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SOMETHING TO THINK AND PRAY ABOUT THIS WEEK
God is our deepest desire
For the Church, Mary is a model of faith, charity and discipleship. In the Magnificat, there is a fourth quality that underpins each of the others. Mary is seen as a model of desire: she helps us to recognise what it is that we want.
The Magnificat begins: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ (Luke 1:46–47). We note that Mary does not say that she is happy. Happiness might be a contentment that we find for a time in life, whereas joy has a restless quality, a longing. There is an expectation of what we seek, an aching, wonderful anticipation. It’s a bit like the experience of children on Christmas Eve, waiting to see what Father Christmas will bring. I can recall this experience of anticipation much more sharply than any present I ever opened.
I imagine Mary was telling Elizabeth of a Christmas Eve experience much more intense and fuller than that of children waiting for presents. That’s because she longs for what she bears in her womb: God. She welcomes her mission to bring the Saviour to birth. Now she desires always what her Son and God our Father desire in her life, and through her for the life of God’s people.
Every time we reach a milestone or get our hands on something we’ve been after for some time, the afterglow of satisfaction doesn’t last long. Something else always comes along to entice us. The reason this happens is that we don’t just want beautiful things, we want beauty itself; we don’t want this or that good thing, we want goodness itself. In short, we want God. God is our deepest desire.
Eamonn Walls SJ, The Sacred Heart Messenger, May 2023
We remember at this time...
In our busy lives, we often fail to take the time to stop and listen to what God might be saying to us. Like the prophet Elijah, God spoke to him in a whisper and not in the dramatic wind, fire, or earthquake. Unless we take the time to listen and get away from the noise all around us, we might miss what the Lord has to say to us.
‘What is Love asking of you now, in the place, time and circumstances in which you find yourself?’
This important question grounds us in the present and invites us to respond, not with anxiety, but with faith and peace. We pray that we can hear that gentle whisper showing us the way towards God’s plan for us. Amen!
Sacred Space – Daily Prayer for 25 Years
Sacred Space began in 1999 and has offered new content every day since then. You can learn more about Sacred Space on our About page, or if you are a regular, you can share your Sacred Space Story on our Feedback page. For our 25th anniversary, we are featuring stories from people for whom Sacred Space has played a special part in their lives. Please consider sharing your Sacred Space Story.
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