Lenten Reflection - Monday, 3rd Week of Lent
Asking for What We Truly Need
"As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?" - Psalm 42:1-2
We ask God for many things, most of which we do not need, many of which we do not we really want. We are often spiritually lazy: we do not allow ourselves proper time and space to sift through our wants to discover what we truly need.
There is a deep longing in each of us "for the living God," – to experience God's love in real, personal ways. And God will not refuse when asked with trust. Yet, we do not ask for it earnestly. We reason away: "God already loves me, how dare I ask for it? I am not good enough, not deserving enough, not holy enough. Moreover, it seems selfish to ask for it. What if God refuses?" Yet, when we earnestly and consistently ask for it, we risk trusting God with what we truly need. We also actively let go anything that keeps us from experiencing God's personal and deep love for us. Asking for what we truly need makes our hearts tender toward God and free from obstacles that keeps us from God's embrace.
"Lord, help me to risk asking for what I truly need and letting go of whatever that keeps me from you."
Fr Tri Dinh, SJ
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Suggested reflection format
"As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?" - Psalm 42:1-2
We ask God for many things, most of which we do not need, many of which we do not we really want. We are often spiritually lazy: we do not allow ourselves proper time and space to sift through our wants to discover what we truly need.
There is a deep longing in each of us "for the living God," – to experience God's love in real, personal ways. And God will not refuse when asked with trust. Yet, we do not ask for it earnestly. We reason away: "God already loves me, how dare I ask for it? I am not good enough, not deserving enough, not holy enough. Moreover, it seems selfish to ask for it. What if God refuses?" Yet, when we earnestly and consistently ask for it, we risk trusting God with what we truly need. We also actively let go anything that keeps us from experiencing God's personal and deep love for us. Asking for what we truly need makes our hearts tender toward God and free from obstacles that keeps us from God's embrace.
"Lord, help me to risk asking for what I truly need and letting go of whatever that keeps me from you."
Fr Tri Dinh, SJ
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Suggested reflection format
posted by magis at
4:59 PM
