Men's Rosary

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”  (James 4:8)  So, how do we draw near to God.  Most would answer at Mass, Adoration, retreats, seminars, small groups, and the like.  While true, these are limited times to encounter God.  Chance encounters are lacking in how God calls us to himself.  He is all around us. He is present at every waking hour, every second of our lives.  He is responsible for every breath we take.  Without God there is nothing.  “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”  (John 1:3) 

It is too easy to be caught up in our own life.  We can tend to depend on ourselves too much, forgetting that we are capable of little to nothing on our own.  I have gone through the day focused on work and not really noticed the day for what it is – God’s blessing!  I would assume I am not the only one to have done this.  We are never not in God’s presence, because he is present in everything.  We simply fail to recognize him and turn our attention to him.  We, many times, are not present to God.  “Hear this, O Job;  stop and consider the wonderous works of God.  Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his clouds to shine?  Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wonderous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?” (Job 37:14-16)  

There are distractions and attachments that hinder our recognizing God’s presence.  These could be our hobbies and past times, our friends, our work.  The noble idea of providing well for our family and being financially successful can also prove to be hinderance to being present to God. This can also be especially dangerous as our success can lead to love of money and an insatiable desire for more. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave or forsake you.”  So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper;  I will not fear;  what can man do to me?”” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

We encounter God everywhere.  We only need to look for him and include him.  In our day look around at nature, notice the sky and the stars at night.  See God in his creation and thank him.  We could, and probably should, give thanks for every breath we take, for the life it supports is all gift and a sign of God’s love.  In all that we do, we can be aware of God’s presence and offer our work and actions for him, striving to unite our will to God’s will.  Our very living can become an act of prayer, a union with God, ever present in all that we do, and all for his glory.  When we live like this, the times at Mass, Adoration or any other spiritual event will be more profound and effective.  “One way to re-collect the mind easily in time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander too far in other times;  you should keep it strictly in the presence of God;  and being accustomed to think of him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.”  (Brother Lawrence of the resurrection, OCD)  It is true that we all strive to be worthy of heaven.  But we do not need to wait to be in the presence of God.

“I do not well see what more I shall have in heaven than now.  I shall see the good God, it is true;  but as to being with Him, I am wholly with Him already upon earth.”  (St. Therese of Lisieux)