Still asking the question

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Recently, I wrote the question: “What are we to do?” as the title for a thread. While there was only 1 reply on the thread there were 99 views, indicating to me: more persons than just 1 were interested.

Today’s Mass Readings, (HERE) prompted me to ask the same question again, perhaps in light of the recent American elections but also as we approach the end of this Jubilee Year of Mercy and the beginning of Advent and another Liturgical Year.

What are we to do as Church, as the Body of Christ on earth, to advance the kingdom of God? What am I to do as a member of His Body, baptized into the Life of Christ and His Church? I’m still asking the Holy Spirit’s help and believing the words of Jesus:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. (Mt. 7:7-11)

Of course in asking the Holy Spirit’s help to answer this question, I need to listen, prayerfully. By God’s Grace, I intend to listen to the Truth Jesus and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to bring us, and by Grace to do the Truth I hear. Anyone else willing to share their hope?

 

[EIF5A]

To pray for our nation and the world, and the return to recognition of God. It seems nearly impossible with the proliferation of rampant atheism and secular humanism, but all things are possible…

To answer all things with charity and humility – truth does not have to be loud or obnoxious or sarcastic. (I definitely need to work on this…)

 

[hazcompat]

From:
ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY
The Charism of her Prayer

… How can I imitate, within the heaven of my soul, the unceasing occupation of the blessed in the heaven of glory? [questions Elizabeth]. How can I maintain this constant praise, this uninterrupted adoration? St Paul enlightens us when he writes to his disciples: ‘May the Father grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened … unto the inward man; that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts, that being rooted and founded in charity …’. That seems to me to be the necessary condition of worthily fulfilling the office of Praise of Glory. The soul that enters into and abides in these ‘deep things of God’ and in consequence does everything in Him, with Him and for Him, with that purity of intention which gives it a certain resemblance to the One Simple Being — this soul by its every movement, every aspiration, all its actions however commonplace they may be, becomes more deeply rooted in Him whom it loves. Everything within it renders homage to the Thrice-Holy God. It is a perpetual Sanctus, a perpetual Praise of Glory.

He desires to be my peace [wrote Elizabeth], so that nothing can distract my attention or draw me forth from the impregnable fortress of holy recollection. There, He will give me access to the Father and will keep me as stable and tranquil in His presence as though my soul were already in eternity.)

God invites us to share with him a life of intimate fellowship. We want to abide in his presence not only during our times of prayer, but throughout our whole day.

To live in God’s presence: is not that a heritage left by St Elias to the children of Carmel? He who, in the ardor of his faith cried, ‘As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand!’ (1 Kings 17:1). When Elias perceived that Yahweh was approaching, he left the cave where he had hidden himself, and stood upright. Thus it is, that at the door of oneself, in silent respect, the soul must stand in the presence of God.

Peace

 

[the_phoenix]

Acknowledge God.
Take the next right step.
Be a sign of hope to those around you.

…
…
.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Two things that will never fail ya; pray and preach.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

The readings say to persevere in the Lord’s work. Are you asking, What is the Lord’s work?

I guess we should ask ourselves, (1) “What does ‘the Lord’s work’ mean for me?” To answer that I would ask myself, (2) “What is my vocation?” Then ask, (3) “What work does my vocation consist of?” (4) And, “Am I doing the work I should be doing?” Finally, (5) “How can I better serve in my vocation?”

 

[MariaChristi]

To pray for our nation and the world, and the return to recognition of God. It seems nearly impossible with the proliferation of rampant atheism and secular humanism, but all things are possible…

To answer all things with charity and humility – truth does not have to be loud or obnoxious or sarcastic. (I definitely need to work on this…)

Dear EIF5A,

Thanks so much for sharing your hopeful answers to the question, “What are we to do?” I agree with you that prayer is always our first step. We need to pray with faith that God can do what may seem “impossible” to us.

We probably all need to keep working on listening to the Holy Spirit to receive and to share His Truth lovingly! (I certainly do) but again, with God nothing is impossible!

 

[MariaChristi]

From:
ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY
The Charism of her Prayer

… How can I imitate, within the heaven of my soul, the unceasing occupation of the blessed in the heaven of glory? [questions Elizabeth]. How can I maintain this constant praise, this uninterrupted adoration? St Paul enlightens us when he writes to his disciples: ‘May the Father grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened … unto the inward man; that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts, that being rooted and founded in charity …’. That seems to me to be the necessary condition of worthily fulfilling the office of Praise of Glory. The soul that enters into and abides in these ‘deep things of God’ and in consequence does everything in Him, with Him and for Him, with that purity of intention which gives it a certain resemblance to the One Simple Being — this soul by its every movement, every aspiration, all its actions however commonplace they may be, becomes more deeply rooted in Him whom it loves. Everything within it renders homage to the Thrice-Holy God. It is a perpetual Sanctus, a perpetual Praise of Glory.

He desires to be my peace [wrote Elizabeth], so that nothing can distract my attention or draw me forth from the impregnable fortress of holy recollection. There, He will give me access to the Father and will keep me as stable and tranquil in His presence as though my soul were already in eternity.)

God invites us to share with him a life of intimate fellowship. We want to abide in his presence not only during our times of prayer, but throughout our whole day.

To live in God’s presence: is not that a heritage left by St Elias to the children of Carmel? He who, in the ardor of his faith cried, ‘As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand!’ (1 Kings 17:1). When Elias perceived that Yahweh was approaching, he left the cave where he had hidden himself, and stood upright. Thus it is, that at the door of oneself, in silent respect, the soul must stand in the presence of God.

Peace

Dear hazcompat,

So good to hear from you again! Yes, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity is one of my many favorite saints of Carmel. I was so happy when she was canonized last month. Her words answer for many of us the question “What am I to do?” . The sentence that stood out for me was:

…God invites us to share with him a life of intimate fellowship. We want to abide in his presence not only during our times of prayer, but throughout our whole day…

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, pray for us and for the Church, that like you we may all abide in Him both during times of prayer and in all we do, by His Grace and for His Glory!

 

[MariaChristi]

Acknowledge God.
Take the next right step.
Be a sign of hope to those around you.

Dear phoenix,

Thanks for your prayerful and hopeful answers to the question, “What am I to do?” May God accomplish in us all, the Good He wills to work in us and through us. Without Him we can do nothing! With Him, nothing is impossible.

 

[MariaChristi]

Two things that will never fail ya; pray and preach.

Dear adamhovey,

Thanks for your hopeful reply. Prayer is always first, and the preaching can be done in many different ways. May we continue asking and listening for the Holy Spirit to guide us into All Truth (cf John 16:13).

 

[MariaChristi]

The readings say to persevere in the Lord’s work. Are you asking, What is the Lord’s work?

I guess we should ask ourselves, (1) “What does ‘the Lord’s work’ mean for me?” To answer that I would ask myself, (2) “What is my vocation?” Then ask, (3) “What work does my vocation consist of?” (4) And, “Am I doing the work I should be doing?” Finally, (5) “How can I better serve in my vocation?”

Dear 1Lord1Faith,

Actually I am asking for myself and encouraging other to ask for themselves in prayer, especially to the Holy Spirit "What am I to do --as a unique member of the Body of Christ? or in other words how can I use my unique gift(s) to build up the body of Christ. If each of us is working properly then the Church, the whole Body builds itself up in love. (cf Ephesians4:16)

Yes, we must persevere in the Lord’s Work. He is always working ALL things unto good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose (cf Romans 8:28) He is faithful but are we, as members of His Body faithful in opening ourselves to Him in prayer? Do we listen to what God has revealed in Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium?

We are all called to holiness. What are we to do to grow in holiness ourselves and to help others to grow in our union with God in the perfection of charity? Thanks for pondering the question and for sharing what you have begun to ask yourself as you pray for your answer.