Monday, May 11
Often times when I sit down to pray in the morning, I find it difficult to quiet my thoughts. My desire is to empty my mind and listen to the morning, be aware of my breathing, and ready myself to hear God’s message. Instead my mind is preoccupied with my daily life, going over and over a mundane task on my agenda or worrying about a potential conversation that is destined to go no farther than my mind. Even though I try to pray, I keep realizing that I am not praying and have gone back to ruminating over something else.
Jesus gave us only a few clear directives. One of them was “do not worry.” He didn’t say “try not to worry” or “only worry about important things”. He said, “Do not worry. Look at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field; notice how they are taken care of. Just as God cares for these, God cares for you.” God’s gifts for us are peace and joy. Peace because there is nothing to fear. Joy because we know we are in God’s care, and there is so much to be grateful for.
One of the sisters who worked with Mother Teresa would always talk to her about problems. She would say, “Mother Teresa we have a problem. Mother Teresa, we have another problem today. Mother Teresa, I have a problem I need you to solve.” Finally, Mother Teresa said, “I just hate it when you use the word problem all the time. I don’t like that word. Could you pick another word?” The sister replied, “Yes Mother Teresa, but what word should I use?” She said, “How about the word gift. Use the word gift instead of problem.” The sister nodded and left. A few hours later, she came to Mother Teresa and she said, “Mother Teresa we have a gift. Our plane is delayed, and we won’t be able to make our commitment tomorrow.”
In 1373, St. Julian of Norwich had a near-death experience and received fifteen revelations from God. She had wondered why sin was not prevented by an all-knowing God and everything made well. Jesus appeared to her, and told her, “It was necessary that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Julian, when relaying the message, added, “These words were said most tenderly, showing no manner of blame to me nor to any who shall be saved.”
In life, there is suffering. We can worry about it coming or resent its arrival. There is a third choice, and that is to be grateful for it. Suffering is a teacher. From it we learn many things: compassion, stamina, gratitude, simplicity. Think back on the times in your life you suffered, what did you learn? Who was there to accompany you through it? What is God showing you during this pandemic?
The prayer today is taken from God Calling, edited by A. J. Russell. It is a collection of prayers received by two women in prayer and formatted into a book of daily meditations. It is one of my morning reads.
12 Comments
Kathy K.
Amen to that, Mary! Thank you! …..All really is well! Sending you a hug.
Mary Ramerman Author
Hi Kathy, Thank you for the hug and for joining me in an early morning prayer.
Love, Mary
Carol Lee
Mary and Brian ,your morning messages are just what my spirit is needing. Thank you, Carol
Mary Ramerman Author
Hi Carol,
Thank you for letting us know you are reading these messages. I’m glad it is feeding your spirit. It does mine, too.
Love, Mary
Mary Alice
Not o worry is a tough directive. I feel I have many “gifts” of pain and sorrow. I find myself trying to let go of the worry and give it to God. This is tough. Beautiful prayer today. Thank you Rev. Mary
Brian ONeill
Thank you, Mary, for this layered and thoughtful message. I can relate to my mind wondering in prayer and try to remember that is why it is a practice and gently pull my attention back to breath an centeredness. I love the questions you pose at the end. When I look back on my life and the times of adversity, I learned how strong I am and how resilient my soul really is. Despite the death of pain and hurt I still craved happiness and healing. I learned that within me there is a light that cannot be darkened. God is showing during this pandemic that stillness is a spiritual principle. I have more time to create art, watch a movie, write, and find ways to quiet my mind and body.
Francene C McCarthy
Dear Mary,
Thank you so much for these daily meditations. The pandemic has allowed me time for which I am very grateful. I have the freedom to choose when is the best time to read my Bible, do my yoga practice and read yours and Brian’s meditations. I feel so gifted and I love Mother Teresa’s change to that word! Precious!
Be well and sending you love,
Fran
Barb
I look forward to this part of my day with these meditation messages very much….thank you so much Rev.Mary for sharing them, and giving me messages that cause me to listen, to pause and refuel, Today and forward I am going to try and see my “gifts” with new eyes ….and an open heart …with heartfelt thanks,
Barb
Colleen Fox-Salah
I read a meditation by Richard Rohr in which he says that the benefits of suffering are often seen in hindsight, that getting through the suffering with as much faith and kindness as you can muster is all that God asks of us.
I found this to be an approach I can embrace in the most authentic way. Sometimes when I am the midst of suffering, I can manage my mind and soothe my heart by giving it to God, but sometimes I can’t do this, and that’s okay.
Knowing that God is here loving me regardless is the cornerstone of my faith. And when I can be conscious of this in suffering and lean on God, finding God in the outer darkness, I agree that nothing can compare.
Marilu Aguilar
Thank you, Mary.
I really connected with the last paragraph on suffering. I had one experience of suffering in the early 90’s and I learned from it. It changed me for the better.
During this pandemic I’m experiencing up’s and down’s because I fear suffering from the coronavirus if I should get infected. I don’t fear dying, but the fear of suffocating to death terrifies me. I am in the high risk category with respiratory issues, and know that if I get the virus I won’t make it. The first month was the worst…lots of anxiety. I’m grateful for the Spiritus live stream masses and homilies and meditations that helped pull me out of this to the extent that I’m more relaxed and accepting of this pandemic. Still though, I’m angry at people who aren’t following the rules. I’m angry at the gas station attendant who refused me service because I wanted us to be 6′ apart. We were both wearing masks but I tried to explain to him that I was taking the extra precaution because I was at high risk; he wouldn’t listen. He just walked away. I was so rattled for that day and night. I just couldn’t understand how anyone could do that. But it was a reality check for me. Try as I may to protect myself, when I’m out, and I don’t go out if I can help it, there are people out there who aren’t going to care what or how I feel about protocols. It’s every woMAN for him/herself. So I guess I remain in a state of suffering of my own making…an up and down suffering of fear, hurt and anger and loss of control. It seems this pandemic is teaching me to try and find a way to live in a situation I can’t control. Only that way will I find some peace.
Mary Q
I love the story of Mother Theresa. My humanness takes me to look at situations with a negative prism. It makes a situation look bleak but if I just move my prism, so many colors can be reflected of the light as is different perceptions, different gifts, different things in my life I didn’t even know I needed or would benefit from. Like Marilu, I want want to get angry that people are protesting the closing of things, not wearing masks, etc. and I have to let it go and know they also have a God that is taking care of them. Patience is the gift of this pandemic. As I was reading today’s gift, I was drawn to remember the song, “Be Not Afraid”. This song in the past has given me much peace and security when I was feeling less than-be it fear, sadness, worry, anger. I need to remember that my God goes before me and if I follow I will have rest– “I go before you always, come follow me and I will give you rest.” Thank you all for Mary and Brian’s writings and others sharing their wisdom
Barb Diehl
Yes, thru suffering comes compassion, learning, and gratitude….and the refrain for years from you and Fr.Jim: all will be well! We all need to hold onto that. Barb D
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