Bernard Bro writes:
It is not we who wait for God, and draw God's attention, but it is God who awaits us. It is not we who are anxious to see God realize our desires, but it is God who wishes to enter into our plans, and to invest us with God's own strength. And in prayer it is God who anticipates us, giving us an opportunity to work for and with God, in the absolute certainlty of success.
This is the first response of God, the secret of our hope, and what should be the foundation of our certitude.
In this connection, it seems that too often we believe that the essential element in hope is the desire to possess happiness and to possess God. Yet the essential role of hope is not primarily the desire for beatitude, but the assurance that God comes to our aid.
These words carry a profound truth...we want God to be there for us. Heaven is fine, but heaven is the end hope. Right here and now, hope consists of God being there for me.
As monastics say at the beginning of liturgy, "Oh God, come to my assistance, O Lord, come to my aid."
May God be with us today and come to our aid.
Nice thoughts! This reminds me of something that Mary Baker Eddy, a 19th century Christian writer wrote in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "Semper paratus is Truth's [God's] motto." I've realized that the goal of prayer isn't to get God to listen to me and grant my request, but to get me to listen to what God is already saying about the situation. I also love Isaiah 65:24 says about this topic: "..before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
ReplyDeleteOh, but how hard it becomes, at times, to trust that God is there behind us. To just fall and fully believe He will catch us.
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed that, often times, it isn't until weeks later that I realize that God truly was with me during certain situations, that His light was shining on the dreariest of situations---
In Fr. Raol Plus's book "How to Pray Always" He emphasizes, more than once, that if we simply turn our thoughts to Him, He will then in turn show us the grace which he bestows us at that moment. To see the good being worked in all--it takes time to reach this level of constant prayer, and it is even harder to maintain it too (especially in a customer service field) but when he shows His presence. It is profound. Well profound to us who are continuously in dialogue---err monologue, with Him.
Trust. Patience. Prayer. And FAITH.