Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Book 4 Chapter 15: That the Grace of Devotion is Obtained by Humility and Devotion

“You must seek the grace of devotion with perseverance, waiting for it with patience and confidence, gratefully receiving it, humbly keeping it, and carefully using it.”

I am currently on work camp with several young adults and high school teenagers.  Last night they had the opportunity to share something that they wanted or needed in their faith life. Almost every single person asked for the grace to be more devoted and connect to Christ. The general theme of their comments focused on doubt and the need to be more connected to their faith.  Their desire to be more connected came with great passion from their heart longing to be united with Christ.  If only they knew just how beautiful their desires where. Many of them felt that their faith life was flat and that they were struggling with their beliefs.  The fact that they were able to humble themselves to ask for this grace in front of their piers was exceptional beyond words.  If they only knew that we all struggle with our faith lives.  It is through their humility and the desire to become closer to God that they will walk in His footsteps.  They only need to know that through their struggles, they are actually becoming more closely united with God.  Through their brokenness, they have opened themselves up to the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is through their struggle that they will realize that faith is not an easy journey, but that it is filled with many trials and tribulations.  The theme for this week at work camp is “A Beautiful Mess.” We are all a beautiful mess full of faults and weaknesses.  In the brokenness of our beautiful mess, God will pour out His grace upon us to strengthen us and to bring us closer to Him. We must be willing to abandon the world for God.  This is the struggle that these young souls are struggling with. They realize that they must abandon their own pride and self-love if they are to become close to God.  More importantly, they understand that they must become a servant for others. It is in the sacrifice that they will find the rewards of their desire.  This is not easy for any of us to give up. Yet we must to become truly devoted to our Father in Heaven.

A Simple Prayer

Father God, Creator of this great universe.

Open the eyes of your humble servant

Give me the grace to seek you with all my heart.

Help me fulfill this deep longing to be united with You. 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon