View attachment 7719 Self-Absorption Do not give in to feelings of discouragement. This causes you to focus even more on yourself and on your limitations. Rather, look to Me. Seek My Face and rely on the faithful love of My Heart for you ….What I ask of you is to trust in my merciful love. In Sinu Jesu Pg. 79 (7/24/08) Failure is a constant in my life as a Christian. In Proverbs, it says that the just man will fall seven times a day and rise again (Proverbs 24:16). That is not a small number. This applies to actual sin, but also to the calamities that happen to all of us, be they small ones or big. One thing I can count on is to be inconstant, lazy, bored and sometimes filled with fear and dread. I believe it is part of the human condition and the only way to stop the cycle is to simply look to the Lord in trust and continue or to begin again. To not fear the obstacles that flare up from within, or from the world around us. Jesus says that “Fear is useless, what is needed is trust” (Luke 8:50). It is an easy thing to pronounce but rather hard to actually embrace and live out. When anyone starts on a new path, seeking new insights into life and its meaning, it can cause some inner conflict. For if this new life is wanted, then what goes against that has to be let go of. St. Paul used the analogy of those who compete in athletics. In order to succeed a great deal of discipline has to be embraced or there will be little chance of one’s dreams working out. The same goes for faith. Jesus asked us to look at him, much the same way that Peter did when walking on the water (Matthew 14:29). It must have been frightful for him, yet as long as he looked to Jesus he was able to make one perhaps halting step at a time. When he got self-absorbed and looked at his feet he began to sink. Yet the Lord reached out and grasped him by the hand and lifted him up. Peter’s lesson is one I believe that has to be learned over and over again, at least by me.--Br.MD
The very heart of the mystical life, to keep our eyes on the Lord in prayer. Someone asked Padre Pio one time about his extraordinary life to which he answered, 'I was only a humble Friar who liked to pray'. Which pretty well sums it all up. Everything springs from the interior life.
Discouragement can disrupt our inner spiritual life. This morning I was struggling with the sudden disruption caused by car troubles. Once the outer schedule of the day begins to crumble, one's inner equilibrium comes under assault, too! My spiritual recollection proved itself to be very shallow, and discouragement reared it's ugly head. Then I came across your brief meditation. Praise God!
We are powerless over mechanical disruptions Lol Like in AA, powerless over people, places, and things Car troubles are high up on the disruption list Lol
I think somethings can be helped and some things can't. For instance I am often very tired at prayer in Church , or at mass especially during homilies. I fell into a kind of daze the other week at mass and ki9nd of woke to the priest staring down at me and saying. 'Maybe I bore some people with my homilies , but often congregations bore me too!' I am afraid I laughed, which didn't help matters. St Teresa of homily says we should not blame ourselves for accidental distractions like falling asleep. Deliberate distractions are different. If for instance we were to bring our duvet to Church on purpose it might be different. Of if we use our smartphone to roam or strike up conversations. But things like, say, day dreaming St Teresa compares to swarms of little bees which we should guide gently back into the hives. But bees , like thoughts will always try to roam. We can only do our best to guide them back.
Working the night shift at my age does not help But I don't think the rest of the congregation noticed it was myself he was talking about; although having just woken up from a happy doze I think I neither knew nor cared It makes me think more kindly of the Apostles who went snoring in the Garden of Gethsemane.
