Pilgrimage to Easter: Fifth Sunday of Lent

Meditation for Sunday 13 March
... from the readings of the day:

Return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful. 

Joel 2:13

HE SAID TO ME: "GO AND SIN NO MORE"

Live! Go, and sin no more. This is something new.
Each one of us has dark moments of shame and guilt 
in the past: the past is behind you. Live each moment 
of your future in the light. Go home. Start anew.

Turn again to me with your whole heart; for I am kind and merciful.

Let go your anger for betrayal, and your Father 

will wash you clean of guilt and blame, fear and anger.
Put your life of accumulation and pleasures behind 

you. Step away - take your next step to new life.

Turn again to me with your whole heart; for I am gentle and merciful.

Your past is a path already walked, a wandering path
without your deliberate aim or choice. Walk on.
This is something new, a new life, a new way to live. Go home. Start anew. I am with you.

Turn again to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, John 8:6-11

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.  

But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 

And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. 

So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 

She replied, “No one, sir.” 

Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word or phrase that jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word NEW or FORGIVE.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.