Thursday, April 20, 2017

Stil our Minds



               A simple psalm-prayer:  "Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you.  May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our work give you honor, and our voices celebrate you forever." 

God has blessed each of us with 1,440 minutes in every day, but research shows much of our time goes to sleeping, working and watching TV.  Some say we spend 10% of our time each day to watching TV.  How much time does God get? 
               Among those who consider themselves Catholic, many maintain that they are good Catholics because they have an active prayer life and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We must discover ways to remind ourselves that God is present in our daily lives.  The deepest call of the human heart is to journey home to God.  Prayer can show us the way.  The Holy Spirit invites us, in the words of St. Paul, to " pray without ceasing."  God is present to us 24 hours a day.  It is our awareness of God that needs heightening.  There is a saying in the Upanishads, the scripture of India: "If men and women thought as much about God as they think of the world, who would not attain liberation?"  
               In ancient times, every home had its shrine to the gods and goddess, small altar areas where sacred images were displayed.  The typical home in these times has rooms for all the important activities in life, rooms for eating, sleeping, bathing, storage, etc.  While our entire home is a sacred space where we pray and journey to God in different ways, a special place to pray with a Bible and a sacred image could remind us to pray often and help keep our focus on prayer.
               Jesus said that God is a Spirit and should be worshiped in Spirit and Truth. So in silent prayer we seek to still the endless river of thoughts rushing through our minds, to find the center from which all thoughts arise, the center within, in which peace and the Diving Mystery reside.  Amen, Amen and again Amen.  kvs

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