February 27/Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent;
But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
~ Ps 1.1-2
“Are we there yet?” Before the omnipresence of those personal screens that lessen the pain of an extended car trip with children, many a parent fielded this question not once, but many times during the journey. When it comes to the journey of faith, of course, we never quite get “there,” at least during the earthly leg of the journey. For there is no set point at which one has mastered the Christian life, no moment at which we can say with certainty, “I have attained success; now I can stop moving.” As the psalmist knows, the life of a seeker of God is one of daily striving, not permanent attainment. Every day we have opportunities to follow the counsel of the wicked or walk in the way of sinners — cutting a corner here, telling a small, self-serving lie, being indifferent to the suffering around us. Every day we have opportunities to sit in the company of the insolent — smirking at those who stand up for their convictions, standing on the sidelines at the safe distance irony affords, shrugging at earnestness or goodness. But we also have the opportunity to “meditate on the instruction of the LORD day and night” — by praying quietly at dawn and at eventide, by being mindful of the presence of God throughout the hours, by perusing the daily Scripture readings. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “With God one does not arrive at a fixed position; rather, one walks along a way. . . God knows the whole way; we only know the next step and the final goal.” Over these next 40 days may we turn aside from anything that separates us from the love of God, choosing instead to walk in His way.
O God, Master of all living things, Help me to follow your way, your truth, and your life in every step I take today and forever. Amen.
To hear “Walking Up the King’s Highway,” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJNGU3SxUA
For today’s readings, click here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022720.cfm
