| March 1, 2012 Dear Family of Mary! "Dear children! At this time, in a special way I call you: 'pray with the heart'. Little children, you speak much and pray little. Read and meditate on Sacred Scripture, and may the words written in it be life for you. I encourage and love you, so that in God you may find your peace and the joy of living. Thank you for having responded to my call." (February 25, 2012) "Little children, you speak much and pray little." Our Lady has often contrasted the amount of words we use with the amount of prayer we pray. If we could make a chart and measure our idle chatter and long discussions about life against the amount of time we spend in conversation with God, we might be surprised. There is nothing wrong with normal conversation, because it builds relationships and creates friendship and joy. But, the relationship we need to nurture the most is our relationship with God. How can we respond to this message? Scripture holds many great examples for us. The Gospel for today is a good one. It is Queen Esther in prayer, interceding for her people: Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the LORD. She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: "God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you. Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O LORD, my God. "And now, come to help me, an orphan. Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish. Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness." (Est. C:12, 14-16, 23-25)
Queen Esther gathered herself entirely, and placed herself in God's hands in this prayer. She stayed in prayer for a long time, in order to wait on Him. Her deep prayer of intercession was heard, and all of Israel was spared. If we could imitate her, even for 10 minutes a day, and go before the Lord is complete surrender, abandonment and trust, we could open the gates of heaven from which graces are poured out upon the world. We could help Our Lady to bring about her plan for the salvation of souls. This may be what the Lent is all about! In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012 | 
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.