Daily Retreat 07/23/09
2009 Jul 23 Thu:Ordinary Weekday/ Bridget of Sweden, mw, rf
Ex 19:1-2.9-11.16-20/Dn 3:52-56/Mt 13:10-17
From today’s readings:“Go to the people and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow.... Glory and praise for ever!... Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear....”
Preparing for the Lord
Although “preparing for the Lord” is indeed the central theme of Advent, Sacred Scripture records many times when God’s people were instructed to prepare themselves for particular revelations from God, such as Chapter Nineteen of Exodus, which details the preparations for God’s delivery of the Ten Commandments in the next chapter.
We all hate to be caught unprepared, whether that be for a visitor, a test, or some timely opportunity. God’s self-revelation to us is all three: He visits us personally, giving rise to the greatest decisions of our life for Him or against Him, and the consequences of our decisions. Even when warning us that His final coming will be like a thief in the night, the Lord at least does warn us to be prepared for Him!
So preparation is clearly in order for all of our encounters with God, whether He comes to us in Scripture, Sacrament, prayer, others in need, or at the end of our earthly existence. So before reading the Word of God, for instance, we can say a quick prayer asking the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts and minds to make the most of that encounter with God. Similarly, by arriving just a few minutes early on Sunday, we can prepare ourselves for His gift of Himself in the Eucharist. Every time we meet the Lord, we have so much to gain by spending a little time and effort to prepare for Him...
Ex 19:1-2.9-11.16-20/Dn 3:52-56/Mt 13:10-17
From today’s readings:“Go to the people and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow.... Glory and praise for ever!... Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear....”
Preparing for the Lord
Although “preparing for the Lord” is indeed the central theme of Advent, Sacred Scripture records many times when God’s people were instructed to prepare themselves for particular revelations from God, such as Chapter Nineteen of Exodus, which details the preparations for God’s delivery of the Ten Commandments in the next chapter.
We all hate to be caught unprepared, whether that be for a visitor, a test, or some timely opportunity. God’s self-revelation to us is all three: He visits us personally, giving rise to the greatest decisions of our life for Him or against Him, and the consequences of our decisions. Even when warning us that His final coming will be like a thief in the night, the Lord at least does warn us to be prepared for Him!
So preparation is clearly in order for all of our encounters with God, whether He comes to us in Scripture, Sacrament, prayer, others in need, or at the end of our earthly existence. So before reading the Word of God, for instance, we can say a quick prayer asking the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts and minds to make the most of that encounter with God. Similarly, by arriving just a few minutes early on Sunday, we can prepare ourselves for His gift of Himself in the Eucharist. Every time we meet the Lord, we have so much to gain by spending a little time and effort to prepare for Him...
posted by FrPitstick | 7/18/2009
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