In Waiting Preparation of New Direction

This is the third day in the waiting.  I'm being prepared and am preparing for the New Direction.  An adaptation, this; I am used to coming here to write of whatever lessons being learned, insights received, application of graces of learning from the Lord and the Lord in and through others--applying to daily life of the inner and outer.

A cousin called this morning.  I mentioned to her some of what I'm benefitting in listening and learning from a marvelous scholar and theologian who is also very "grounded" and with good sense of humor. I'm being opened up to my purpose and mission, while at the same time I wrote a couple emails, one in answering someone's question, but in which I went into critical analysis mode which helps me understand and have compassion, but the words can seem and perhaps are, harsh and even cutting in the critique.  

Has to do with how I can now see more clearly the deeper aspects, and of the trinitarian parts of most all systems and structures, including a tripartite reality of each and every person and the balance that is best for health and successful preparing for God's coming into us and us going into God--increasingly frequently, longer periods of earth time, or for some brief glimpses and effects of God within and without, in our lived lives.

The Mass Gospel from yesterday I will cut-and-paste in here for my body needs to get out of bed and attempt some physical, manual labor even if for an hour of something not too bodily difficult.  But until Pentecost, a week from tomorrow, in the actuality of the spiritual preparation the Lord is providing, the Holy Spirit enacting within body, mind, heart, and soul--it is as if in God's waiting room.  While waiting, much is being given, received, and also much praise of God in appreciation for the slow impartation and development of what will be the actual New Direction once it becomes not new and not direction, but arrived-at place that will evolve within that direction but not as a destination for alteration.  The transformation by God is on-going; the Holy Spirit directs as the love of the Father and the Son.

This waiting period could be painful, but thus far it is not other than in the temporal bodily aspects of the consistently higher level of physical pain.  But even that is for good purpose in the preparation involved in any New Direction that we all experience periodically in our lives if we are aware of our ever-seeking God.  Being in bed quite a bit, from pain precluding my being up and distracting with manual labor--this, too, has beautiful purpose and meaningful necessity in the preparation.

The following Gospel as well as the citation from letter to monks by John of Karpathos, gives hope in God while in the waiting between one's ascension with Christ and the coming gift of the Holy Spirit.  Just eight more days, here, that will be filled with whatever necessary for what God desires and wills, until the Holy Spirit imparts.  I've left the one world and await the next, so to speak.  No coincidence that this is occurring in alignment with the Church's liturgical Easter Season, the Ascension of our Lord, and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Sunday next.  Wait...and see, and embrace the experience of the Holy Spirit!  No idea what, but faith and assurance there is and will be. 

Love God in Three Persons!

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16,20-23a.

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."

John of Karpathos (VII century)

monk and bishop

Letters to the monks in India (Philokalia; trans. G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, Kallistos Ware, p. 322-323)

"Your affliction will be turned to joy" (Jn 16:20)

"What is gained," it is asked, "when we suffer affliction in soul and body, always praying and singing psalms? Do not those who neither pray nor keep vigil enjoy happiness and success throughout their lives?" Again they complain: "Behold, the houses of others are built up and we call others blessed"; and the Prophet adds: "And servants of God who were not ignorant said these things" (cf. Mal 3:15-16 LXX). Yet we should not think it strange that they endure affliction and various forms of sorrow, patiently awaiting through many trials and temptations whatever their Master gives. For they have heard him say in the Gospels: "Truly I tell you, that you who are near me shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice" (Jn 16:20)

Yet after a little while I will visit you through the Paraclete and drive away your despondency; I will renew you with thoughts of heavenly life and peace and with sweet tears, of all of which you were deprived for a short time when you were being tested. I will give you the breast of my grace, as a mother feeds her baby when it cries.

When your strength fails in battle I will fortify you with power from on high, and I will sweeten you in your bitterness, as Jeremiah says in his Lamentations, speaking of the Jerusalem hidden within you. I will look upon you and your hearts will rejoice at my secret visitation; your affliction will be turned to joy, and no one shall take that joy from you (cf. Jn 16:20-22).