This reminder from The Catechism of the Catholic Church is so consoling--but more so, it is TRUTH. The truth that Jesus prays for us where we are, in our situations and lives, on our behalf--all the time in our time--provides reassurance that even when we feel we are failing, or when we are failing in some regard, to pray, He is praying for us!
This selection, 2741, explains and provides the reasoning, the theological aspects, as to this reality. I am emphasizing in bold, the one line that uplifts me; yet pondering through every line, every word, opens vast assistance in our prayers, in our praying.
"Jesus also prays for us--in our place and on our behalf. All our petitions were gathered up, once for all, in His cry on the Cross, and, in His Resurrection, heard by the Father. This is why He never ceases to intercede for us with the Father. If our prayer is resolutely united with that of Jesus, in trust and boldness as children, we obtain all that we ask in His name, even more than any particular thing: the Holy Spirit himself, who contains all gifts."
More consolations today. Last evening, the pain in lumbar became exhausting enough that I decided to call the on-call surgeon, asking first who that might be, on-call. (I did not want to risk irritating the surgeon whose nurse had mistaken what I meant in a couple crucial answers, as it turned out, and from whom the surgeon receives input.) The on-call surgeon urged me to call the surgeon's staff this morning; he said he did not think ER could do much for me, not even do an MRI, so not worth making my body pain worse for the wear of someone taking me to ER.
I made no headway this morning with trying to get an appointment with the surgeon sooner than July 17. But I accepted this and with great Hope in God, and prayers for deeper conversions for self and for the nurse, surgeon, and surgeon's PA, I was strengthened to the point that I delighted in suffering whatever it might take, to help any or all of these souls, for it did seem rather an extreme situation that had erupted a couple or more weeks ago--chaotic and bizarre. Devil involved.
Then came the consolation of the couple from whence I had lived last--the couple from that parish who brought me Holy Communion each Sunday. I received a text from the wife, inquiring about what is happening here, and relating various pieces of news in their lives. I also then received several persons there who are in need of prayer, plus assurance on their part to pray for the ones for whom I pray here, including prayers for me. So grateful!
Then came the consolation of Angel (name of parishioner who brings me Holy Communion here in my hermitage). She could bring Jesus at 1 p.m. We talked over several aspects of souls in need, and we offered these to the Lord in the receiving of the Blessed Sacrament. What a strengthening is His Real Presence in us, in the consecrated Host. Angel offered to drive me to the osteo PA appt. tomorrow if the lumbar is still in this mode of high pain.
Then came the consolation of the two young neighbor children who came wanting to do some work. They helped lift nearly everything I needed lifted in the garage, helped water, helped fill the last planter with sand, dirt, and potting soil on top--even were delighted to plant the seeds. They carried up a twin bed frame and put it in the Angel's Room; they carried down a set of bi-fold doors that I will try to sell. They are ever thrilled with their paychecks and choose an ice cream fruit bar as treat.
While the children here, my back became so painful that I decided to call the surgeon's staff and leave a message--risking whomever to hear it, risking irritating the nurse or PA. After a bit, I received a call back. Eleanor, the one who had called me three weeks ago to say my surgery scheduled in two days was permanently cancelled. I thanked her and said again how sorry for anything and whatever I had said that had been rude or caustic, misunderstood, and could she please forgive me? She said there was nothing to forgive; well, I'm not so sure about that. The Lord will unfold what is to come as He always does in His Divine Providence.
But she took down my status, this the 10th day of what seems to be an unrelenting lumbar, that sometimes seems a tad better and other times not at all. She will pass on the information to the surgeon's PA, and I will hear back tomorrow any ideas they have. At least I had opportunity to make amends, which is a tremendous consolation! And I was able to insert the news that I've had medication for the bones in my system and working now for two weeks.
And just as I was getting ready to write the children their paychecks, another consolation came: phone call from the eldest daughter who does not often call, but not due to anything other than her family and career have her going various directions and communicating all day and into evening, even more communicating is not foremost. But we got all caught up with the news of their lives, their joys, their needs. Truly, this call was an extra-much, unexpected gift.
Increasingly, with the bodily pain being consistently higher now, the spiritual lessons and the deeper conversions of my soul are even apparent to my conscious mind! The praying for my deeper conversion of soul, asking Mary to facilitate and the Holy Spirit engendering the conversions and infusing the graces thereof in my soul, has been beyond what I could have fathomed. Thanks be to God for the insights given when I am reduced to clinging to Christ on the Cross in suffering.
Insight was given on the always-answered prayer of deeper conversion, over and over, closer to union in His Real Presence, no matter how long it might take in earth time or beyond. Insight was given in Hope in God. Insight was given in pain as being the prayer, in essence and substance. Offer pain prayer for souls in trouble, for souls being messed with by the devil; offer pain prayer for my imperfect soul, offer pain prayer even for souls excelling. Yes, pain prayer is praise prayer at another level of love and understanding Jesus' pain prayer in all He bore for the salvation of all our souls.
"If our prayer is resolutely united with that of Jesus...we obtain all that we ask in His name...." He wants us united with Him, united with His prayers for us, in being in Him, remaining in His Real Presence. Prayer for deeper conversions of our body, mind, heart, and soul brings us to union; He answers our prayer for all that we ask in His name. He will never fail to answer our prayer of deeper conversion, bringing us into Divine Union in His Real Presence.
God bless His Real Presence in us! What a blessed assurance: Jesus prays for us! Right now He is ceaselessly interceding for us with the Father. Thank You, Most Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
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