Things could change in an instant, and I wish to be ready for that…
For some time before I experienced my conversion – which occurred through Grace and no merit of my own – some people in my family had prayed for me to receive the gift of peace for a very long time…
They prayed that prayer for me while I was most distressed and while I was experiencing the most anguish I have ever experienced in my life. At the time they did not tell me what it was that they were doing – they merely went about their way and prayed for me behind the scenes, so to speak.
Looking back upon that time in my life – when I was completely overwhelmed with grief – it must have surely seemed to my family that their prayers would never be heard.And yet, driven by a wonderous Grace, the continued to persevere in their prayers, perhaps intrinsically understanding the advice of Saint Josemaría when he said that we should pray for the Grace of PERSERVERENCE in prayer…
And I have been reflecting on those prayers – for although they persevered for some time, my conversion happened in an instant! And it happened though it was unsought – by me. And it was certainly the last thing I was expecting. And yet – right there on just another ordinary day – I suddenly had a miraculously clear knowledge and understanding of God’s purpose in the things that caused me most pain. And there – right there on just another ordinary day – the entire world changed for me. INSTANTLY…
And I have been reflecting on that as I have been praying for the conversion of other souls who are dear to me. And as I have been praying for them, I have found great comfort in the words of the Gospel passage, which describes the miracle of Christ casting out the evil spirit… “A man who had the spirit of an unclean demon cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ah! What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.’” (Luke 4:33-36).
And this passage of the Gospel has shown me how INSTANTLY God can work. You see the man who was tormented by the evil spirit was surely tormented for a long time. Surely, during this time, those who had loved him had prayed for him and worried about him and fretted over him. And yet, during this same time, nothing had seemed to happen. And yet – right there on just another ordinary day – using ONE WORD, Christ cast it out. Christ – God Himself – FIXED things in an instant…
And that is surely the most marvellous miracle of all… Now, all I must do is continue to pray – after all, things could change in an instant, and I wish to be ready for that…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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