Second Meditation for the Second Week of Lent

The second pillar of Lent is prayer. St. Teresa of Avila tells us that prayer is intimate conversation with God. Conversation comes as easy to us as breathing. Our happiness depends upon conversation. Our very nature as men wither without it. Isolate a man from conversation and he descends into madness. That is what Aristotle meant when he taught that all men are by nature social. Without conversation we cannot be a friend or keep a friend. You know a friendship has died when you say of the former friend, “We no longer speak”.

No one should be more close a friend to us than God. We can only say this because God became man. Our Lord Jesus Christ left behind the glory of Heaven to live with us on earth. All this because He loves us: He wants to be our friend. “Henceforth I call you not servants… but I have called you friends” (Jn. 15:15). He is starved for your conversion. Do you speak with Him daily? With His Immaculate Mother? Your Guardian Angel whom He has appointed to care for you? His Saints? If only occasionally, that’s not enough. If only on Sunday, that’s no way to treat a friend.

Lent is time to be serious about your conversation with Christ. Look at the Crucifix. Remember what He said from the Cross? “I thirst!” That was meant for you. He thirsts for your love. Love begins with conversation. No more excuses. Start praying. Daily. It’s time to be serious.