“The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, but the idols He shall utterly abolish.” (Is 2: 17-18)
This refreshing passage is part of today’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah, whose prophecies are read on Lenten weekdays at the service of the Sixth Hour. Isaiah is talking about “that day,” of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Spirit, according to the loving will of the Father, into our lives. – And into my life, again and again, on any given day when I allow Him to do that, allowing myself to be “bowed down” in the liberating grace of humility.
I let “that day” be today, on this fourth day of Lent, on which we continue our cathartic, unpretentious lament before the Lord, liberated from the “loftiness” and “haughtiness” of our usual “idols.” I let the Lord “utterly abolish the idols” of my usual concerns and sinful patterns, as I am “brought low” into His humble embrace, from which I can’t fall. And as I prepare for confession at the end of this week, I mark down in my journal the specific “idols” with which I’ve been burdened, now being exposed in the light of this grace-filled week. Come, Lord, and “be exalted” on this blessed, first Thursday of Lent, and keep us by Your grace and Your humility. Happy 4th Day of Lent, dear friends! Join our daily, weekday “Morning Coffee” audio-podcasts for some daily inspiration on your Lenten journey! Sign up at: patreon.com/sistervassa. Love from Vienna, Sister Vassa
