"A Feverish Desire for the Will of God"
Fr. Richard begins, "Religious obedience means a willingness to let go of the
consequences on some level and to trust a Bigger Picture. This is what we see
Mary doing here in the great annunciation scene. In the obedience of faith we
do something because it is true at a deeper level, we feel called at a deeper
level perhaps, and not because it immediately works, makes sense or shows likelihood
of "success."
Joe and I are sixty-two and fifty-nine years old. We have gotten it right and we
have missed the mark. We have been faithful and we have been controlling. We
have taken turns with leading and following one another and we have walked side-by-side.
But when Joe leads, we listen for the deeper voice. Of all the gifts he gives
to me in our shared life, the greatest is that he listens for and to the deeper voice, the deeper truth.
I've had a lot to say over the years about the Roman Catholic church (both good and
bad), and about the practice of religious orders in the past that would have
boys leave home for seminary when they were only fourteen. But today I would
say this .... those boys were provided with both the opportunity and the training
to listen for and hear the deepest voice, and then to follow. We really must
find a way today to teach our community, our friends, and the children of our
friends to listen for a Word that comes from outside of themselves.
If I had the space here I would explore the world that surrounded Mary and her way
of being in that environment, because she had an essential knowing that many of us lack.
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She knew how to make space in her life that could accomodate an angel with a message.
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She had the grace to both hear and trust the voice that was not hers.
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She was awake, aware and available.
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She was both curious and trusting.
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And she was free to be obedient.
That kind of "feverish desire for the will of God" is not unavailable to
us. It is, I think, hidden within the world we inhabit. God is here. God is
now. And I think God is speaking. But so often we are not here. We are not
now. And we are not listening. Fr. Richard says, "People who are centered
in God instead of themselves always hear larger voices."
So, because he is called, Joe will continue to teach Centering Prayer to all who
come. We cannot hear anything deeper than the mere noise that surrounds us if
we do not take the time to practice a new way of listening. And we will have
to be taught to expect a more creative Voice to call us by name.
The Question: In what way do you have a feverish desire to do the will of God?
Oh, that my answer would some day be ....... "in every way."
Joe will be teaching Centering Prayer at The Micah Center on Saturday, February 20th. You
can register on this website or call the center 214.366.3377.