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Monday, March 25, 2019
In the Catholic classic, Abandonment to Divine Providence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade writes “There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed. All that takes place within us, around us, or through us, contains and conceals His divine action.”
This book’s message dovetails nicely with our study of Brother Lawrence. Both emphasize an intense faith that God is at work in the present moment and His will is continuously being done. They both make it clear that faith is far more than a belief in something, it is a deep trust in life and that God’s hand is in all that life brings us.
When we believe we are separate and act independent of God, we try to do our will instead of God’s will, and we cause misery for ourselves and others. It is our belief in this false separate-from-God-self, this mind-made conceptual sense of who we are, that causes all our troubles. We constantly try in vain to hang on to this thought-made self, to build it up, to make it more real, and to preserve it. As we try to defend the false-selves that we use as fronts to the world, we become fearful, selfish and needy. The betterment of this false-self becomes our purpose, our motivating force, our false god.
When we are truly present with all our attention on the moment at hand, the false-self is temporarily suspended. The more often we can concentrate on God’s presence, focus on His will as it is revealed to us in each moment, and do everything for His love, the less identified we become with our mind-made self-image. But we cannot be more holy than we currently are and it takes time to break the habit of separating ourselves from God. To do so we must practice God’s presence constantly so as to establish a new habit of feeling God presence with us, and while doing so we must be patient, and persevere as we cannot go faster than God’s grace.
Lenten Action
Before concluding your daily meditation and contemplative practice, take some extra time in prayer to investigate your thought-made sense of self. Sitting comfortably, with eyes closed, ask Jesus to be with you and guide you through this meditation. Ask yourself, “Who am I”? If an answer like, business man, teacher, or real-estate agent pops into your head, consider that may be what you do but not who you really are deep down. Re-ask the question, “Who am I”? If a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter pop in, consider whether that is a role you play or is that really who you are deep down? What if that identity was suddenly taken away? Would you still exist? Re-ask, “Who am I”? Continue like this digging deeper and deeper into the core of your being. Go inside yourself. In a manner similar to the meditation we did Saturday, make your way through your various body parts asking “Who am I”? Work your way to your center and ask “Who am I”? The true answer to this question probably won’t come in words. Rest at your center and ask “Who am I”? Remain at your center, asking and listening for God’s answer for as long as you feel comfortable. When finished, rest in the Stillness for a few minutes.
Today is not a Fast day, but if you have a mind to abstain from a favorite food or drink, please do so as a means of strengthening your will power. Remember not to watch TV, or use your computer or your phone to access social media, computer games, or other unnecessary apps.