Bernini’s Holy Spirit at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy, 2011
“Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8
Living in constant prayer sounds like a figure of speech, an unattainable goal, a myth, even a luxury. But, is it? Spending time in daily prayer and stillness before Our Lord is a must for survival in this world. It is our link to the other world God has so lovingly prepared for us. Heaven patiently awaits each and every one of us. We live and wait in our orbital path until the day He calls us to Him. He is at the center of our orbit; He is our goal.
Spending time in prayer with Him is like taking a vacation, a trip to visit where we will someday retire. In stillness before Him, we listen to His wishes for our journey, we discover our itinerary and learn what He needs us to do before we can actually retire! Reading in and studying in His word is like reading the road map for our trip; it tells how to get there. Just like on a real trip, we must stop periodically to consult the road map. We must make sure we are on the right road.
Most of us don’t have the luxury of spending great amounts of time on our knees in prayer. We have jobs and family responsibilities that pull us out into this world even though we might wish to remain in the ‘other’ world. While we may not be to able to remain kneeling in prayer, we can live in prayer. When we offer up all that we are, think, do and say to Our Lord, our thoughts and actions become linked to Him in a way that is very pleasing to Him. We remain in constant prayer! Most of us envision Saints as holy people who lived in prayer. Yes, they did, but the key word is live. They went about their daily tasks and lives as they offered all up to God, remaining constantly in His Sight, and thereby His Grace.
Being Holy is something each one of us is called to, and is something each one of us is capable of achieving in our own everyday, normal life routines. None of us start out as Saints! We must train our minds to live and work in constant prayer. It is good to say a prayer at the very start of each day offering up all of the day’s prayers, works, joys, sacrifices and sufferings. I also include, “Lord, I offer up to you all that I am, and all that I am not, for I know your Holy Spirit will see where I am lacking and make it complete in your Sight.” Throughout the day, especially when feeling stressed or inadequate, we can call to mind our offering. We recommit knowing He will always take our efforts and bless them, making us Holy in His Sight. May God bless each and every one of us as we strive to be Holy, to live in constant prayer.
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