Overshadowing God 

   “I do not know you God, because I am in the way.  Please help me to push myself aside.” (Flannery O’Conner, “A Prayer Journal”) 

   I sometimes feel like Flannery O’Conner, that I am letting my wants and desires get in the way of knowing Him as I should.  I focus on my own concerns when I should be seeking His will and following it.

   We are a self-important people.  We tend to look at ourselves as the gold standard and everyone else as a cheap imitation.  Our thoughts, our ideas are more important, our troubles are more bothersome, our sorrows deeper than anyone else’s.  Others, including God, come second in our thoughts, we are always first.

   Humility is considered weakness rather than strength, our ego recoils at the thought of being humble and meek.  We insist on standing on our own two feet even when we are standing in quicksand.  In our arrogance we refuse to seek the help of God, though that is what we need most.

   God’s light is always shining upon us.  But like the moon sometimes eclipses the light of the sun, our ego sometimes eclipses the light of God.  We need to get out of the way and bask in His light. 

Father, shine Your light upon me.

Let my selfishness not overshadow You.

Let me die to self.

Let me live in the light of Your love. 

Amen

 A Morning Walk 

   It’s usually dark when I take my morning walk, I’m out and back before the sun comes up.  But I slept a bit later than normal this morning.  Because of that, I was blessed with seeing an exceptionally beautiful sunrise; God’s majesty on full display.

   The beauty of this world God has created is incredible and so many people simply take it for granted.  All that He has done for us is lost on so many who think this is just the way it is, no big deal.  But it is a big deal!

   God had no need of this world and all that is in it.  He created it and everything in it out of love.  I’ve come to believe that all good things come from the love God has placed within us.  But we must open ourselves to that love and willingly and generously share it with others.  Love is not meant to be held onto but to be given away.  And the beautiful part is that the more we give away we more we are given.

   Love between a husband and wife in a sacramental marriage is, I think, as close as we will come in this world to loving as God loves.  Think of the beauty that comes from such a union.  The giving of one to another both physically and spiritually is what causes the two to become one.  From that love new life may come, a new soul.  A completely new human being created in the image of God.  From such a love also comes community with others; love shared not just within the family but with all.

   Sunrises, sunsets, new life, sharing the love of God; that’s what He intended for us.  A life that is not selfish nor full of ego, but one of giving ourselves to others in so many ways.  Life properly lived is a beautiful thing, a life of unending love, truly a blessing from God. 

In Your love is our happiness.

The beauty of creation is beyond compare.

Let us always recognize that beauty.

Giving praise and thanksgiving to You.

 

Amen

 Society in Decay 

   “It has always been the characteristic of a society in decay to paint the gates of hell with the gold of Paradise.” (Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, “The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen: 365 Days of Inspiration”) 

   A society that is in moral decay will try to create the impression that all is well.  It may take the form of political actions, the depiction of immorality as moral, and/or distractions to take the peoples mind off the fact that their society is faltering and in danger of falling.

   As the Roman empire began to fall the rulers blamed many things for the decline rather than recognize that they were the fault of immoral and sinful actions.  Some distraced the people with so-called games pitting gladiators in a fight to the death or human beings against wild animals.  Some looked to blame others for their decline, such as Nero did in blaming Christians for the great fire of Rome.

   I fear that our society is in decay and in danger of falling.  We see some of the same actions trying to shift blame or distract the citizenry from the truth.  We have glorified the slaughter of innocent babies in the womb in the name of women’s rights; sexual excess and deviancy is common, any mention of its immorality met with accusations and attacks.  What has always been seen as truth is now considered opinion.

   The entertainment industry glorifies all that is evil, making it seem to be a normal state of being.  Rarely is a loving, faithful marriage depicted, rather we see adultery, cheating and lying.  Violence is a mainstay and the more brutal, the better.  In movies, television, and music, it's all the same.

   As individuals we can hardly effect change on a large scale and those opposing us are many and powerful.  It sometimes seems like a lost cause.  So what are we to do?  We can do what Jesus taught, we can love, pray and live our lives for God.  We may not save our society, but we can save our immortal soul. 

There are many evils Lord.

They seem to be multiplying.

Help us to live as You wish.

Praying for renewal in society.  

Amen

 The Enemy of Prayer 

   “There is nothing the devil fears so much, or so much tries to hinder, as prayer.” (St. Philip Neri) 

   In my book “The Narrow Gate” I wrote, “When we pray, Satan cringes”.  Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have in our battle against the evil one.  He will do most anything to interfere with it.  Wild thoughts come to mind; insignificant ideas abound; unimportant concerns suddenly seem important, needing immediate attention.  Satan will use any means possible to attack us when we are in prayer.  It’s a struggle, but one that must be overcome if we are to pray as we should.

   During my prayer time, I turn off the television, the radio, and I silence my phone.  Still Satan, that enemy of prayer, pushes into my mind.  He reminds me of something I meant to do and forgot or raises other thoughts or concerns in his efforts to draw me from my prayer.  It seems he never gives up.

   Thankfully, I’ve found an answer that most usually works for me.  I quietly and firmly demand he leave me and invoke Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as my defenders.  Satan flees at the sound of their names.

   I know that no matter what I do, the devil will always try to stop prayer in any way possible.  It’s up to me to take control and reject his efforts. 

Satan hates it when I pray.

Defend me Lord.

Give me the strength to turn Him away.

To remain in union with You. 

Amen

 The Strength of Christ 

   I think our impression of Jesus is sometimes limited to the passionate, kind, and loving side of our Lord.  We should see all of these things in Jesus for He is all of these things.  His actions, His preaching, and His way of life demonstrate these qualities far above any we can emulate.

   And yet our Lord also had great strength within Him.  This is the Lord who even the wind and the seas obeyed.  He demanded the expulsion of demons and rebuked Satan himself.

   This is Jesus of Nazareth, who faced down His own towns people when they were angry and threatening to throw Him over the cliff of the town.  “But he passed through them and went away.” (Luke 4: 30).

   He confronted the money changers and merchants who had turned the temple into a marketplace, upsetting their tables and chasing them from the temple with a whip of cords.  He regularly confronted the priests, Pharisees, and Scribes, castigating them for their duplicity.

   He chastised cities for their sinfulness, “Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you Bethsaida!  For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.  But I tell you it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgement than for you.” (Matt 11: 21 -22)

   We should always remember the kindness, mercy, and love Jesus displayed and still shows to all mankind, but we must never forget the strength of Jesus.  It is the strength of truth and righteousness in the face of sinfulness; it is the strength that He will give us if we ask. 

Jesus, Your love is total, given freely to all.

Teach us to love like that.

Lord, Your strength readily confronts evil.

Give us that kind of strength.

 

Amen

 To Heal Society 

   “The danger today is in believing there are no sick people, there is only a sick society.” (Bishop Fulton J. Sheen) 

   It’s easy to blame the ills of our nation or community on society.  However, society is simply a reflection of the people who make up that society.  Society cannot be sick unless the members of that society are sick.

   I think people like to blame everything on society because it is so impersonal.  When we attack society we avoid hurting the feelings of those who are really at fault, those who allow society to go down the path of destruction.  In our world today the most grievous sin seems to be exposing the sins and moral decay of others, so we blame society as a whole.

   Societies have no soul, no eternal life.  There is no heaven or hell for society, but there certainly is for the individuals who make up society.  If we live our life for God our society will reflect that, if we life it for self, society will reflect that as well.  A sick society can only be created by sick people; people who live only for themselves and their desires.

   Throughout history societies have risen and fallen on the hopes and desires of the people.  If those desires are honorable the society will be honorable.  If those desires are selfish and sinful, the society will also be selfish and sinful.  The only cure is God in our hearts. 

Lord, fill us with a love of You.

That we might create a healthy, loving society.

Fill us with love for others.

Let our society reflect that love. 

Amen

 Live This Moment 

   “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today’s troubles are enough for today.”  (Matt 6: 34, RSVCE) 

   When wake up in the morning I have no way of knowing if I will still be alive when it comes time for bed.  When I go to bed at night I have no way of knowing if I will awaken in the morning.  Today or tomorrow are not certain, this moment may be all I have.

   Maybe it’s because my wife has passed, or that I live in a retirement community and attend far too many funerals.  Maybe it’s because St. Benedict, in his rule, advises to always be aware of my mortality.  Whatever the reason I am very much aware that length of life is the domain of God.  There is nothing I can do to change that.  Jesus said, “Even all the hairs of your head are counted.” (Matt 10: 30).  Before I came into existence the length of my life was already decided.

   Some may think this morbid, but it really isn’t.  What I consider morbid is living life as if I will live forever, forgetting that it isn’t up to me, but God.  As I consider the fact of mortality it causes me to be more attentive to living for God rather than self.  If I am to depart this day, I want to be certain that I am prepared spiritually for Jesus to take me to Himself.

   Life is to be enjoyed, and I do enjoy my life.  I love my family and friends and God has blessed me greatly so many ways.  However, my mortal life is limited, so I will plan for eternity rather than worry about tomorrow. 

Father, I thank you for the blessings of this life.

Help me use them according to Your will.

Let me not worry what tomorrow might bring.

But trust in You and plan for eternal life. 

Amen