Month: December 2020

DOING ALL IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD MAKES ALL OF LIFE MORE ENJOYABLE

It has been a really busy week and while I am trying to maintain a balance of order, peace and joy, one thought kept entering my mind as the week slowly unfolded. 

What difference does it make what I do if I do it in the presence of God?

I began realizing that it is one thing to say we believe in something, but our actions give us away as to whether or not we truly believe. If we truly believe God is in us and with us at all times, what would be more important? That we felt accomplished in what we did, felt good about it, enjoyed ourselves while doing it or that we were with God?  I really enjoy crocheting.  If I really enjoyed crocheting and knew I was in the presence of God while doing it, that would make it special. If I was in the presence of God, would washing the dishes be any less enjoyable? What difference would it make as long as I was with God? Would I prefer crocheting to doing the dishes if I knew I would not be with God while crocheting and with Him while doing the dishes? Of course not. I would prefer the dishes because God is the primary focus. He is the reason for our joy. 

I began crocheting a granny square one night.  My plan was to make it large enough to be a sweater/shawl. Then it happened! I made a mistake and the square was totally off. I had to rip out a great deal.  My first thought was to be frustrated and then the question once again arose.  What difference does it make what I am doing if I am doing it in the presence of God? This is a pattern that would continue for days. One day I had to rip out about three rows of work and because I was so far along, it was extensive, but what difference did it make if I was in the presence of God? Was I focusing on being able to complete the project or being with God? I crochet every night so what difference did it make? I was not on a time crunch.  My peace depended on me focusing on the true purpose of crocheting which is being in the presence of God.  I knew I could only lose my peace and my true self if I focused on the project.

I had people over for dinner one night.   Everyone was gone and I was left to do the dishes with my friend and my elderly mother who I wanted to just sit. I truly did not want people to do the dishes with me.  It was my pleasure to serve them, but what difference did it make if I was cleaning the dishes with one other person, myself, or many if I was doing it in the presence of God?  Quickly getting them done because I had help or taking a great deal of time would not have mattered if I was with God.  Would I have been happier to sit and crochet with God instead of cleaning with Him? Not if I truly believe that the priority was simply being in God‘s presence.  If He was my focus, the action, any action, would be secondary. 

 I began seeing more fully what I always say. We are the prayer.

When we are creating, we are creating with the Creator. In some form or another we are always creating. It may be an art project, decorating or even getting dressed or cooking. It may be simple and done daily or it may be solving a complicated problem.  It may be a chore where you are creating a clean space that is accomplished in a way that is unique to you or it may be a method of exercising that you thought of because it, too, works for you.  In any case, we are always creating in the presence of the Creator. We are the prayer. We are an offering of love when we actively serve others, create and use our gifts given to us. In those times we are feeding our souls just as we do in silent prayer and meditations. The meal may be different and affect us differently, but both feed our soul. A similar comparison would be reading.  Some of our readings are spiritual (quiet) and feed our soul. Some feed our brain (active), but in all cases we are taking care of gifts given us. We are the prayer when we do all things with God and glorify Him through them.

And what about those times when we are having to do something we do not enjoy? We are still the prayer. Those are great instances to be used for intercessory prayer and we can do so in peace knowing it doesn’t matter what we are doing because as a prayer the act is only a means to an end. Doing it with God and God being our focus is all that matters. It is there that we find our peace and love. It is there that we find our true self.  We do not want to be someone whose main focus is the achievement or one who is grumbling through the act.  To make an effective prayerful offering of love, we want to be at peace and be love so we can grow in union with Jesus and by that discover our true humanity.  We want to be one who realizes that in all things, what matters most is that we do all in the presence of God.  When we can be mindful of that, we see He never leaves our side so all is enjoyable.

God is everywhere.  We find Him at Church, at home, at work and when we are at play.  He is with us when we are alone or in a crowd.  So the next time you find yourself dissatisfied, put out, frustrated or grumbling because of an activity you would prefer to not have to do, take a pause and ask yourself, “What difference does it make what I am doing if I am doing it in the presence of God?”  

PRAYERFULLY REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES & TALK TO GOD ABOUT THEM 

“I keep the Lord always before me; with Him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.” Psalm 16:8-9

“Where can I go from Your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee?”  Psalm 139:7 

“You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in Your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” Psalm 16:11

“As for me, to be near God is my good, to make the Lord God my refuge.” Psalm 73:28a

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with Psalms.” Psalm 95:2

“One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, to gaze on the Lord‘s beauty, to visit His temple.” Psalm 27:4 

“And He said, ‘My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

ADVENT WEEK 4: The Observer of the Annunciation is in Awe Admiring Mary

As we read scripture, we find ourselves taking on the role of the observer in this magnificent scene that opened the door to our redemption. 

As we enter the fourth and final week of Advent, we can see how we have grown closer to God as we journey closer and closer to Christmas.  Our hearts are open, but we continue to prepare them for the coming of Jesus.  While we prepare to celebrate His birth, we continually pray and reflect on our openness to have room for Him in the inn of our hearts.  When He knocks, we will happily open the door to Jesus.   Celebrating Christmas comes at a set time that we can prepare for, but would we recognize Jesus if He came when we weren’t expecting Him to come?  Just as those in Bethlehem were not expecting Him, the same may one day happen to us as we busy ourselves with our daily responsibilities.  Advent helps us to reflect on our openness to recognizing Him whenever and however He chooses to do so.  

On this fourth week of Advent, I invite you to reflect with me on what it would have been like to have been with Mary when St. Gabriel came and gave his message.  

MY OBSERVATIONS 

As I place myself in the room as an observer, I see that Mary didn’t look at anyone, but God. She didn’t worry about what people would think. She didn’t worry about Joseph’s reaction. She didn’t worry about the hard journey to see Elizabeth.  She only thought of God and giving Him the desires of His heart. She knew He would take care of her needs. After all, that’s what love does. Just as she’s always thinking of Him, He is always thinking of her. As an observer I  can see that Saint Gabriel, Jesus and Mary were all in unison… Desirous of giving God the desires of His heart. God is a mystery. There is always so much more to discover of His infinite love. When Saint Gabriel greeted Mary, she was detached. Because of that, Mary was able to let go of all she knew, all the ways in which she knew God to be, and in doing so she was able to receive Him at a level none would ever expect. All she needed to kNOW was in the present moment of the NOW.  She gained so much for herself and us because she was able to let go of her way of thinking. She did not keep God in the confines of a box. 

QUESTIONS I PONDER

All this makes me wonder.  Am I, in anyway, so set in my ways of defining God and how He acts that I risk closing myself off to discovering more of the mystery of His love? Do I follow my script or His? Am I open to allowing Him the opportunity to move in my life for my good and the good of others or do I close every window because I am certain He only comes through the door? Are my eyes only open to Him coming as a king or am I truly open to Him coming as a baby, as my neighbor, as my boss, as my employee, as an outcast, in tears, in the rich soil of adversity, in the Eucharist, etc. Do I insist on using a map when He sends a star? Do I look for a star when He sends a map? Do I say yes, while in actuality hemming myself in and closing my eyes, thus making it difficult for Him to move in my life?  Do I close off in fear of the darkness and difficulties that may come my way or do I trust that God is love and His love is a mystery? Am I willing to always discover more of God for my good and the good of others? Am I willing to always work on growing in my prayer life so I can recognize He who is a continual  mystery of love? How will I live out being open to the mystery of how God comes to bring His love to me the rest of the Advent week and beyond?

PRAYERFULLY REFLECT ON:

Luke 1:26-38 

Put yourself in the room with Mary when Gabriel comes to deliver his message.  What do you notice about Mary and her reaction?  If you are having difficulty with this exercise, feel free to use my observations above.  Listen to the stirrings of your heart and talk to God about what you have reflected upon. 

What questions might you ponder about your own life after you have reflected upon Mary’s reaction.  If you are having difficulty with these reflections, feel free to use the questions I offered above.  Talk to God about what you have reflected upon.

How can you live the result of these reflections out during this Advent week and as you move forward in life?

ADVENT WEEK 3: A Message of Hope That Would Change Everything

St. Gabriel delivered a message of hope.  What type of messenger are we?

We are entering the third week of Advent.  Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice Sunday!  We are well on our way as we continue to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus.  While we prepare to celebrate His birth, we continually pray and reflect on our openness to have room for Him in the inn of our hearts.  When He knocks, will we happily open the door to Him or keep it closed in fear?   Celebrating Christmas comes at a set time that we can prepare for, but would we recognize Jesus if He came when we weren’t expecting Him to come?  Just as those in Bethlehem were not expecting Him, the same may one day happen to us as we busy ourselves with our daily responsibilities.  Advent helps us to reflect on our openness to recognizing Him whenever and however He chooses to do so.  

On this third week of Advent, I invite you to reflect with me on St. Gabriel, who was given the responsibility of bringing the Father’s message to Mary.  

Saint Gabriel was the angel sent by God to deliver a message that would change the world. What must it have been like to carry that message of hope? What was it like giving a message to someone who was so loved by God? What was it like knowing his words needed to open the heart of Mary so she would say yes and yet not knowing if his words would be received. What thoughts penetrated his heart when her first reaction was one of fear? What was it like being in the middle, between the author of the message and the recipient? What must the anticipation been like?  When Saint Gabriel finished, what was his reception in Heaven like? 

There are times when all of us are in situations that cause us to carry a message of sorts that can change everything for the good if received. In big or small messages, what can I learn from watching Saint Gabriel? How do I handle delivering little messages? What about the bigger ones? How do I view the person I am giving the message to?  When someone has a difficult message to give me, am I aware of their feelings? 

As I prepare for Advent how can I use both great and small messages that I may need to deliver to help me understand Gabriel at the annunciation?  How can this help me draw closer to God?  In disturbing news, can I recognize the difficulty while at the same time delivering it in a hope-filled way knowing hope is a powerful prayer that can change everything? Much to pray and ponder… Saint Gabriel, pray for us.

PRAYERFULLY REFLECT ON:

Luke 1:26-38 

Reflect on each of the bolded questions above as they pertained to how St. Gabriel may have felt as he presented the Father’s message to Mary.  Talk to God about what you have reflected upon. 

Reflect on the bolded questions above as they pertain to your life and how you can relate them to your relationship with Jesus.  Talk to God about what you have reflected on.

How can you live the result of these reflections out during this Advent week and as you move forward in life?

ADVENT WEEK 2: JESUS AWAITS MARY’S YES JUST AS HE AWAITS OURS

Jesus waited in great hope for Mary’s yes.  What must have that wait felt like?  

Advent is well on its way as we continue to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus.  While we prepare to celebrate His birth, we continually pray and reflect on our openness to have room for Him in the inn of our hearts.  When He knocks, will we open the door to Him or let our hearts be filled with fear that the world begs us to focus on?   Celebrating Christmas comes at a set time that we can prepare for, but would we recognize Him if He came when we weren’t expecting Him to come?  Just as those in Bethlehem were not expecting Him, the same may one day happen to us as we busy ourselves with our daily responsibilities.  Advent helps us to reflect on our openness to recognizing Him whenever and however He chooses to do so.  

On this second week of Advent, I invite you to reflect with me on possible thoughts of Jesus as He waited for the Father’s plan for our salvation to unfold.  

Jesus must have been filled with hopeful anticipation as He waited for Saint Gabriel to deliver the message to Mary.  Would Mary want Him? Would she say yes? God the Father had prepared her for this moment, but would she recognize this message as coming from Him? Would the fear of man and the stoning prompt her decision or would she trust in the mercy of God? Would she meet the desire of God’s heart even though by law it could cost her her life?  Would she trust God or man?  In waiting, how did Jesus feel knowing the Father had chosen Mary, someone who was full of grace, to make the decision that would change everything? 

There are times when our next step is determined by someone’s yes or no and we are powerless to do anything, but wait. How do I handle that? Who do I choose to be a part of my life? Are they people I would feel safe about putting my life into their hands?  Can the answer to these questions help me to understand how Jesus may feel when He is awaiting my yes?  What can I learn from sitting with Jesus in His hope filled anticipation? Can I see hope as a powerful prayer?  How can I use what touches my heart through prayerful reflections to practice hope filled anticipation in my life this Advent week as I prepare for Jesus’s coming?

PRAY REFLECT ON:

Luke 1:26-38 

Reflect on each of the bolded questions above as they pertained to how Jesus may have felt as He waited.  Talk to God about what you have reflected upon. 

Reflect on the bolded questions above as they pertain to your life and how you can relate them to your relationship with Jesus.  Talk to God about what you have reflected on.

How can you live the result of these reflections out during this advent week and as you move forward in life?