A Sunday Thought About a Fresh and Open Heart to Start the Week Off Right
As we work our way through October, the month of the Holy Rosary, fall flourishes here in the Northeast. Some in the farther northern regions have enjoyed "peak" colors; we in the southerly regions await the full artistic expression of God's creative Hand. But we're steadily getting there.
As we pause and take in these brilliant colors, there's a lightness, a freshness that penetrates the soul and lifts us up. Sometimes I pray the rosary walking through a local park, mentally "saying" the words of each decade as my eyes gaze on what can at times be overwhelming beauty. What a great gift God gives us here in October to pray the rosary in such surroundings! Of course, we know the colors will eventually fade, and the graying landscape will soon welcome the stark visage of winter. It reminds us that all in this world - the worst and the best - passes. And so, surrounded by the lush colors of fall, we remember that such breathtaking beauty will someday pale in the light of our true Home.
In such manner, by God's grace, the beauty of autumn opens our hearts to the Truth that surrounds us day and night. So often our daily obligations, the cares of this world, throw up a veil that distracts us from seeing and seeking the Truth. We're caught up in daily obligations that leave little time for God. The Truths of our holy faith seem somehow abstractly "out there" or "up there," having nothing to do with our everyday lives. They're not, of course. But it does take effort - for some of us great effort - to see beyond our noses and live in the light of Truth.
And lest we think that it's only us little people living our little lives in our obscure corner of the universe that have trouble seeing the Truth and living it in our daily lives, a recent kerfuffle from the Synod on the Family (one of many, unfortunately) demonstrates that the Truth can be obscured from even those entrusted with its teaching. Some propose that local bishops make decisions on how to deal with issues like homosexuality and divorce, consistent with something called "regional diversity." With thinking like this, before you know it, a bishop or two will propose that divorced and remarried Catholics - as well as those who engage in homosexual acts without repenting - should be allowed to receive Holy Communion...Oh, right, that's already been proposed.
Well, we're not going to get caught up in this latest distraction to our living our faith in the light of real, authentic Truth. (If you're interested in a proper understanding of such kerfuffles as the Synod has spawned to date, click HERE.) Rather, let's turn to Our Blessed Mother during this month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, seeking a clear mind and pure heart as we go about our daily lives . Here's an appropriate prayer that I came across recently:
As we pause and take in these brilliant colors, there's a lightness, a freshness that penetrates the soul and lifts us up. Sometimes I pray the rosary walking through a local park, mentally "saying" the words of each decade as my eyes gaze on what can at times be overwhelming beauty. What a great gift God gives us here in October to pray the rosary in such surroundings! Of course, we know the colors will eventually fade, and the graying landscape will soon welcome the stark visage of winter. It reminds us that all in this world - the worst and the best - passes. And so, surrounded by the lush colors of fall, we remember that such breathtaking beauty will someday pale in the light of our true Home.
In such manner, by God's grace, the beauty of autumn opens our hearts to the Truth that surrounds us day and night. So often our daily obligations, the cares of this world, throw up a veil that distracts us from seeing and seeking the Truth. We're caught up in daily obligations that leave little time for God. The Truths of our holy faith seem somehow abstractly "out there" or "up there," having nothing to do with our everyday lives. They're not, of course. But it does take effort - for some of us great effort - to see beyond our noses and live in the light of Truth.
And lest we think that it's only us little people living our little lives in our obscure corner of the universe that have trouble seeing the Truth and living it in our daily lives, a recent kerfuffle from the Synod on the Family (one of many, unfortunately) demonstrates that the Truth can be obscured from even those entrusted with its teaching. Some propose that local bishops make decisions on how to deal with issues like homosexuality and divorce, consistent with something called "regional diversity." With thinking like this, before you know it, a bishop or two will propose that divorced and remarried Catholics - as well as those who engage in homosexual acts without repenting - should be allowed to receive Holy Communion...Oh, right, that's already been proposed.
Well, we're not going to get caught up in this latest distraction to our living our faith in the light of real, authentic Truth. (If you're interested in a proper understanding of such kerfuffles as the Synod has spawned to date, click HERE.) Rather, let's turn to Our Blessed Mother during this month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, seeking a clear mind and pure heart as we go about our daily lives . Here's an appropriate prayer that I came across recently:
O sweet Mother Mary, pray that your Son will give me a heart that is fresh and open as the heart of a child, and as transparent as the waters of a clear spring. Give me a generous heart, that does not brood over or harbor the unpleasant things which it has encountered; a magnanimous heart that gladly gives itself; a heart that, knowing its own weakness, understands and becomes more deeply sympathetic towards the weaknesses of others; a deep and grateful heart that does not overlook small things. Give me a heart that is gentle and humble; that loves without expecting love in return; that gladly leaves another’s heart to give way to your Son; a noble and buoyant heart that will not become embittered by disappointments, that because of its faults will not become mean in its sacrifices, that will not be paralyzed by trials, that will not be irritated by neglect, and that will not be discouraged by indifference. Pray that your Son gives me a heart which in its love of Him will be drawn by an irresistible current towards the further honor and glory of God, and that will find no rest until I enter into Heaven. Amen.
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