the ‘pro-choice’ argument. While the argument itself sounds reasonable right – God has given us free will, and therefore pro-choice is celebrating this great gift of God – it is used as a justification for the unhealthy desire of separating the responsibility of procreation from the pleasure of sexual union, and consequently, for the unholy act of abortion. ‘Test your mind’ this Lent for such convictions with the gospel as their measure, so that ‘our ways’ and ‘the fruits of our deeds’ might be pleasing to the Lord.
Response: Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.
Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water http://springs.carmelmedia.in