I firmly believe that we are all in a constant state of conversion to Christ. I also believe that the key to continual movement toward Him is that we must have that desire. In other words, it is not enough to just think or even say that "I love Jesus" or "I believe that He died for me", because my love without action isn't love, nor is believing without love and action true belief. Therefore, I must search and learn in order to grow. Jesus does instruct us to do just that in these words from Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.
If you are in a relationship with someone you don't only spend one hour a week with him/her, if you can help it. You spend as much time with him/her as you can, and, not only in the beginning (even though, when you first "fall" for someone, there's "never enough of them", right?), but the commitment brings about spending more meaningful time together. So, with the Church, one must go to Mass on Sunday, but where else to meet one's Beloved? The Blessed Sacrament Chapel, through prayer, devotions, and through our daily work. And, yes, even in other people.
Don't be afraid of standing behind the plow of your relationships. Relationships can be demanding, but they can also be sweetly rewarding.
Timely post! My Spiritual Exercises touched on the relationship issue, but with Jesus... the one I have the most trouble paying attention to on a daily basis... oh, I try to live by his commands, of course... but actually talking to him... yeah, that's another thing. I'm good at 'set' prayers, by my own words, often... not so much. I need to work on that relationship first and foremost, and the hubs and kids next... :-)
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you will still be blogging! May Our Lord bless you and your new site.
I am happy to see you are back and very excited to see where this bloggy will take you. I LUB our faith.
ReplyDeleteYou are on my mind tonight. Sending up a prayer for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteKalona, thank you. We had to put our dog, Holly, to sleep last night. She had a slipped disc that got really bad and she lost use of her legs and started to lose her bowels etc.. Pain management etc. wasn't helping. She was four-years-old; her sister died of the same thing last year. I had to do this w/out Dan being home (he came home today). Thank you for your prayers.
DeleteOh Sarah, I'm so sorry. I know the pain of losing a beloved pet, and I know how much you loved your little Holly. Continued prayers for you and your family.
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