Paul’s wrote in the letter to the Hebrews: “Encourage one another daily while it is still “today,” so that no one grows hardened by the deceit of sin.” I had been reflecting on St. Francis De Sale’s observations that friends who lead us away from Christ are not really friends at all. Some of the “friends” I used to have are no longer part of my life in any meaningful manner because when I turned toward Christ and entered recovery it seems we really did not have much to share anymore. I rejoice in the friends that have encouraged me in a new path and I am really blessed for the new relationships that have blossomed over past 3 ½ years. Being a true friend means that we should encourage other daily while it is still “today”. I have many true friends and I pray that I am that kind of friend in return if called upon.
St. Isidore:
“When when we pray we talk to God, when we read the Word of God, God talks to us.”
I recall trying to use a radio to communicate with a young nephew sometime ago. He got frustrated trying to talk to me because he could not get the hang of pushing the orange call button to talk to me or releasing the button to hear me answer. He finally just dropped the radio on the ground and started to walk away. It was only then that he could hear me talking to him. We eventually got it figured out and spent the better part of day playing hide and seek with the radios. His behavior reminds me of myself. I can't hear the response of God if I don't let go of the button so I can get out of send mode and get into recieve mode. You can't do lectio Divina if you have the send button pushed. You have to be still and listen to word as you read it.
St. Vincent Ferrer wrote a work called “On the Spiritual Life.”The conclusion of the excerpt reads: “Finally if you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity….”
This fits very well with an axiom I have come to hold close to my heart as part of my daily spiritual journey. In order to be filled with God’s charity, you have to first empty yourself of your own notions of what your neighbor needs in order to make the room for that which comes from God. Some days I have lots of trouble with that concept. I like to think I know best but not stopping to consider how God wants us to relate to others is like disabling the crossing guard at busy railroad crossing. You might make it safely across the tracks once or twice or maybe even a hundred times but eventually you are going to cause a heck of wreck
