Making Room For God In Our Lives

Cross Roads

As we transition from Gesimatide into Lent, perhaps a brief visit with the fundamental requirement of receptivity to God's influence in our lives, and our commitment to collaborating with God to bring about the Kingdom, may provide a useful focus for the days ahead.

St Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Let us address approaches into the heart of God. That is, how can we better open ourselves to God's grace, His life, His truth, His love, His transforming Presence?

Three Avenues - Liturgical, Works, Devotional

Let us look at three ways in which we may be mindful of the Lord's invitation to accept His loving embrace for our formation in holiness and the salvation of souls.

Liturgical Avenue

St Luke 24:30-35 When (Jesus) was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

1. Novus Ordo
2. Divine Worship

• Engagement of the heart: reverence and docility.
• Service.
• Transcendentals: truth, goodness and beauty.

The Mass is where we encounter Jesus in a most sublime manner. He gave us the Eucharist and the other sacraments as opportunities to encounter him, not just as an idea but to meet him in person.

The forms of the Mass are somewhat like distinct portraits of the same Jesus. In Divine Worship, we have a saying drawn directly from Psalm 96: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (verse 6). We acknowledge Jesus' transforming Presence which shapes our hearts and minds and orients us to reverently worship God. We are immersed in a symphony of truth, goodness and beauty that entices the worshipper into communion with Christ. Each movement of the Ordinariate liturgical symphony celebrates the adventure of faith in Christ: Introductory Rites (Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem, journeying in the Cross to the Holy of Holies); Liturgy of the Word (the Incarnation; preparation and formation); Penitential Rite (the Cross; purification); Liturgy of the Eucharist (the Resurrection and adoration); Holy Communion (Transfiguration; transformation); Closing Rite/Last Gospel (mission to the world for the salvation of souls).

There is almost a terseness to the Ordinary Form Mass that, when the Ordinary Form is celebrated with dignity, seizes the attention and leaves little opportunity for the attention to stray from each aspect of its narrative: Preparation (humility); Word (formation); Eucharist (adoration); Holy Communion; Mission (sending forth).

Communion with Jesus necessarily moves the believer to serve God and neighbour. To embody Christ is to be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit. The Corporal and Spiritual works of mercy are the lived love and truth of the Holy Gospel.

Works Avenue

St Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ 

St James 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

1. Workplace
2. Home
3. Social

• Infusing work with spirituality and virtue.
• Mentoring in virtue; sharing wisdom.
• Respect: honouring fundamental dignity.

As mentioned in the previous Avenue, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are the everyday expression of the love and truth found in the Holy Gospel. We keep Jesus' commands because we love Jesus (St John 14:15).

On the road with Jesus.

By receiving the Holy Eucharist, the very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, we are transformed and bear Jesus to others. We bring Jesus to others, to our coworkers and to strangers alike because we embody the love of God.

Because we are enlightened by the Holy Ghost given by the Son (John 14:16), we are able to acknowledge the identity and dignity of man, created in the image and likeness of God. We are beckoned to be coworkers with Christ for the salvation of souls.

Healthy relationships rely upon virtue for creative encounter. Imagine any relationship without honesty coupled with loving kindness, wisdom, and trust.

Devotional Avenue

St Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

1. Family
2. Fellowship

• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance).
• Mattins & Evensong.

How long can we live without food? without water? How long can we live without air? And living without authentic love? Without the Presence of Jesus, we wither and die (Job 34:14-15). Communion with God is nurtured by God in and through prayer. Daily prayer and immersion in the sacraments is essential for the spiritual life of the disciple of Jesus Christ.

Prayer unites souls in love. Why deny to our spouses, children, friends, even strangers, the opportunity to meet in Christ, to discover a fellowship in truth and goodness? Which is to say, let us offer our gifts in loving service to those are in most need of God's mercy?

We began this brief conversation with a reminder: the Mass is where we experience Jesus in a most profound way. Through the Eucharist and the other sacraments, the Lord offers us the opportunity to meet him—not just as a concept, but in a personal and real encounter.

This Lent, let us be mindful of the Three Avenues for making room for God in our lives.