25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A - 24th September 2017
“Dear God I’m afraid of you!”
Once I told my spiritual director that I was afraid of God and how God would judge me. She asked me to tell of my fear in my prayer to God. So one day I said: “Dear God I’m afraid of you” I could not repeat it! It was as if God smiled at me and said, “Michael, how could you be afraid of me.” Yet, I’m moved to tears thinking how much he loves me and how unworthy I am.
When God is absent
Mother (Saint) Teresa of Calcutta felt abandoned by God. She even felt God did not exist and did not want her. Holy things meant less and less to her – even heaven had no meaning. Yet she was tortured in her desire for God. Archbishop Anthony Bloom of Russia once said: “The day when God is absent and can no longer be found, that is the day God is closest to you.” That is the day you abandon yourself in trust to God.
Allow God to find you, as you are and as to how you are - For your meditation.
Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me as I seek, because I can neither seek you if you do not teach me how, nor find you unless you reveal yourself. Let me seek you in desiring you; let me desire you in seeking you; let me find you in loving you; let me love you in finding you.
- From St. Anselm, Office of Readings, Friday, Advent Week One.
Key phrases from today’s readings to help with prayer:
“Seek the Lord while he may be found.” from the prophet Isaiah.
“The Lord is close to all who call him.” Psalm 144.
“I want to be gone and with Christ����� St. Paul in the letter to the Philippians.
“Why be envious because I am generous?” Matthew 20: 1-16.
Fr. Michael McCullugh C.M.