How do I ‘Hear’ God?
In a world where there is noise, distraction, corruption, turmoil, greed, and straight deception, we must learn to hear God and sort through all the noise and false teaching that surrounds us. Learn to read and pray with Scriptures.
Praying with Audacity.
Our relationship with God is more important than anything we experience in relating to another human being. Take the time for prayer, not just to be passively aware that He is there, but take the time to get to know Him. Go back to the Advent books and learn to sit in silence with the Scriptures and hear Him. Spend at LEAST 10 minutes each day doing nothing other than praying. Yes, pray when you drive, garden, shower, work around the house, and go about your day, but also pray for and with intimacy.
The Importance of Tradition.
God is not a mere concept or abstract reality, He is a person we are to encounter. By use of the elements He created, wine, bread, water, oil, chalk, and incense, He enters into the created world. At the birth of Jesus on Christmas the invisible God enter the visible world. And through the Sacraments and Sacramentals, He remains in His world.
Feast of the Holy Family and Baptism.
This Sacrament of Baptism then should be held with great reverence. It is not merely a rite of initiation, or some custom. Rather it is the rite of welcoming a child into the community of the Church. It is the moment when that person is added to the Kingdom of God and welcomed into our Family of Communion. I cannot wait to Baptize Oliver later today, it will be a great joy for me in my priesthood, for his family, and for our community of St John the Baptist Parish.
The Light Breaks the Darkness.
He is made visible that we may see Him. He draws near to us that we may draw near to Him. Don't waste this hallowed day and blessed season. Pray with new fervor. The darkness of the world is illuminated by His light, where will YOU shine it?