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Thursday in the 2nd Week of Lent: Daily Lenten Meditations

by William A. Torchia, Esq.

SOLDERS OF CHRIST JESUS

“Work as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Strong words that tell the virile character of their author. Indeed St. Paul was virile, a man of strenuous action, and he wanted all who followed him to be the same. No half-hearted, timid service of the Master could meet with his approval. Hence his words of manly counsel to Timothy: “Work as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

We, too, may well take to heart the admonition of the great Apostle, for ours is the same purpose in life as was that of his disciples; we, too, are soldiers of Christ Jesus called to do stout battle for His sacred cause.

“Work”—yes, such is the lot of all mankind by God’s good will. We are to work out our salvation. Heaven’s everlasting prize is not awarded but earned. The victory is for those only who have fought the good fight. The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent bear it away.

Yes, indeed, we must work, and not only that, but work “as good soldiers of Christ Jesus.” That tells me the grand quality of the service I must render my Captain Christ. It must be the courageous service of a fearless soldier. I must not fear the hurts it may entail. I must not shrink from service that is crushing to my touchy, timid nature. Therein lies the difference between the ordinary Christian and the glorious saint of God. The former timidly holds back in face of opposition to his lofty aspirations while the latter, braving the bitterest foe, cuts his way through every obstacle and carries off the palm.

Ah, yes, we could be saints, each and every one of us, if only we would “work as good soldiers of Christ Jesus.”

Jesus, Gentle Master, have mercy on us.

EPISTLE AND GOSPEL: Taken from the Angelus Press 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

EPISTLE: Jer. 17:5-10

The Prophet speaks to us of two men, one of whom put his trust in himself and the other in God; the first dries up like the heather in the desert, and the second bears the abundant fruits of his good works.

Thus saith the Lord God: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert, in a salt land, and not inhabited. Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence. And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit. The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable: who can know it? I am the Lord Who search the heart, and prove the reins: Who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices: saith the Lord almighty.

GOSPEL:  Lk. 16:9-31

There were two men, says Jesus in the parable, one of whom enjoyed life instead of doing penance, and the other suffered. The first went to hell, whilst the second was carried by the Angels into Abraham’s bosom, i.e., limbo.

At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, and no one did give him: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died, and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, and he cried and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot, nor from thence come hither. And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the Prophets: let them hear them. But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe if one rise again from the dead.

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