This is the Day the Lord has Made

My readings and meditations this day spoke to my heart, as they often seem to do in these days of silence in my house.  Perhaps it’s because I am listening better.  At any rate, these first words are from the book This is the Day the Lord has Made, 365 Daily Meditations by Wilfrid Stinissen.  I’ve read many of Stinissen’s writings; they are extremely thought-provoking, as was the short meditation for today, April 22.  (You might like to get this book, it is short thoughts for each day, an easy way to pray).

Touched by God

According to Augustine, the longing for happiness is our most fundamental impulse.  No one ought to doubt that point.  God has put this longing inside us to make us long for him who is happiness itself.

God is joy, the fullness of bliss.  Those who find God partake in his happiness.  To long for God is written into our very being.  But many aren’t conscious to whom their longing is directed, therefore they seek happiness where it is not to be found.

The more your life is directed toward God --- the deeper you become conscious of God being the beginning and end of everything --- the more you become human.  You will experience that love of God “fits” your essence, does you well, makes you bloom.  God and humankind aren’t rivals, as many humanists claim.  God is our completion and perfection.

Your life is happy and blessed to the extent that it is a deep longing and striving for God, a journey toward God.  To seek and strive for anything else will always end in disappointment.

It is particularly wonderful that the longing for God contains so much pain and so much joy.  When we experience our inability to love and seek God with all our heart, a deep longing for him can awaken within us.  It hurts to long, but, at the same time, it makes us happy that this longing is a sign that we have been touched by God.

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The next two excerpts are about intimate, personal prayers with God.  The first is from Divine Intimacy, Meditation 151:

Intimate Converses With God

The heart of prayer, according to St. Teresa of Jesus, is “nothing but friendly intercourse and frequent solitary converse with Him who we know loves us.”  It makes no difference whether we attain this end by means of meditation, or reading, or even by the slow, pious recitation of a vocal prayer. …. Sometimes, we feel incited to express our gratitude to Him, desiring to return love for love, and we spontaneously begin an intimate conversation with the Lord. … We stop to have a solitary converse with God, returning to the book or reflection when we feel the need of seeking new reasons or of arousing new affections to maintain our colloquy with God.  Here is a genuine colloquy, because not only does the soul speak, God often answers --- not audibly, of course, but by sending it graces of light and love through which the soul will have a better understanding of the divine ways.

We must not believe that in order to treat intimately with God and to show Him our love, it is always necessary to do so by means of words.  On the contrary, we will often prefer to be silent in order to fix our gaze calmly on the Lord, to return Him love in silence.  Our colloquy becomes silent, contemplative, a simple look which penetrates truth, a real exchange of friendship with Him.

The soul will not always be able to continue long in this contemplative look, this silent colloquy; now and again it will need to come back to reflection, to the verbal expression of its thoughts, and --- especially when it is not yet accustomed to this manner of prayer --- it will be well for it to do so rather often, in order to avoid vagueness and distractions.

“Grant, O Lord, that the purpose of my prayer may be to occupy my heart with loving You.  I know that You love me more than I love myself, I shall no longer by concerned for myself, but shall have no thought save for You alone, and You will take care of me.  Whereas I have much to gain from You, You have nothing to gain from me; yet I know that You are with me very willingly; and more desirous of helping me than I am of remaining with You and enjoying Your goodness.  Whence does this come?  Certainly, it arises from this: that I love myself poorly, and You love me well.”

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Finally, there are these excerpts from a large book I read a few pages from this afternoon, Abandonment to Divine Providence, by Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade.  The excerpts below are from a letter he wrote to a nun, counseling her on how to grow in spiritual depth, having real meaningful conversations with God:

You must remember all your life that one of the principal reasons why certain souls do not advance is because the devil throws them into a state of uneasiness, perplexity and anxiety which makes them incapable of applying themselves seriously, quietly and with constancy to the practice of virtue.  The great principle of the interior life is the peace of soul and it must be preserved the moment it is attacked.

Masters of the spiritual life lay down this great principle to distinguish the true inspirations of God from those that emanate from the devil: that the former are always sweet and peaceful inducing to confidence and humility, while the latter are intense, restless and violent, leading to discouragement and mistrust, or else to presumption and self-will.  We must, therefore, constantly reject all that does not show signs of peace, submission, sweetness and confidence.

The conduct of God in the interior of souls he loves and wishes to raise to a perfect and solid virtue somewhat resembles that of a wise and firm mother who, to overcome the obstinacy and self-will of her child, an to make him perfectly submissive and obedient, gives, and takes away again what he likes best, and continues to do so until she has overcome his rebellious spirit.  I have often explained to you before that, in certain circumstances, the most efficacious way of making spiritual progress is the simple one of acquiescing in the will of God.  “I agree to all, Lord, I wish what You wish, I resign myself entirely to Your will.”  This is called desiring nothing and being prepared for everything; nothing for yourself, and everything by resignation.

You are surprised that having heartily made certain sacrifices for God, temptations about them should return, most violently, so as to cause you anxiety.  It is necessary that this should happen, to prevent self-complacency and self-love which would spoil all.  Be satisfied, then, that God has inclined you in the first place by this grace to make these sacrifices for him, and firmly resist the temptations to retract them.  God intends through them to keep you humble.  Without the help of these oft-repeated trials of our misery and feebleness we should flatter ourselves to have had a great share in the victory, and should thus lose all the fruit we might have gained.  In withdrawing from the truth of our own nothingness we go on in vanity and lies which are so opposed to God who is essential truth.

Wow, I wonder what that nun thought when the good father put her in line --- as we all need to be.  We may not be priests or nuns, but all must be trying to live better lives, grow in closeness to God, until the day we meet Him face to face ---- so that after all our difficult efforts of getting to know him, we won’t be looking at a stranger.

I'm Sorry

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday in the Catholic Church.  On Easter Sunday Jesus rose from the dead and opened the gates of heaven for us.  One week later, we celebrate His Mercy, that despite our sins, He wants us with Him.

We are called to confess our sins and resolve to change our lives, that in doing so we may be fit to accept His invite into His Kingdom.  In the Gospels, Jesus often showed mercy, to the adulterous woman, to the tax collector, and even to Peter.  He is a God of justice, yes, but tempered with love and mercy.  It is fitting to set a day focused on His Mercy on us.  And in this time of pandemic, it is fitting to ask His Mercy on us, and on the whole world.

But, … the above prayers and reflections are focused on God and His relationship with me, certainly a most important thing as I strive to live His call to me, and to yearn for the heaven He did open for me.  But my life is not just about me.  And so, even as I celebrate His Mercy on me and pray for His Mercy on the world, I also pray that I might follow His example, that I might show unlimited mercy to those He puts into my life.  As I pray He acts, so I must be prepared to act.  Even as I pray “forgive us our trespasses,” I must complete the prayer “as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  It is said that that prayer, the one Jesus taught us, is the most important prayer we could ever pray, and so we must pray it most sincerely.

As I think of you, my friends, people God has put into my life, I consider our sins against each other.  If you know me at all, even if only through these blog postings, at some time --- perhaps even often --- I have failed you.  I’ve done things with a deliberateness which reflected my thoughts or feelings, without due consideration of your thoughts or feelings.  Perhaps I thought my words or actions were correct, were just even, but they were a justice not tempered by love or mercy.  My words and actions are often focused on me and my desires, even like my prayers for God’s Mercy today, but I shouldn’t forget the reason that I ask for God’s Mercy --- because I have sinned against Him, and in justice I deserve punishment, but I call on His love and mercy.  And so, today my friends, I ask your love and mercy, for I am sure that I have sinned against you, some day, some way, in my focus on myself.  And I ask your forgiveness and mercy.

And as for things you may have said or done against my wishes or feelings, I promise to try to never remember them.  I recognize that if you sin against me, you are not perfect, and I love you as you are.

Part of Divine Mercy Sunday is about forgetting the past and living in the now, confident of Christ’s love and Mercy, even in this time of worldwide, and personal trial.  My Jesus, I trust in You, and in Your Mercy.

Sufferings for Christ; Trust

I read The Liturgy of the Hours each day for morning and evening prayers.  (You can see it online at www.ibreviary.com).  Often it includes excerpts from Scripture, and often they are presented at just the right time, like this one I read this morning:

From the first letter of the apostle Peter (4:12-5:14)

“Do not be surprised, beloved, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst.  It is a test for you, but it should not catch you off guard.  Rejoice instead, in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings.  When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly.  Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you.

See to it that none of you suffers for being a murderer, a thief, a malefactor, or a destroyer of another’s rights.  If anyone suffers for being a Christian, however, he ought not to be ashamed.  He should rather glorify God in virtue of that name.

The season of judgement has begun, and begun with God’s own household.  If it begins this way with us, what must be the end for those who refuse obedience to the gospel of God?  And if the just man is saved only with difficulty, what is to become of the godless and the sinner?  Accordingly, let those who suffer as God’s will requires continue in good deeds, and entrust their lives to a faithful Creator.

… You young men must be obedient to the elders.  In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God “is stern with the arrogant but to the humble he shows kindness.”  Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high.  Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.

Stay sober and alert.  Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, solid in your faith, realizing that the brotherhood of believers is undergoing the same sufferings throughout the world.  The God of all grace, who called you to his everlasting glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who have suffered a little while.  Dominion be his throughout the ages!  Amen.”

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Among the many readings I pulled from my bookshelves of late, I found a small booklet titled: Our Lady Teaches About Prayer at Medjugorje.  I liked what I read.  It gave me pause:

‘You can’t pray and worry at the same time.  If a student is excessively worried about his exams, the worry impedes his studies for the exam.  Similarly, worry crowds out prayer.  Worry is the fear of the future --- an impending evil.  The future belongs to God.  He has a No Trespassing sign there.  When you trespass into the future, the penalty or fine for so doing is worry.  Someone said: ‘Sorrow looks back.  Worry looks ahead, and Faith looks up!’”

“So on July 5, 1984, Our Lady again pleaded: ‘Dear children … Always start your work with prayer and end your work with prayer.  These days you have been praying too little and working too much.  Pray therefore.  In prayer you will find rest.’  In the Our Father, Our Lord taught us to pray: ‘Lead us not into temptation.’   The great temptation today is to depend totally on our own resources, to try to go it alone without God.  The truth still is ‘without Me you can do nothing’ --- absolutely nothing!”

“St. Thomas wrote: ‘You pray not to make your needs known to God, but to make known to yourself your need for God.  You pray not to change God’s mind, but to change your mind to His.  You pray not to move God to do your will, but to be moved to do God’s will’ If prayer is not changing you, then you are not praying well.  Our Lady asked: ‘Why are you praying?  To be with God, to experience God within.  After five minutes for prayer something ought to happen within you, if you do it properly.’”

“She said: ‘Pray from your heart.’  Again and again she asked for this kind of prayer.  ‘Dear children, I invite you to prayer of the heart and not only by habit.’  And so she pleads again and again.  What is Our Lady asking for?  It is simply that our prayers be heartfelt.  That we really mean them.  It is the difference between ‘saying’ prayers – words, words, words, words, and ‘praying’ – meaning what we say.”

“If your prayer is from your heart, you’ll not only experience God in you, but you’ll begin to think like God and want like God.  One mistake we can make in prayer is to pray only for our own needs.  Jesus never taught us to pray that way.  Some people have even reduced the Madonna of Medjugorje to a personal piety.  They go there only to see what they can get from it. They are thinking only of themselves and not of anyone else.  Whenever we let our own plans and projects crowd out God’s, then atheism sets in.  At Medjugorje, Our Lady told s to widen our horizons in prayer.  She said: ‘Dear children, continue to pray so that all my plans may be carried out.’  Her plans!  Again, on January 25, 1987, she said to the visionaries: ‘I want you to understand that God has chosen each one of you in order to use you for the great plan of salvation of mankind.’  God’s plan is for the salvation of mankind, not just you and me.”

I have never been spoken aloud to by God or Mary or the saints, but I DID feel called to visit Medjugorje in 1987, and my heart was changed by that visit.  Since then tens of millions have visited there, and huge numbers changed their lives, as I did.  What is happening; what does it mean?  God doesn’t tell me directly, but these things keep crossing my path.  I don’t believe in coincidences.  The visionaries in Medjugorje say God/Mary has given them a look at future events, many tragic events, trials, which will occur in their lifetimes if the world does not change.  They are now in their 50’s.

My prayer is for God’s mercy.