Today, while listening to my daily podcast, I found myself doing the same thing. And you know what? After the podcast today, I felt like I wanted to keep soaking in all that grace so I turned on the Pandora Gregorian Chant Radio station and I have been listening to it for the past 4 hours.
Every so often, I catch myself taking a really deep breath again, without consciously willing it.
St. Padre Pio is quoted as saying that prayer is like oxygen for Christians. And although I know it to be true in my head, I have not lived it out for most of my life, and yet- when I enter a quiet church, how my heart and soul are at rest! How deeply do I breathe in the grace of those sweet moments!
What I'm trying to say is that in some ways I feel like I'm breathing again, after a long time of suffocation. Perhaps you are experiencing this grace of prayer in your life as well. Are you noticing that you are more conscious of the presence of God throughout the day? Are you aware of silent urgings of the Holy Spirit that you never payed attention to before? Do you notice an increase in your desire for prayer? Is there an ease in putting aside moments for reflection here and there that didn't exist before? Have you noticed an increase in discipline in some areas of your life?
All of these things are fruits of prayer. An overflow of God's grace into your life.
In a way, for me, it feels like I'm breathing again.
"Prayer is the life of the new heart. It out to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget him who is our life and all.... "
"We must remember God more often times than we draw breath."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2697)
Lord, help us to love you more with every breath.
Let us pray...
Day 10 of Prayer Challenge (St.Peter St. Paul Parish)
ReplyDelete8/11/14 – Daily Meditation
In the Scripture Jesus shows his power in two ways. When he healed Peter's mother-in-law, “He took her by the hand and her fever left her” (Mt 8). On this occasion Jesus showed his power by simply healing a sick person. When St. Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh” he begged the Lord that it might leave him. Jesus replied: “My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection” (2 Cor 12). It is often very difficult to know whether healing or continued weakness is more likely to bring us closer to God.
Few of us would not pray for deliverance as Paul did. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have our distress relieved. What Jesus asks of us is trust that he knows what he is doing in our lives.
Prayer:
When I call out to you, Lord, I do believe that you hear me. Increase my faith in your goodness and concern for me. Give me a deep trust in you no matter what happens in my life.
Day 11 of Prayer Challenge (St. Peter St. Paul Parish)
ReplyDeleteAugust 12 — Reflection:
It's a rare person who doesn't have something to worry about and some people worry even when they don't have something to worry about. Their lives are filled with visions of catastro¬phes waiting to happen. No doubt that is more a matter of temperament than of anything else.
A remarkable feature of Jesus' peace is that it doesn't depend on our temperaments or any circumstance. It can overcome any barrier and abide in our hearts even in the presence of true catastrophe. When he visited the apostles in the Upper Room after his resurrection, he found them filled with fears and discourage¬ment. Yet Jesus was able to dispel their grim mood with a few words, conveying his peace (Jn 20). He continues to give his peace to his followers even today. At the very moment when we feel most disturbed he is suddenly present to our minds to assure us that all will be well, for he is with us.
Prayer:
Lord, I believe that your light can penetrate any darkness and that your power can over¬come any obstacle. Nothing in heaven or on earth can separate me from you. Come to me and abide with me this day. I surrender my worries to you