Word from Adoration

Yesterday's time with the Lord was arid.

It was a struggle to remain focused. It was also a struggle to remain awake.

"Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light." Matthew 11:28-30

That is what I heard.

This last week has been so busy that I am exhausted. This upcoming week looks to be much the same.

During the adoration time, I yearned to place my head on the Lord's chest and rest there. That is, I believe, where my head ended up as eventually I was given a deep rest in Him.

There are two challenges that have come to my heart:

1. When our prayer time becomes arid, empty, devoid of all consolation and inspiration, do we drop it? Do we yearn for that consolation? Or, do we stick it out and keep going to the Adoration Chapel, or praying the Rosary, or spending that time in quiet meditation and/or contemplation? During the deepest times of aridity, do we identify with Christ in the desert? (Matthew 4:1-11) Or, do we identify with His ultimate aridity upon the Cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
2. Do we trust the Lord to give us that deep rest? Do we trust that all He could want in that moment is for us to just be? And, do we realize that He indeed wants to hold us safe and secure against His chest so that we can indeed find that deep rest we so yearn for?

Lord Jesus, help us come to You and rest in You. Help us to let go of our busy lives to spend time with You in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Help us to be disciplined in our approach to prayer, give us the fortitude to keep our prayer time commitments even when they seemingly bear no fruit. Thank You Jesus!

Pax vobis,

J.E.