Fears and Tears

In the center of my being my heart is open to You, my Lord and my God. I desire to keep the flame burning with the precious oil of prayer, that never ceases.

In the silence of my heart, I offer You my prayers, and like fragrant incense, I desire them to be pleasing to You.

You are the Way, the Truth, and the Light. It was written in my heart when You called me forth to life.

Dear Lord, thank you for the beautiful retreat at the Parish last weekend. Your blessings and graces were poured out upon us and especially for the grace of hope, which was the theme of the retreat.

This supernatural virtue calls us to fix our gaze on Heaven while we make our pilgrimage here on earth.

I especially liked learning about St. Dismas at the retreat. He is known as “the good thief” who was crucified next to Jesus. He was repentant and asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His Kingdom. Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

I thought it was interesting that St. Dismas shares a feast day, March 25th, with the Annunciation. The Annunciation commemorates the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would conceive Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. The early Church history also holds that this is the date of Jesus’s death.

Two very different people, the Blessed Mother and St. Dismas, but what an incredible example of hope in each of them.

Hope leads to God, who is always there with great mercy, forgiveness, and love. When we despair, when we mourn, when we are in pain, all we have to do is cry out to Him. God holds us close and welcomes us home.

My God, and my Lord, I rest in You, in a pure and beautiful love that never fails. It is like the water at Cana, that becomes the best wine given in abundance. In humble thanksgiving, I offer my Praise, Glory, and Honor to You, Amen.