This is from my 2006 Prayer Journal. I think you will enjoy it.
Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. "Preparing the Heart." "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." ( Psalm 103:12 ) Confession does for the soul what preparing the land does for the field. Before the farmer sows the seed he works the acreage, removing rocks and pulling stumps. He knows seed grows better if the land is prepared. Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our hearts. "There is a rock of greed over here Father, I can't budge it. And that tree of guilt near the fence? It's roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?" God's seeds grow better if the soil of the heart is cleared. And so the Father and the Son walk the field together, digging and pulling, preparing the heart for fruit. Confession invites the Father to work the soil of the soul. (Max Lucado's book of inspirational thoughts titled, " Grace.") This is from my 2006 Prayer Journal. I think you will enjoy it.
Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. "Preparing the Heart." "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12) Confession does for the soul what preparing the land does for the field. Before the farmer sows the seed he works the acreage, removing rocks and pulling stumps. He knows seed grows better if the land is prepared. Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our hearts. "There is a rock of greed over here Father, I can't budge it. And that tree of guilt near the fence? It's roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?" God's seeds grow better if the soil of the heart is cleared. And so the Father and the Son walk the field together, digging and pulling, preparing the heart for fruit. Confession invites the Father to work the soil of the soul. (Max Lucado's book of inspirational thoughts titled, "Grace.") "Pray always, every day."
This week's contribution is from my 2002 Prayer Journal. Prayer has changed my life in so many ways. I thank God for the authors who share their reflections in "Forward Day by Day," a daily devotional. I recommend them to you. St. John's provides a number of copies every three months, or you can subscribe to FDBD and they will mail them to your home. That's what I do. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. "Then Jesus told them in a parable about their need to pray always, and not lose heart" Luke 18: 1-8. This can be a hard life, following Jesus. The more we live into the life to which he called us, the more we can find ourselves alienated from the world in which we live. This world does not favor the radical message He offered: love those who hate you. See everyone as a brother or sister. Think first of feeding the poor, clothing the naked, healing the sick, visiting prisoners, taking care of widows and orphans. Seek first this enigmatic Kingdom of God, where all the rules are so different. It can be a hard road to follow. I find that although I am always inspired and moved by my reading and worship, in the day in and day out of my life this is not enough to sustain me. There are days when it seems just too much; when I have seen one too many tragic stories, one too many victims of indifference or greed. The only way I can return, day after day is to pray. My discipline of prayer has changed, as time has passed. Yet whatever form it takes, I know that if I do not pray daily, I will begin to feel lost, overwhelmed. I need this direct connection with the Holy One in order to be grounded. Without it, I can lose heart. Pray always, every day. Save even a few moments for prayer, and lives, yours and others, will change in ways that astound you and glorify God." ( Forward Day by Day, Nov. 22, 2002 ) "For a Christian the all is Jesus..."
This is from my 2013 Prayer Journal. I really like it. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. "For a Christian the all is Jesus. The Christian is the one who enlarges their heart by this kindness. They have the all which is Christ; the other things are nothing. Following Jesus is not easy, but it's not difficult either, because along the road of love the Lord enables us to walk on, the Lord also enlarges our hearts. The nothing (disputes, family disputes, disputes in society, disputes that lead to war) leads us to selfishness. And the all is Jesus, the great one. May he enlarge our hearts and make us gentle and kind because we will have every thing in him. That will keep us from creating daily problems about nothing." |