St Bernard | Thursday 20 August 2020

Today is Thursday the 20 August, the Feast of St Bernard, in the 20th week of Ordinary Time.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Inhliziyo Zethu: ‘You will make my heart pure’.   A pure heart is a heart that is open to God, that doesn’t seek its own advantage, but wants whatever God wants.  As I enter into prayer today, I ask for that openness of heart.  I ask the Lord to lead my heart to him, to guide me in the way he wants me to go.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 36:23-28

I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Today is the feast of St Bernard, a monk who in the 12th century founded the famous Cistercian monastery at Clairvaux in France. St Bernard was a prolific writer, theologian and preacher. He wrote: “When God loves, all God desires is to be loved in return.” How does God show his care and love for you?

“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you”. What evidence in your life, big or small, can you see of God giving you a new heart…a new spirit?

"I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” This is more physical language…almost a painful image! When God removes something from us, this can be painful sometimes. Is this happening in your life at the moment? Or perhaps you can remember a time like it…

Listen to the reading again. Notice if a particular word or phrase remains with you.  “you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

As one of God’s people, talk to God in your own words about what’s on your mind. Is there something you feel moved to do to return God’s love for you?  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.