Listening | DAILY PRAYERS

07/10/201823/05/2023

Praying – Daily

The Gospel gives glimpses of Jesus’ daily pattern when he was on missionary journeys around the Holy Land. He began each day at prayer with his Father and ended the day in the same way.

Beautifully simple. “Today, Father, I shall take your love to the people in what I say and do . . . Thank you, Father, for the day drawing to its close. I have spoken and acted in your love and offer all I am to you . . .”

We can make each day like that: begin with God in prayer and end with God in prayer, and at quiet times during the day ask God’s blessing and guidance.

It would be similar to what many of you experience at home: going your various ways in the morning, loving and thinking of the family in the course of the day, joy at being together in the evening and sharing your day. It comes naturally, doesn’t it?

So with Jesus it would have come naturally to begin and end his day with his Father but aware all through the day of the love they shared for each other and their care for all the world.

Such a simple pattern is yours if you want it to be. No one can prevent you except you, and why would you not want to begin and end the day with God?

Give God the time and God will fill it for you with thoughts and memories. Turn them into prayer, thanking God for joyful memories, expressing sorrow and regret for unpleasant ones or gratitude that you came through them.

Whatever and whomever come to your mind are signs of what you carry within you. They are there in the stillness of being with God. Be glad to make every memory, hope, fear, joy, regret, a prayer.

If you discover you are restless, bored, uneasy, you have discovered something about yourself. You are not a good listener. Prayer is listening to God, to your heart. As in conversation: if you do all the talking, you learn nothing – you simply want to impose your opinion on everyone else. Listening to God and others is learning from them.

We have to learn prayer. If we don’t pray we are running away, hiding from God by pretending to be busy. We do it to others, too. People know how to make time for romance. Then we can make time for prayer, can’t we?

God bless you with peace – morning, evening and during the day.

Fr John
(7th October 2018)

Related Links: Popular Reads and Fr John’s Parish Newsletters

24/04/201603/06/2023

The Ferrari

A young man was getting ready to graduate from University. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him the car was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, “With all your money you give me a Bible?” He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realising his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make the arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he was reading, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words… “PAID WITH THANKS”.

Reflection

How often do we miss out because we put ourselves first? Are we really more important than anyone else? Understanding and patience, they are great virtues!

God is a loving God. Having God as a friend is more valuable than any possible material wealth. But to love God we must love everyone and be a little humble. Our rewards will be great.

30/01/201603/06/2023

God Said, “No”

I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, “No”.
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, “No”.
He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience, and God said, “No”.
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation, it isn’t granted, it’s earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, “No”.
He said He gives blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain, and God said, “No”.
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said, “No”.
He said I must grow on my own, but he would prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me, and God said, “Yes”.
He gave me His only Son who died for me, and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me.
And God said, “Ah, finally, you have the idea”.

Reflection

Small yellow coloured Cross surrounded by lilies

Don’t forget, when God says, “No,” He is helping!