“You created my inmost self, knit me together in my mother’s womb. For so many marvels I thank you; a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders” (Ps 139:13-14).
Can we utter this thanksgiving to God with a free heart and in one voice with the psalmist? We should be able to, because our Father put all His love into creating man, and this counts for each and every one of us.
The spirit of discernment and the Antichrist.
Let us return today to the theme of the Antichrist, to whom we will dedicate several meditations. We will continue with this theme, giving also some concrete guidelines for dealing with the threat emanating from the Antichrist and his henchmen.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s meditation, there are strong passages in Scripture that speak of the Antichrist. Thus St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians:
“A word is not yet on my tongue before you, Lord, know all about it” (Ps 139:4).
From the time when thoughts arise within us until we utter them in words, there is still a way for us to restrain them, so that no word may come from our lips that would displease our Father.
It is also part of our Lenten itinerary to take a careful look at the difficult times in which we find ourselves, which – as I have repeatedly said – I consider to be apocalyptic in character. While we should not be intimidated by its threat, neither can we close our eyes to the events that are happening around us.
Before the Return of Christ, we have to reckon with the coming of the Antichrist, who, perverting the kingship of the Lord, will want to establish global dominion.
We return today to the theme of prayer; this time from another perspective. Undoubtedly, prayer serves first and foremost to glorify the Lord and to bring the soul into and remain in the “great dialogue” with Him.
In liturgical prayer, we take part together with all the faithful in the prayer of the Bride (the Church) to her Bridegroom. In Holy Mass, as the culmination of liturgical prayer, we unite ourselves to the sacrifice of Our Lord on the Cross. This hierarchy in prayer life should always be preserved and cultivated. Read More
“You understand my thoughts from afar” (Ps 139:2b).
Our Father’s loving omniscience is not only a comforting certainty for us; it becomes a spiritual lesson for us, if we allow His words to permeate us deeply.
Let us begin today by talking a little about “recollective prayer”, which is able to lead us to the “antechamber” of contemplation, the part that we can contribute so that the Lord finds the ground prepared and can grant us contemplative prayer, if He wills it.
The foundation of recollective prayer is the presence of God in our souls. It is that immeasurable presence through which He is in us as Creator and Sustainer, so real that “in Him (…) we live, and move, and exist” (Acts 17:28). At the same time, it is that friendly presence through which God dwells as Father, Friend and sweet Guest in the soul in a state of grace, inviting it to live in communion with the three divine Persons.
“Lord, you examine me and know me” (Ps 139:1).
No one but God knows the heart of man in its deepest depths. No one can even examine his own heart in depth, unless it is revealed to him in the light of the Spirit of God.
Throughout our Lenten journey, I have mentioned contemplative prayer several times. Even if not everyone gets to experience the various levels of contemplation, it is good to at least know what this form of prayer is all about. In addressing this topic, I will keep in mind that most people who listen to these meditations do not live in a monastery, fully immersed in a contemplative life. I hope that some aspects of this meditation on contemplation will be helpful in making our life and prayer even more receptive to God’s presence.
“I Myself have placed in the hearts of men the search for Me, and I Myself am the answer” (Inner Word).
Why does man seek?
Because the Father Himself has placed this longing in his heart and, according to the unforgettable words of St. Augustine, “our heart is restless until it rests in You” (Confessions, I, 1).
