Leo the Great: Greater tokens of repentance

Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When He saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

“I entreat you, beloved, let those words of the Savior touch your hearts, Who, when by the power of His mercy He had cleansed ten lepers, said that only one of them all had returned to give thanks: meaning without doubt that, though the ungrateful ones had gained soundness of body, yet their failure in this godly duty arose from ungodliness of heart. And therefore, dearly-beloved, that this brand of ingratitude may not be applied to you, return to the LORD, remembering the marvels which He has deigned to perform among us; and ascribing our release not, as the ungodly suppose, to the influences of the stars, but to the unspeakable mercy of Almighty GOD, Who has deigned to soften the hearts of raging barbarians, betake yourselves to the commemoration of so great a benefit with all the vigor of faith. Grave neglect must be atoned for by yet greater tokens of repentance.”

Leo the Great (c. 400-461) in Sermon LXXXIV entitled “Concerning the Neglect of the Commemoration” in Leo the Great, Gregory the Great, edited by Philip Schaff (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 2004) 323.

As I explore ‘gratitude’ in the writings of the doctors of the church, I continue to find it fascinating that it is more common to locate ‘ingratitude’ as an expression. Here, Leo the Great links ‘ingratitude’ to forgetting all Christ has done for us.

He uses the story of the ten lepers to illustrate it and drives home his point with this strong statement: “Grave neglect must be atoned for by yet greater tokens of repentance.” This is what Lent is all about.

Lent is a time to “return to the LORD” and remind ourselves of all the Christ has done for us. It’s a time to focus on prayer, fasting, and giving motivated by one thing: gratitude.

Pause to consider what you are learning this Lent. And ponder ‘ingratitude’ with the doctors of the church. How might we avoid the pattern of neglecting to show ‘gratitude’ throughout the year?

I hope that by focusing on gratitude for 40 days, we can shift from a place of neglect to adopting a pattern of offering tokens of repentance on an everyday basis, like the grateful leper.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12

“There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.

Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself.

When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

Let this be the pattern for all men when they practice mercy: show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you want others to show mercy to you. Therefore, let prayer, mercy and fasting be one single plea to God on our behalf, one speech in our defense, a threefold united prayer in our favor.

Let us use fasting to make up for what we have lost by despising others. Let us offer our souls in sacrifice by means of fasting. There is nothing more pleasing that we can offer to God, as the psalmist said in prophecy: A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God does not despise a bruised and humbled heart.

Offer your soul to God, make him an oblation of your fasting, so that your soul may be a pure offering, a holy sacrifice, a living victim, remaining your own and at the same time made over to God. Whoever fails to give this to God will not be excused, for if you are to give him yourself you are never without the means of giving.

To make these acceptable, mercy must be added. Fasting bears no fruit unless it is watered by mercy. Fasting dries up when mercy dries up. Mercy is to fasting as rain is to earth. However much you may cultivate your heart, clear the soil of your nature, root out vices, sow virtues, if you do not release the springs of mercy, your fasting will bear no fruit.

When you fast, if your mercy is thin your harvest will be thin; when you fast, what you pour out in mercy overflows into your barn. Therefore, do not lose by saving, but gather in by scattering. Give to the poor, and you give to yourself. You will not be allowed to keep what you have refused to give to others.”

Peter Chrysologus (406-450), bishop of Ravenna, Italy, excerpts from Sermon 43. He got the title “Chrysologus” (greek for “Golden-worded”) because his sermons were so clear and inspiring.

As we continue exploring gratitude in the thinking of the doctors of the church leading up to Holy Week, we find keen insight from Peter Chrysologus today on the connection between prayer, fasting, and mercy.

This sentence sums up the aim of Lent: “Let this be the pattern for all men when they practice mercy: show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you want others to show mercy to you.”

We need to measure out in the same manner and promptness that we desire to receive. We can count on God to help us even as we have endeavored to help others. Jenni and I experienced this yesterday in a small way.

Our son and daughter and their spouses rented a truck. A few friends came to our aid on Friday evening and Saturday. And most of our move happened in a few hours. It was remarkable. This may not be the best parallel but it seemed fitting. Painting happens next.

We finish the move next week. Now I ponder. Even as we have been quick to aid others, God sent help in a swift and sufficient way. Take a moment to re-read this post. Sit with phrases that stand out to you. And follow God’s leading in pursuing the pattern for all.

He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. Ezra 7:9-10

“Reading the holy Scriptures confers two benefits. It trains the mind to understand them; it turns man’s attention from the follies of the world and leads him to the love of God. Two kinds of study are called for here. We must first learn how the Scriptures are to be understood, and then see how to expound them with profit and in a manner worthy of them… No one can understand the holy Scripture without constant reading… The more you devote yourself to study of the sacred utterances, the richer will be your understanding of them, just as the more the soil is tilled, the richer the harvest.”

Isidore of Seville (c. 560-636) in Maxims as recounted by Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 201.

This week Jenni had a speaking engagement on Wednesday night. I had the night to myself.

I could have done anything. I could have worked or played. I pondered what would bring the most profit. I determined to study the books of Ezra and Nehemiah with a commentator.

We did not speak to each other. I read his thoughts, the fruit of his study and reflected on them with the Holy Spirit. It was rich. It provided keen insights for reading, interpretation, and for teaching.

The older I get the more I find that time is my greatest asset. I can squander it or use it for good. Sometimes I do not have much say about how to use my time. But when I can choose, I love to study the holy Scriptures.

On the journey of life, like Ezra, I think when we devote ourselves to such study, God’s gracious hand us on us. He will use it for His glory and for the profit of many. With Nehemiah, Ezra helped rebuild the people of God.

And as Isidore says, such study will help us avoid folly and train our minds. What about you? Is it time to do some study so that you can generously bless others and expound the Word with profit?

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14

“Here the sinner chides himself for his ingratitude. Alas, alas, alas, Lord God, is it so that I dare to come, that I dare to present myself in the presence of Thy saints; I of all men the most wretched and most sad; I that am so ungrateful for so many and so great blessings; I that have so shamelessly and so gracelessly abused Thy gifts; I that have not blushed out of those very gifts to make weapons wherewith to fight against Thee, and that so often and so long; I that have not blushed, so often and so long, though the recipient of Thy bounty, to fight on the devil’s side against Thee, my King; I that have dared to turn Thy very gifts into arms in the devil’s service; I that have presumed so infamously to misuse my very self, and dared to hire myself as a slave to the devil, and make my members his; and in those very members do battle against Thee, my Creator, against Thee. Thou that didst make them and didst give them me.”

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) in his Seventh Meditation in St. Anselm’s Book of Meditations and Prayers (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 2007)

I find it interesting as I explore the Middle Ages, it’s easier to locate “ingratitude” in the writings of the saints than “gratitude” as an idea. In his meditation, Anselm acknowledges and confesses his sins, his failures linked to the gifts of God.

This touched me deeply considering my situation. For nearly two years, we’ve lived in a small apartment, and we are now grateful to God to be moving into a new house. We want to steward it well, as a gift from God to be enjoyed and shared.

And yet, when I reflect with the publican in humility, I realize how many gifts I have wasted or used for selfish purposes. God forgive me. God forgive us. for our sinfulness and selfishness which shouts “ingratitude” rather than grateful service.

Anselm adds this in the eight meditation:

“Busy thy thoughts with the debt of gratitude thou owest to thy Saviour. Consider what plight thou wast in, and what has been done for thee; think, too, who it is that has done it, and of what love He is worthy. Review at once thy need and His goodness; and see what thanks on the one hand thou renderest, and on the other how much thou owest to His love.”

Father, we busy our thoughts with gratitude for your grace and mercy. We praise you for your response to our need with your generosity. Thanks for providing a home for Jenni and me. Thanks for your patience and unfailing love. Amen.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

“While acts of gratitude render prayer immeasurably efficacious, all prayer is valueless without the element of thanksgiving. “Ingratitude” says St. Bernard, “is a parching wind which dries up the sources of piety, the dew of mercy, and the streams of grace.”

Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1217-1274) in De Perfectione Vitæ ad Sorores which in English is Holiness in Life, translated by Laurence Costello.

This Lent I sense God wanting to do internal work in me to help me become a more grateful and thankful person. I have room for growth. I tend to focus on what has not come together which can open the door for ingratitude.

I love how Bonaventure echoes both Paul and Bernard. We need to be watchful and thankful, which will inspire gratitude which gives life to our prayers and our communion with God out. It also shapes our generosity, which flows from the dew of mercy and streams of grace.

Take some time on this Friday to give thanks. See what happens in you. Notice how it shapes your attitude, your inner self, your posture toward others. Ask God to help you be watchful and thankful so that your prayers are immeasurably efficacious.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:32-36

“Gratitude regards the favor received according the intention of the benefactor; who seems be deserving of praise, chiefly for having conferred the favor gratis without being bound to do so. Wherefore the beneficiary is under a moral obligation to bestow something gratis in return. Now he does not seem to bestow something gratis, unless he exceeds the quantity of the favor received: because so long as he repays less or an equivalent, he would seem to do nothing gratis, but only to return what he has received. Therefore gratitude always inclines, as far as possible, to pay back something more.”

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) in Summa Theologica in Question 106 on “Gratitude” in the Second Part of the Second Part.

Thanks to all who celebrated 5,000 posts with me yesterday! All glory to God!

Today, I turn our attention back to an exploration of gratitude in the thinking of the doctors of the church. I do this to stir our hearts toward greater giving, fasting, and prayer during Lent.

Prior to my travels to Africa we heard from Ambrose of Milan, Jerome of Stridon, Augustine of Hippo, Gregory the Great, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Athanasius of Alexandria.

Two days ago we moved to Bernard of Clairvaux and today we read from Thomas Aquinas.

He reminds us that gratitude regards the benefits we receive from God. Most never even go there. But if we pause there, we find that many people don’t exhibit a lot of gratitude because they don’t stop and consider all their blessings in Christ.

When we count our blessings, it motivates us to extend unmerited favor toward others. We become, as Luke writes, “children of the Most High,” because we go further than repay people for their kindness, we lavish favors on the undeserving.

If we want our generosity to be distinctly Christian in nature, we need to love our enemies and do good to them. We need to lend to others without expecting anything in return. And we must be kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Our generosity should look crazy in earthly terms to look consistent with the instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why?

Because, in the words of Aquinas, “gratitude always inclines, as far as possible, to pay back something more.” Let’s do this because Christ paid for us a debt we could never repay and always refreshes us when we give.

Today marks Daily Mediation number 5,000 in a row, or nearly 14 years. For this reason I turn to the Feeding of the 5,000 and my favorite Scottish scholar (as I have Scottish roots), William Barclay.

When it grew late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But He answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And He said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then He ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and He divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men. Mark 6:35-44

“It is a notable fact that no miracle seems to have made such an impression on the disciples as this, because this is the only miracle of Jesus which is related in all four Gospels. We have already seen how Mark’s Gospel really embodies the preaching material of Peter. To read this story, so simply and yet so dramatically told, is to read something that reads exactly like an eyewitness account. Let us note some of the vivid and realistic details.

They sat down on the green grass. It is as fit Peter was seeing the whole thing in his mind’s eye again. It so happens that this little descriptive phrase provides us with quite a lot of information. The only time when the grass would be green would be in the late springtime, in mid-April. So it is then that this miracle must have taken place. At that time the sun set at 6 p.m., so this must have happened sometime in the late afternoon.

Mark tells us that they sat down in sections[or groups] of hundred and of fifty. The word used for sections is a very pictorial word. It is the normal Greek word for the rows of vegetables in a vegetable garden. When you looked at the little groups, as they sat there in their orderly rows, they looked for all the world the rows of vegetables in a series of garden plots…

The wonderful thing about this story is that all through it runs implicit contrast between the attitude of Jesus and the attitude of the disciples. (1) It shows us two reactions to human need. When the disciples saw how late it was, and how tired and hungry the crowd was, they said, “Send them away so that they can find something to eat.”

In effect they said, “These people are tired and hungry. Get rid of them and let someone else worry about them.” Jesus said, ” You give them something to eat.” In effect Jesus said, “These people are tired and hungry. We must do something about it.” There are always the people who are quite aware that others are in difficulty and trouble, but who wish to push the responsibility for doing something about it on someone else…

(2) It shows us two reactions to human resources… In effect, the disciples were saying, “We could not earn enough in more than six months’ work to give this crowd a meal. They really meant, “Anything we have got is no use at all.” Jesus said, “What have you got?” They had five loaves. These were not English loaves: they were more like rolls… It did not seem much.

But Jesus took it and worked wonders with it. In the hands of Jesus little is aways much. We may think that we have little talent or substance to give to Jesus. That is no reason for a hopeless pessimism such as the disciples had. The one fatal thing to say is, “For all I could do, it is not worth my while trying to do anything.” If we put ourselves into the hands of Jesus Christ, there’s no telling what He can do with us and through us.”

William Barclay in The Gospel of Mark (TDSBS; Philadelphia; Westminster Press, 1975) 157-159.

For 5,000 days, God has not disappointed me.

I have explored what saints and scholars through the centuries have said about generosity. It’s been an indescribably rich journey. And many of you have been with me for many of those days. Thank you. I pray you have been blessed.

My rhythm has been to study and write them in real-time, so they post less 24 hours after writing each one.

Today I looked to Barclay. He shined yet again. He reminds us that we must have mindset change in how we view both human need and resources. We must see needs with compassion, and give God what we have and watch Him work.

Too often we see needs as someone else’s responsibility, and we don’t try meeting them because we focus on what we don’t have. We think we don’t have enough so we don’t even try.

Jesus profoundly teaches us that when we give God what we have, there’s “no telling what He can do with us and through us.” I never dreamed that in giving Him an hour a day, I’d write 5,000 meditations.

But this is not about me. It’s about a generous God who loves us so much that He wants us to have eyes of compassion and hands willing to share what we have so He can do miracles in our midst.

To get a glimpse of how the mindset change called for in this biblical text is transforming churches across Malawi through the work of GTP, take seven minutes to watch the “Palmful of Maize” video.

And pause and pray that God will sustain us for another 5,000 days to live, give, serve, and love like Jesus. There’s “no telling what He can do with us and through us” when we give God what we have.

“In the hands of Jesus little is aways much.”

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

“God deserves love from man in recognition of His gifts, both material and spiritual: and these gifts should be cherished without neglect of the Giver. Those who admit the truth of what I have said know, I am sure, why we are bound to love God. But if unbelievers will not grant it, their ingratitude is at once confounded by His innumerable benefits, lavished on our race, and plainly discerned by the senses. Who is it that gives food to all flesh, light to every eye, air to all that breathe? It would be foolish to begin a catalogue, since I have just called them innumerable: but I name, as notable instances, food, sunlight and air; not because they are God’s best gifts, but because they are essential to bodily life.”

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) in his classic work, On Loving God, 4.

I’ve returned safely home. Thanks for your prayers as I recover from the rigors of travel and work from home this week. I am reflecting on God’s blessings with thanksgiving so I’ve also returned to ‘gratitude’ which is my word for the year.

Today we actually learn about ingratitude. Let’s ponder it a moment with Bernard. God gives innumerable gifts, including the essentials that everyone needs to live. All He asks for in reply is our hearts, our love, our allegiance.

Sadly, many of us neglect Him. We do this. We act as if we supply the essentials for our lives and live as though we forget that the innumerable benefits around us came directly from His hand.

So, what’s the point today? We can’t live generously if we think we supply our needs. Instead, let’s pause, thank God for a few of His innumerable benefits and consider His matchless love and care for our each and every need.

If we take a posture of gratitude for everything that comes to mind, it changes us. In response let us resolve to enjoy and share whatever material and spiritual gifts God has lavished on us. And do this regardless of what anyone else around us is doing.

They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Acts 14:21-22

“The first missionary journey was a success because the Lord was the mission director. He directed the missionaries and opened the hearts of those who were being evangelized. Without God’s power, our mission in the world is ineffective. The other lesson to be learned from this mission is that the work of the gospel involves both joy and suffering. In other words, we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

Paul Mumo Kisau (Kenya) in “Acts” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1352.

Why does a generous God allow us to experience both joy and suffering in our service to Him? 

Here’s some thoughts from my experience of two weeks in West Africa. Not only is the Holy Spirit the power of ministry, working in hearts and transforming lives. As pretty much nothing went as we expected, we saw vividly that we were not in control. So, the gift of joy and suffering in service to God humbles us and helps us see who we are and more clearly who God is. He’s the Mission Director.

And the Mission Director led us to four West African countries. We served and returned rejoicing with fruits because He is faithful.

Where is He directing you? What would it look like to trust in His power and not your own? Are you ready to endure hardships?  These are real questions we must ask ourselves. If we follow God’s leading, we experience His generous provision and protection, which will not so much save us from storms but through them. And we discover His presence often best in the storms as He’s with us.

From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:26-28

“From Attalia, the missionaries returned to their home church (to use modern missionary terminology) at Syrian Antioch. This church had commissioned them and thus they were accountable to it. Thus the missionaries gave their report to the whole church at Antioch, not just to the leaders.

The missionaries reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door for ministry. The mission had been the work of God, since He was the one who had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Now they were in no hurry to leave again, for they were anxious to enjoy fellowship with the disciples.”

Paul Mumo Kisau (Kenya) in “Acts” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1352.

There nothing better than completing a missionary journey and coming home to enjoy fellowship.

Most people think of God’s generosity as provision. Another way I have experienced it recently is protection. And sometimes it is the ability to enjoy fellowship.

Paul and Barnabas were excited to go home. That’s me today. Traveling from Dakar to Brussels to Newark to Denver.

And I love that they “reported all that God had done” with accountability. At GTP we always do trip reports to recount all God does. This gives God glory and maintains the momentum of the movement of God.

If you want a copy of my trip reports from Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal reply and I will share them.

Excited to make it home just before midnight tonight. Appreciate your prayers.