Throughout the Christmas Octave, together with the Heavenly Father, we contemplate the Child of Bethlehem, the One sent by the Father. Therefore, instead of the usual “3 minutes for Abba”, we invite you to listen to and watch the Christmas meditations of Br. Elias every day: http://en.elijamission.net
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THE NEARNESS OF GOD
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (Jas 4:8)
In all true love, we seek to be close to the person we love. God, for His part, constantly fills us with His presence and nearness; He seeks man and wants to be with him. But it is also necessary for man to seek God’s nearness, to open his heart to Him, and to long to be with Him. Then he will increasingly perceive the closeness of his beloved Father, who can reveal Himself to an open heart.
THE BEST PATH
“I always guide you along the best path, the one that benefits you most” (Inner Word).
If we have consciously surrendered our lives to our heavenly Father, if we strive daily to follow His Son and pursue holiness, we need not worry about the next stage of the journey. We must simply walk it attentively each day, with the certainty that God will always choose the most suitable path for us in every area of our lives—the one that benefits us most.
“THE WELL”
“Be like a well that first collects water within itself and then pours it out in abundance” (St. Bernard).
In today’s quote, St. Bernard emphasizes that we must walk the path of holiness ourselves, which produces abundant fruit when His grace can act powerfully in us. All teachers of the spiritual life will affirm this. In fact, it is entirely logical, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Lk 6:45).
MARY, MEDIATOR OF ALL GRACES
“There is no grace sent from heaven that does not pass through Mary’s hands. The more sinful we are, the greater her compassion for us.” (St. Bernard)
Today we hear from a saint who clearly had no hesitation in officially considering the Virgin Mary the mediator of all graces. His reasoning follows the path of the Incarnation and applies it to the Mystical Body of Christ. Mary is the Mother of the Son and of His Body!
THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF PRAYER
“Whoever prays is certainly saved. He who does not is certainly damned”
—St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
Teachers of the spiritual life never tire of emphasizing the importance of prayer. It is the “great dialogue with God,” as St. Teresa of Avila calls it. In today’s quote, St. Alphonsus strongly recommends it to us and even assures us that if we do not pray, we condemn ourselves. He knows very well that once prayer is neglected—which is already a temptation in itself—all kinds of temptations will follow, and it will become increasingly difficult for us to resist them.
THE VESSEL OF THE FOUNTAIN
“My Son is the vessel of this fountain, that men may go and draw from His Heart, which is always full to overflowing with the water of salvation!” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
Here we encounter the mystery of God’s love, which pours out His inexhaustible love for us through His Son. We only have to turn to Him, knock on the door of His Heart, and His love will pour out upon us in abundance. The water of salvation in the reservoir is always fresh and offered to people so that they may come and drink from it. What a sad situation it is when people cross the desert of this life without finding the water of salvation, without even seeking it, or even drinking contaminated water!
TRUE COMFORT
“Do not seek comfort in people. What comfort could they give you? Go to the tabernacle and pour out your heart there. There you will find comfort.” (Saint Padre Pio)
Where do we seek comfort? Often in people; sometimes also in material goods or irrational creatures. Yet time and again we experience that we do not receive true comfort, for this can only come from the Holy Spirit. If we turn to the Lord, will He deny us His comfort?
BECAUSE GOD IS GOD
“Jesus conquered the world, not by the sword, but by the cross” (St. Augustine).
I often end “Three Minutes for Abba” by exclaiming, “That’s our Father!” I am always amazed to discover what He is truly like.
A SAFE REFUGE
“You will always find refuge in me and in your Mother’s heart. No one can take that away from you!” (Inner word)
We urgently need this refuge amid the confusion that surrounds us—a bastion of love and security. We will always need it, even if we have been walking in the Lord’s path for many years and have made steady progress. The refuge is there for us! In His wisdom, our heavenly Father has granted it to us so that we may find our home in the inner sanctuary of our soul. No matter how fiercely the storm rages around us or how the devil tries to frighten us, access to the depths of our heart remains open, and no one can take it away from us. This enclosure, also called the “inner cell,” not only offers us refuge but also the opportunity to deepen the love between the Father and us each day. It is, so to speak, the sacred enclosure of our soul, into which the Evil One cannot enter, because God dwells there.