Fr. Jacob's October 2015 Newsletter Message

My soul in silence waits

Prayer does not benefit God. He has no needs that we can possibly fulfill. When we tell ourselves we have no time to pray or place another good above worship, it's not the Lord we hurt. We bruise ourselves.

So imagine this:

You are sitting or kneeling in a quiet room. Your cell phone is off, in another room. There are so many things to be done. The thoughts crowd your mind, like a babble of voices. You must do something so simple. Just begin to notice your breathing. You breathe in. The air brushes your nose and lips. You feel it. You breathe out. You breathe in. Your chest contracts. You breathe out. The breath passes over your tongue. Perhaps you feel its warmth. Notice. Just something simple. Breathe in. Breathe out. Just notice. It's so simple. Around you now, just the sound of breathing and then the silence of the room. Such deep quiet. Breathe in. Breathe out. Just listen. Just notice.

Sweet Jesus, perhaps for a brief while the crowd of voices that fill your mind is stilled. Listen. In the silence, beyond your own chatter, is another Presence. Himself still. Not chattering. Not restless. Listen. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Listen

"You are loved". "Do not fear."

Imagine that.

What would it be to live out of that still trust in the Holy Trinity? To give oneself over and over again not to listen to your own ceaseless chatter but to the Lord. The Spirit burns within, fiery and warming. Listen.

the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

There are many ways of praying. I asked you to imagine one. Perhaps it will be helpful or perhaps another way will work better for you but know this, prayer and worship do not benefit God, he gifted you everything good that is part of your life. Prayer and worship are for you.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

Blessings,

Fr. Jacob