I'm gradually coming to believe that half of this "spiritual life" is just a matter of getting out of the way. The Spirit is a wind that blows where he will, and God's word will not return to him empty, but will accomplish the thing for which he sent him. (John 3.8; Isaiah 55.10,11)
Our prayer is as much about removing our silly preconceptions about what's really wrong, and what God ought to do about it (Romans 8.26) as it is about letting our hearts become aligned with God's, so that we truly will ask according to his will (1 John 5:14-15) knowing that we are heard in the very act of praying.
God is gracious and merciful, and his compassion is over all that he has made (Psalm 145.8,9), and he waits to know the longing of our hearts for mercy (Micah 6.6-8). Our Lord is gentle and humble in heart, and he longs to give our souls rest (Matthew 11.28). All we need is to let him be himself in us. Only that. In that we have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer we who live, but he who lives in us (Galatians 2.19.20) - for only at the foot of the Cross, beside our grieving Lady, do we have refuge, and find mercy.
2 comments:
Oh, Mike, this is good -- those first two paragraphs are tapping right into the homily I am writing for Sunday, and which is turning out to be about discernment.
You've given me something upon which to meditate for tonight and for tomorrow's morning walk. Thank you.
Blessed Lent to you.
How interesting that I skipped over the third paragraph. Mostly because I was so struck by the first two, but we do tend to avoid the Cross, don't we? Fortunately one of our blogging friends, Paul maybe, quoted that third paragraph. Thank you, Mike. Peace.
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