Reflection for Wednesday, March 24, 1999: 5th week in Lent.

Abstract

"When the heart is hard and parched up,| come upon me with a shower of mercy.||When grace is lost from life, |come with a burst of song.|When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides|shutting me out from the beyond,|come to me, my lord of silence, |With thy peace and rest."|Gitangali by Rabindranath Tagore.|Selection from song #39|Do you sometimes feel that you are too busy to pray? Do you wish God had voice mail so that you could quickly leave a message and avoid a conversation!?|Harried and hurried through our days, we can miss God's abiding presence and invitation.|In John's gospel, some people actually argue with Jesus. They push his words away and listen only to their own self-talk. Like you and me, they can fail to hear this Jesus who came forth from God to be with us here.|Perhaps in these final days of Lent you might take up this challenge. I invite you to follow the advice of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus who asked others to spend a few minutes reflecting on how God had been present in their day. Specifically, how has God blessed you through service of others, and through holy desires to pray and to help others? How has God given you a sample or taste of Jesus' resurrection?|Consider this day renewing your search for God's abiding presence and love that encounters us as a shower of mercy, a burst of song, or even as a God-given peace and rest.