Are Our Hearts Ready to Welcome Jesus?

07-24-2016Weekly Reflection

The disciples ask Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." What follows in Jesus' response is the very familiar Lord's Prayer. It reminds us that God desires private time with us,
alone, in our rooms and approaching him with an honesty that is found only in the most intimate of friends.
Everyday Discipleship- Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments
My father would always say to me when I was growing up, "Whatever is mine is yours." He was always very generous toward me and, if I am being truthful, probably spoiled me. We were not a rich family by any measure, but I never really wanted for anything. If I asked, I would receive.

In Luke 11, Jesus tells us our heavenly Father is similar to my father, but God is profoundly more generous. However, I am not sure many of us really believe that. When growing up we ask our earthly parents for all sorts of things, some requests being large but many being small. I know my own three children might ask me for anything at any time. If God is more generous with me than I am with my own three children, how come I find myself mostly asking God for things when all my other options have run out or my back is against the wall? We make deals with God in our moment of despair or fear, but when things were great we asked for little or sometimes nothing at all.

We need God and his generosity 365 days a year. Better than that, God wants us to ask for things and learn to rely on him. There is no strength in walking in this world alone. God wants to be the source of all our strength. That is one reason why at every hour of the day, somewhere in the world, Mass is being celebrated and his children are receiving him in the holy Eucharist. If God can become man, die, and rise again, and then humble himself in the elements of bread and wine to be close to you, do you not think he will respond to your everyday simple requests? May God's generosity flow to you in great abundance for his love knows no limits.
Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

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