God
Scripture
Faith
Ellyn and I went to our church to pray last night. My mind was feeling very "staticky." My prayer was not fruitful; I could "hear" God talking to me, but couldn't make out the words. Too much interior noise after a very busy day.
In this condition, I started to walk around the place-- dark, and empty, other then Ellyn off in one corner praying the rosary. I often think better when I'm pacing. Maybe movement would help me pray better too? While meandering, I asked the Lord, "What is the key to getting out of our own minds?"
Of course, I already know the answer to this: to put the concerns of others ahead of our own. To the extent we do this, is the extent to which we "bust out".
But when we're tired, it can be difficult to fully absorb or comprehend that notion. Instead of allowing God to fill us in our emptiness, it's oftentimes easier to simply wallow in it, and to ruminate. Unfortunately, I was falling into that old habit, as I'm particularly susceptible to it.
"Lord, how can I reinforce the solution within myself?"
Feeling somewhat despondent, I slowly lapped the church and wound up back at the sanctuary, I looked up at the statue of Peter on the high altar. I stood there for a minute, hands in my pockets-- just looking. In one hand, Peter is holding a scroll-- the Word? In his other hand, the keys to heaven. Interesting. I kept walking.
Click on any of the images for the full-size originals, by the by:
My gaze then shifted to the crucifix. At the bottom is Earth. At the top is heaven. The vertical component of the cross connects the two. Heaven and Earth. And in the middle of that connection hangs Jesus-- suffering. He not just suffered-- he died.
"Why did he die..." I continued to muse. Ah, to unlock the path to heaven, from Earth of course. I know that answer already too! He purchased for us the opportunity for salvation: eternal union with the Father. What do you normally unlock things with? Of course-- keys. I smiled, amused, and kept walking.
Then Jesus ascended into heaven. Then what? Oh right, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, during Pentecost. So God went down the cross as the Word became incarnate; then up the cross as Jesus ascended into heaven; then down the cross again in the form of the Holy Spirit.
Love requires two parties because axiomatically it's a two-way deal. Fr. Dan's homily last Sunday. And Jesus is in the middle of that bi-directional vertical road: the key to the Father communicating to us (by sending his only son to us), and us communicating with the Father ("the only way to the Father is through me").
But how does this connect to Peter? Well right on cue, here he comes again during my next lap of the church-- this time in stained glass form:
The keys, again. And this time not a scroll, but a book. Definitely the Word.
Oh, the Word! Jesus is the Word! That's right! And Jesus is also the key to unlock the path to heaven! The Word is the key. That's why Peter has both in his hands! And Jesus gave the keys to Peter, making Peter the rock of the church.
I made another slow lap, thankful that my church has all of these devotional items and imagery to help us understand God better.
I wound up in the front corner again. "What is this yellow flag over here? I've been coming here for years, but have never unfurled it before." Ellyn had wrapped up her prayer, so I asked her to unfold it for me. As she did so and the image began to be revealed, I laughed out loud. More keys.
Yes, this is the Holy See's flag. The Church. Jesus's bride. Built on the rock of Peter. The keys came from Jesus, who is the Word incarnate. Apostolic succession. It is only through the Word that we can access the Father. The Word is the key which unlocks the path to heaven.
By now amazed at God having answered my prayer for "the key" by showing me literal keys everywhere, Ellyn and I walked into the sacristy to shut the lights off.
I put my elbows on the counter, and took a deep breath. I offered up a little prayer of gratitude to the Lord. There was this little metal holder which caught my eye, with a gazillion different pamphlets haphazardly placed in it, this way and that. On a whim, I casually plucked a brochure randomly right out of the middle of the mishmash, and opened it up:
Oh sure, because why not, haha. More keys.
And what is the brochure about? The very darned thing I had asked God to reveal to me: the key to getting out of my head: overcoming fear. Specifically? Healing prayer ministry. One of the very spiritual concerns I aluded to in my previous post, with which I was wrestling.
What is it they say about coincidences again?
In this condition, I started to walk around the place-- dark, and empty, other then Ellyn off in one corner praying the rosary. I often think better when I'm pacing. Maybe movement would help me pray better too? While meandering, I asked the Lord, "What is the key to getting out of our own minds?"
Of course, I already know the answer to this: to put the concerns of others ahead of our own. To the extent we do this, is the extent to which we "bust out".
But when we're tired, it can be difficult to fully absorb or comprehend that notion. Instead of allowing God to fill us in our emptiness, it's oftentimes easier to simply wallow in it, and to ruminate. Unfortunately, I was falling into that old habit, as I'm particularly susceptible to it.
"Lord, how can I reinforce the solution within myself?"
Feeling somewhat despondent, I slowly lapped the church and wound up back at the sanctuary, I looked up at the statue of Peter on the high altar. I stood there for a minute, hands in my pockets-- just looking. In one hand, Peter is holding a scroll-- the Word? In his other hand, the keys to heaven. Interesting. I kept walking.
Click on any of the images for the full-size originals, by the by:
My gaze then shifted to the crucifix. At the bottom is Earth. At the top is heaven. The vertical component of the cross connects the two. Heaven and Earth. And in the middle of that connection hangs Jesus-- suffering. He not just suffered-- he died.
"Why did he die..." I continued to muse. Ah, to unlock the path to heaven, from Earth of course. I know that answer already too! He purchased for us the opportunity for salvation: eternal union with the Father. What do you normally unlock things with? Of course-- keys. I smiled, amused, and kept walking.
Then Jesus ascended into heaven. Then what? Oh right, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, during Pentecost. So God went down the cross as the Word became incarnate; then up the cross as Jesus ascended into heaven; then down the cross again in the form of the Holy Spirit.
Love requires two parties because axiomatically it's a two-way deal. Fr. Dan's homily last Sunday. And Jesus is in the middle of that bi-directional vertical road: the key to the Father communicating to us (by sending his only son to us), and us communicating with the Father ("the only way to the Father is through me").
But how does this connect to Peter? Well right on cue, here he comes again during my next lap of the church-- this time in stained glass form:
The keys, again. And this time not a scroll, but a book. Definitely the Word.
Oh, the Word! Jesus is the Word! That's right! And Jesus is also the key to unlock the path to heaven! The Word is the key. That's why Peter has both in his hands! And Jesus gave the keys to Peter, making Peter the rock of the church.
I made another slow lap, thankful that my church has all of these devotional items and imagery to help us understand God better.
I wound up in the front corner again. "What is this yellow flag over here? I've been coming here for years, but have never unfurled it before." Ellyn had wrapped up her prayer, so I asked her to unfold it for me. As she did so and the image began to be revealed, I laughed out loud. More keys.
Yes, this is the Holy See's flag. The Church. Jesus's bride. Built on the rock of Peter. The keys came from Jesus, who is the Word incarnate. Apostolic succession. It is only through the Word that we can access the Father. The Word is the key which unlocks the path to heaven.
By now amazed at God having answered my prayer for "the key" by showing me literal keys everywhere, Ellyn and I walked into the sacristy to shut the lights off.
I put my elbows on the counter, and took a deep breath. I offered up a little prayer of gratitude to the Lord. There was this little metal holder which caught my eye, with a gazillion different pamphlets haphazardly placed in it, this way and that. On a whim, I casually plucked a brochure randomly right out of the middle of the mishmash, and opened it up:
Oh sure, because why not, haha. More keys.
And what is the brochure about? The very darned thing I had asked God to reveal to me: the key to getting out of my head: overcoming fear. Specifically? Healing prayer ministry. One of the very spiritual concerns I aluded to in my previous post, with which I was wrestling.
What is it they say about coincidences again?