Jesus said, ‘Consider the wildflowers, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry … Strive first for God’s culture and God’s justice, and all you need will be given to you as well.’ (Matthew 6:28b-31a, 33)
I lived once in the same house as Fr Patrick Treanor, a Jesuit astronomer, a small man with a large brain and the face of a child.
He would often dart out of his room, stop suddenly, spin round several times on his own axis, his finger-tip to his lips, and explain to any passer-by, ‘I’ve forgotten where I’m meant to be going.’ Walking with him in the Oxford countryside, especially in spring, was always full of surprises, for he would disappear into a ditch without warning, appearing later gazing in wonder at a wild flower. Having contemplated it, he would give its genus, species, and point out its particular qualities before disappearing again. He usually arrived home clutching a bouquet. He was never quite sure of his immediate direction, but there was a very clear general direction to his life. He was fascinated by all the wonders of God’s creation on earth and in the heavens and this fascination determined the general direction of his life. Ω
Reflect: What is the general direction of your life? What is your passion? How does it find expression? What is the spirit calling you to now?
What is this? Lent is the 40 days, excluding Sundays, before Easter. Traditionally it is a time of intense reflection and pilgrimage. To help you on this journey, Sanctuary has put together 40 stories from people both within and beyond the congregation, with associated questions for reflection and prayer. A reading will be uploaded every day of Lent.
From Gerald W. Hughes, God of Surprises. London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1985. #Lent2021. Real People, Real Stories: 40 Readings for Lent, Sanctuary, 2021. Image credit: Rachel Coyne on Unsplash.
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