Monday, March 7, 2016
Isaiah, Chapter
57, verse 11
Whom did you
dread and fear, that you told lies,
and me you did not remember nor take to heart? Am I to keep silent and conceal,
while you show no fear of me?
Christ is
calling us to ignore the lies the world and those who are too cool to repent.
Our Gods love is so strong that he will no longer allow us to continue in
our sinfulness. He wants and demands we get with the program. “This
is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe
in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Bishop
Fulton Sheen stated in one of his weekly addresses in February 1999 entitled
"Truth - Forgotten Ideal":
Submission
is one of the deepest needs of the human heart. After a century and a half of
false liberalism, in which it was denied that anything is true, and that it
makes no difference what you believe, the world reacted to totalitarianism. It
grew tired of its freedom, just as children in progressive schools grow tired
of their license to do whatever they please. Freedom fatigues those who want to
shirk responsibility. Then it is they look for some false god into whose hands
they can throw themselves, so they will never have to think or make decisions
for themselves. Nazism, Fascism, and Communism came into being during the
twentieth century, as a reaction against false liberalism.
Mental
Prayer[1]
Mental
prayer according to St. Teresa of Avila is nothing more than, “A close sharing
between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we
know loves us.” Mental prayer is the raising of our mind to God in a quiet
intimate conversation. We acquire the “mind of Christ” (I Cor. 2:16) by
spending time in his company, in quiet, intimate conversation. We need to set
time aside for mental prayer (20 minutes should be the minimum) Most of that
time we should be listening for God’s word in our soul. The best place for our
conversations is before the Blessed Sacrament but any quiet place with few
distractions will do. It is best to begin by making an “act of the presence of
God” which is a short prayer addressing God and acknowledging his presence. During
our time with the Lord we should tell him about the things of our heart, what
we think we are doing well and not so well and what are our concerns. We may
bring along a Bible or spiritual book to discuss with our Lord. It is always a
good idea to invite the Mother of Christ into the conversation. Mental Prayer can
be a one shot deal but it is always better when we set aside time every day for
our conversation with God.
Mental
Prayer was the premise of my book, “Coffee
with Christ” here is an excerpt from the book.
The idea of this book is to seek friendship with God through
Christ, the Holy Spirit and His mother-Mary.
Prayer is, in its purest sense, a personal journey or intimacy with Our
Lord. There is no greater help in our life’s journey in this world than through
friendship with Jesus Christ and His mother.
The imaginary premise of this book is to have a regular
“Coffee Clutch” with Christ and gather for coffee and conversation through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Ideally this book will serve as encouragement
for you to enter into your own “coffee clutch” with Christ. Having a regular or
daily set time or appointment to meet and discuss with Him your hopes, dreams, plans
and goals. To bear your heart to Him: To just sit down with Christ and talk,
laugh, and enjoy each other’s company, over a cup of coffee and to make the
common Holy and grow in the love and likeness to our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. The plan of the journal is to talk with Christ over the next 30 days
and enjoy a cup of coffee with Him and contains my personal reflections with
Him. Ideally this little saga of mine will inspire you to have the habit of
talking intimately with our Lord yourself and I will at the end of my
reflections in this book include 10 days of questions for your own “Coffee Clutch”
with Christ. The forty days (30 + 10) in
this journal are ideally suited for reflection during the season of Lent;
however, it is also suitable for anytime during the year.
Note: This journal is
merely my own reflections on spiritual matters and may or may not be in accord
with the magisterium of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
[1]
Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap.
37. Mental Prayer.
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