The Lord is Nigh
Third Sunday of Introduction
Gaudete Sunday
Rejoice!
Presence of God– The Lord is at all times drawing nearer to my soul by the solicitations of His grace; I too want to draw close to to Him by a renewal of my religion and my needs.
MEDITATION
“O Lord, now we have patiently waited for Thee: Thy identify and Thy remembrance are the need of the soul. My soul hath desired Thee within the evening; yea, and with my spirit inside me within the morning early I’ll look ahead to Thee” (previous Roman Breviary).
For those who additionally…are getting ready to commemorate the Incarnation of the Phrase in loving, watchful expectation, right this moment’s completely satisfied announcement will resound in your ears extra joyfully than ever: “Rejoice within the Lord at all times; once more I say, rejoice … the Lord is nigh.” Thus … Philippians 4:4-7 repeats the theme. It’s considered one of exultant pleasure: “The Lord is nigh!” For the soul who waits for Jesus and seeks Him alone, sincerely and ardently, with vigorous want and love, there will be just one motive for its pleasure, to know that Jesus is close to, nearer with every day. Even St. Paul admonishes us to don’t have any different want, “The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous…. And will the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, hold your hearts and minds …”
The extra a soul concentrates its needs and affections on God, the extra it will likely be free of earthly cares. It would not be concerned about something, understanding that just one factor is important, “to hunt God,” and that in God it should discover the whole lot it wants. Therefore to attract close to to God is to seek out not solely true pleasure but additionally peace. In Him it has the whole lot, and God alone suffices.
COLLOQUY
“O God, my God, to Thee do I watch at crack of dawn. In a desert land, and the place there isn’t any water, my soul thirsts for Thee; my flesh hath thirsted for Thee. It’s Thou I search, O Lord; with out Thee, the world is a desert burned by the solar the place nothing can quench my thirst. Thou alone artwork my salvation, my refuge, my Savior, and my Redeemer. Day and evening I sigh for Thee; to Thee, I direct all my needs and affections. Because the eyes of the handmaid are on the palms of her mistress, so are my eyes at all times on Thy face. Present me Thy face, O Lord, and illumine my path; be Thou my mild and my energy.
“Come, Lord, and tarry not; reveal Thy energy and are available to save lots of us. Come and be our salvation, in keeping with Thy promise! Thou artwork our Savior; Thou wilt free us from all our iniquities and forged our sins into the depths of the ocean. Thou wilt descend like rain upon the fleece and wilt deliver us justice and peace…. Thou wilt be my information and my shepherd; Thou wilt train me Thy methods and I shall stroll in Thy paths. Thy coming fills me with pleasure and my soul rejoices in Thee, my God and my Savior. O Lord, I rejoice in all Thy deeds and I exult in Thy works. How admirable are Thy works and the way nice is Thy mercy” (Roman Breviary)!
My God and my Savior, I consider in You, I belief in You. I search for You, but I do know that You’re close to me, and in me: close to me, hidden underneath the Eucharistic veil; in me, by grace. O Lord, make me know You! Don’t allow it to occur to me as to the Jews: You had been residing within the midst of them and so they knew You not. Grant that my soul could at all times have a vigorous religion; improve my religion, for religion is the sunshine by which I can know You on earth. You’re inside me, Lord, I do know it, I consider it, even when I can’t really feel You. But when You would like, You possibly can illumine my soul with Your mild and make me know Your divine, mysterious presence.
“You’re the mild surpassing all different mild; You give supernatural mild to the attention of the mind with such abundance and perfection that You make clear the sunshine of religion. My soul has life in religion, and in religion it receives You and is aware of You. Within the mild of religion, I purchase knowledge within the knowledge of the Phrase. Within the mild of religion, I’m robust, fixed and persevering. This mild won’t ever fail me in my means; it teaches me the trail, and with out it, I’d stroll in darkness. Due to this fact I encourage You, O Lord, to illumine me with the sunshine of holy religion” (St. Catherine of Siena).
Word from Dan: This put up “The Lord is Nigh” is supplied courtesy of Baronius Press and comprises considered one of two meditations for the day. If you need to get the total meditation from the most effective day by day meditation works ever compiled, you’ll be able to be taught extra right here: Divine Intimacy. Please honor those that assist us by buying and selling their merchandise.
Artwork for this put up “The Lord is Nigh”: modified element of Stained glass within the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Killinghall, North Yorkshire, England [with words Rejoice in the Lord Always], Storye ebook, 13 September 2016 personal work, CCA-SA 4.0 Worldwide, Wikimedia Commons. Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, mirror from open supply materials.