NOURISHMENT
February 26, 2023: A Reflection for the Beginning of Lent
Nourishment. Could we say that for St. Benedict providing proper nourishment for his monks was of key importance? Physical nourishment, of course. In how many places does he take care to provide for the young, the elderly, the sick and the community as a whole. Our bodies are to be given simple but wholesome food at regular intervals, with provision being made for more if necessary. The body is not there to be either punished or over-indulged. It is the dwelling place of God and infinitely precious to him. We care for our bodies as instruments of his love in this world and dwelling places of his tender mercy.
If we say that we are enfleshed spirit, then our spirits are equally to be given the nourishment proper to them. And so Benedict, in his Rule, provides times for daily lectio, our wholesome spiritual food. And at this holy season of Lent, a place is made in our schedule for the table of Lenten Reading. We lay down our work, our concerns, our myriad distractions, and enter into a refectory of another kind. It is not always as easy as it sounds to disengage ourselves from the busy-ness of the day, and sometimes it seems that we just can’t quiet our hearts enough to actually receive the benefit of the spiritual food in our book. Never mind. It is enough that we try. Enough that we open out to the quiet that stretches before us. And read. Take in the nourishment provided by this book, this day, this moment. From this Jesus, present to us.
In a few moments, we will receive the book that will accompany us through our Lenten journey this year. A book that will, hopefully, mediate a deeper love, a deeper growth into God. It is significant that the book is given and received with both hands. A sign of receptivity and engagement of the whole person. So, as we receive them, may each of us engage God waiting for us in this particular book, with our whole person. The hand of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs, says the psalmist. May we receive with open heart, the food of life which his hand will offer and may the joy of the Holy Spirit be our strength on the Lenten journey.