Luke 19: 41-44 You Did Not Recognize
After I had finished my meditation, I received a special grace (“miracle”). Although I was feeling horrible, I had made a commitment to celebrate Mass for the cloistered sisters of Mt. Carmel. I packed my items and headed towards my car. I went into my garage, started my car and pushed the button to open the garage door. It didn’t open. I could see that it was trying to open, but the spring had broken. Sometime during the night, the spring snapped and made it, literally, impossible to open the garage door. I couldn’t believe it. I tried opening the garage door manually and it was impossible: too heavy. After trying to solve the problem for fifteen minutes I finally gave up. I called the sisters and apologized that I wouldn’t be able to make it to Mass. I went back to bed! For me, this was a special grace and an incredible reminder, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
This is true for me as it is for you.
The life of a priest is not the same as the life of a lay person. Four years ago I made a Lenten resolution. I would give up free time for Lent. I made good on it. Kept a demanding schedule and followed through. I thoroughly enjoyed it. After Lent was over I kept it up. Of course I put in moments of prayer, relaxation, reading and studying. But the life of a priest is none other than to give Christ to others. We are all called to holiness. We are all called to be Saints. But the priest is called in a very special way to bring Christ. When I visit a patient in the hospital, I bring Christ through the anointing. When I celebrate Mass, I bring Christ through me, with me and in me. When I baptize a child, it is Christ that baptizes. When I hear a confession, it is the Lord that forgives sins. The priest is not like Christ. The priest is another Christ. Although this may scandalize a few, it is a reminder why the priest abuse charges was and is a scandal! We are called to be ALTER CHRISTUS. “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” Today’s responsorial psalm is so fitting: The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God! (Rev. 5:10)
The Lord speaks to us, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.” At the end of our day, what will bring us peace? Will it be death (Rest in peace)? No. At the end of our day only Christ will bring us peace. He is the Creator of the days. He is the Master of time. Many times, throughout the day, the Lord remains hidden from us. We should know better. We are not at the end of the tunnel. We are in the middle of the tunnel where it is dark, terrifying and lonely. We should all know better. The Lord says I walk with you. I guide you along the way. You serve me as I serve you.
The Lord provides the graces we need. But we are free to respond to them with a yes or no; with peace or interior turmoil; with a smile or with a frown. I wish I always responded with a resounding YES, with PEACE in my heart and a big smile on my face because I know, in the end, the Lord will always provide…“If this day you only knew!”
Heavenly Father, you alone know the hearts of your faithful people. Enkindle in each one of us the fire of your Holy Spirit. May your visitation today be a welcomed comfort, a guiding light, a loving touch and a firm hand in the moments of discomfort, darkness and confusion. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Yes!!! Beautiful! Thank you. Thank you for your meditations. I look forward to them everyday.
ReplyDeleteAmen...bless you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt all makes sense now. You consider time between appointments 'free time'!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I never really knew what real peace was. Growing up, I would have thought it was silence in our home, but even then, with the little silence that came, the air was filled with anxiety and turmoil. You know the kind that is thick with unrest.
ReplyDeleteAs I got older I used the word, but I had no idea what it meant, peace be with you, world peace, peace and quiet, love, joy and peace at Christmas…but it was just a word, an idea, nothing I ever really considered as important.
It has not been until very recently that I have experienced true peace and I think that of all the ‘feelings’ or whatever category it fits into, it is at the top of how I want to live my life. In peace, in His peace. And for me, I think I’ve finally figured out how to get it. I’ve been trying it out, it’s not easy, but it’s simple and it truly gives me peace.
I have discovered that when I comply with God’s will, I am in peace.
Every single time I do ‘my own thing’, when He’s made His will known to me, I suffer, sometimes not right away, but eventually I suffer.
Just yesterday, I realized that I said no to God for something he asked me to do, over and over and over for maybe the last 3 to 5 years, something that he gave me the opportunity, the tools and the graces to comply with, and finally, he had enough. He sent someone important into my life to put me on the right path and then he took that person away. You might wonder where is the peace there? Well, the peace didn’t come right away, and I’ve discovered peace doesn’t always mean I have no pain, no regrets and no sorrow. For me, looking back, I can see so clearly how patient He has been, how He loved me through my ‘delayed’ obedience, how He never gave up on me and how deep His forgiveness runs. It’s like confession. I’ve been in the middle of this wild storm of confusion, turmoil, unrest, anxiety…. and then, when I conform to His will and let go of trying to control it, when I repent and hand it over to Him, the winds die down, the sun comes out and the water is still. I can only see the destruction behind me down the river as I am floating away from it. Though the pain and sorrow is still there, there is peace. I don’t want to lose this peace. I’m trying to remember this every single time He asks me to do something I don’t want to do or when I try to control or manipulate it. And it is not seldom.
It is interesting how God figures out unique ways to get his way. First he had to make you sick to get you to rest but that wasn't enough, so he had to break your garage door.
ReplyDeleteI have been noticing in my life, when I don't listen to God and do what he asks and he has to repeat himslef, he gets 'louder' and 'louder'. Not quite like a mom, but with more power and authority for sure!
And it seems like, the closer I get, the more he asks.
Beautiful Meditation Father!
ReplyDeleteGod's Peace is being felt everywhere! This is a new day! You are a wonderful Godly man! A wonderful role model to all Christians!
You are in this families prayers!
To Anonymous,
I know when I have experienced the greatest sorrow or turmoil in my life, I love to read that wonderful "footprints" poem over and over again.
Truth is Truth...He was carrying me, when I thought I was alone. He heard my cries, wiped my tears, made me die to myself so I would be His and only His, forever.
I am not always obedient at first, heck, I am only human. But in the end, I will always said "yes" to Him and His will for my life.
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most,you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you."
Hopefully, God will allow this important person back in your life someday. Only God knows.
You are also in our prayers.
To other anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers and for sharing "Footprints" with me. I have read it many times and even have a framed copy on my wall, but it has never had more meaning than reading it just now.
I have been going back over my life recently trying to find where He was when I needed him the most and he didn’t seem to be there. I'm finding that He was there, but He is so uninvasive that He stood back and waited for my call, which never came. And he was there with tears streaming down his cheeks watching how His gift of free will was being abused. Even though He could not intervene, he was there holding me, reminding me that I was loved and lovable. Too bad I had already decided not to trust.
But it’s not over yet. I’m not an old dog! I can learn new tricks! And His grace is flowing like the dam just broke.
To All Anonymous comments today:
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing your thoughts!
As humans with a finite understanding it is sometimes very hard to understand the INFINITE plans of God. I was up until the wee hours of the night talking with a very close friend who cannot 'feel' the presence of God amidst so many trails. This friend 'knows' God exists and cares for us, but is not experiencing a tangible reassurance of it…I believe God allows some to walk very closely with him on the road to Calvary, and of them he asks tremendous trust and an even greater love. But to my friend I could only listen...and I began to wonder why God doesn't at least 'fix' one, just one, of the littlest of my friend’s problems. Just to lighten the seemingly crushing load ever so slightly… It is easy to let an apathetic and cynical outlook on life overcome us. But Christ did not suffer a brutal death so that we could 'just accept' life, or see it as series of days to be endured until we are buried in the grave. NO! He gave himself to us, his creatures, in the most complete act of love, so that we may know the fullness of joy and beauty! It is when we suffer that we have the greatest opportunity to share in the Divine love. Suffering no longer has to make us apathetic and cynical! Rather, in uniting our suffering to Christ's most perfect suffering, all life can become beautiful and filled with meaning. We are never left alone when we suffer with Christ. When we walk with him to Calvary.
Thank you very much! I now remember how to be a better friend...by giving the crucifix!
-Jessica
Don't get that spring fixed; we can stay in bed all day! Whooo-whoo! Seriously though, your recap on being a Priest and what it really is makes being Catholic so awesome! Zzz.
ReplyDelete