25/02/2021 Thursday, First Week of Lent
Remember Matthew 7: 7-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find;
knock, and the door will be opened to you.
For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds;
the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.
Reflection Best type of prayer
A walk in the hills or by the sea, or in the local park or just around the block,
whether the weather is sunny, stormy or calm, wet or dry, hot or cold,
It is good for the spirit and always has something to offer especially
– in these dreadful Covid 19 days.
But only if we to allow ourselves to be influenced by
what we see, hear, feel and touch around us
– openness is the key, mindfulness the door.
P.S. Mindfulness is
deliberately bringing our attention
into in the present moment
with open-hearted awareness and
an attitude of kindness.
Similarly with prayer –
when we go to God in prayer we are always offered something.
We place ourselves in the presence of God’s mysterious life,
We listen for his words (c/f his words in red above)
God’s love and concern is always there for the asking.
Even when we ask for something specific that may not be in His gift, we need to maintain our openness to His will. We need to realise that something else, maybe even better, may be on offer.. ‘Your will be done’ was how Jesus prayed in Gethsemane –
This is the key to prayer.
Story Planting for the future
One of the stories of the Talmud, (a book which records the old traditions of the Jewish teachers), tells of a certain child named Onias who watched an old man planting carob trees, on which grow popular locust beans. Onias asked him how long it would be before the trees would bear fruit. ‘About 70 years’ replied the old man. ‘Then why plant them?‘ asked Onias. The old man replied ‘When I was a boy there were carob trees which my grandfather and father planted’ said the man. ‘Now it is my turn’ (Kenneth Payne, What shall I say, www.columba.ie)
Poem
I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.
I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice—and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.
All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.
(Joseph Mary Plunkett)
Prayer Open our eyes
Lord,
open our eyes today
to our blindness, and
to readily accept your gifts and
to our need to gift others generously and compassionately.
as you do to us. Amen
