Be Still – A Generous God – Clinging – Be Alert

Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast, Repost from August 2013

Be Still…

…and know I am your God.  Shout for joy.  God is offering abundance for all people who come to Him.  Be still and listen to His call, you are chosen to serve in your Vincentian work.  He is with you on your home visit with the single mom and children.  He is with you on your prison visits and guides you with the right words.  He is there as you tend to the homeless and hungry.  You bring them His love. The more aware we become that God has chosen us, the more we desire for others to hear God calling them as well.  He hears the cry, be still and listen to His words of love.

Generous God

So many of us wait for a miracle before bowing to Christ. The “good” thief witnessed no miracle; he witnessed only Mercy (Lk 23). Miracles are always happening, but we fail to see them.  They are before us in simple things.  We look for the wealth of the world and a sign by winning great money and having many worldly things.  We need to understand God’s generosity and when we do, we are truly wealthy.  Even if we live from pay day to pay day or are searching for a job, we have richness in the peace God’s generosity brings us.

The peace God gives is long lasting and will not leave as long as we call Him to us.  His generosity and love endures forever.  While God’s generosity may also bring material blessings, we must remember that whatever God gives us is not ours alone; it is to share with those we serve.  Everything we have belongs to God and we long to share with others when we answer His call.  Think about how sharing God’s generosity with others has made a difference in your life.  Reflect on this and thank God for the goodness.

Clinging…

…to God and knowing his word keeps us together.  “In the beginning God made human nature  and decreed that all His children, scattered as they were, would finally be gathered together as one.  All men are called to belong to the new people of God. Wherefore this people, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and must exist in all ages, so that the decree of God’s will may be fulfilled.  God sent His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, that He might be teacher, king and priest of all, the head of the new and universal people of the sons of God.  God sent the Spirit of His Son as Lord and Life-giver. He it is who brings together the whole Church and each and every one of those who believe, and who is the well-spring of their unity in the teaching of the apostles and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers” LUMEN GENTIUM, para. 13. This is who we are as Vincentian Family.  We cling to one another and our Faith.  We see Christ in all our brothers and sisters and especially in those we serve.

Be Alert…

…always.  You must be ready.  We do not know when God will call on us, we must always be alert. St. Ignatius of Loyola recommended this prayer to penitents: “Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.”

God, teach us to live simply, without excess and fear. May we be captivated by your provisions and formed in your abundant generosity.  Help us to stay alert and wait in loving patience for our God to lead us.  Let us love and serve all those our Lord places before us.  The world is noisy and calling us in many directions, we must be alert always.

Please pray for all those God places before you.  Your visit is not over when you walk out the door, it continues with prayer.  Hold those we serve close to our hearts and lift them up regularly.  God answers these prayers and is most generous with His healing, loving touch.  Pray for peace and let it begin with you.  Pray for our Youth who are generous, loving servants, embracing the challenges God places before them. Work with them for the greater Glory of God.

Blessings,
Lynn