Luke 9: 46-50
An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.”
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Closeness With God
Up until this Lent, I didn’t make many requests in prayer. Years ago, a priest friend told me not to ask God for things because God already knows what we want and need, so my prayers should be praise and thanksgiving instead of petitions.
Then I learned about Ignatian spirituality.
I’m no expert on this topic, but I learned about listening to my deepest desires and discerning how that revealed God’s will to me. Over and over, I learned that asking God for what I wanted and needed was a way of growing closer, but I just couldn’t get there. My interpretation of Fr. Thomas’ words kept me from being open.
My Lenten reading this year convinced me that we are closest to the Divine when we set aside our privilege and come in our human frailty, vulnerability and want. Christ is able to touch us through our wounds, through our humble and deepest requests, if we have the meekness to allow it. Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel that those who are the least shall be the greatest. Our humility is what brings us closest to him, and what is more humble than asking for something?
Where is my stoicism preventing closeness to God? What walls have I unintentionally erected that keep me from being fully honest with God? What would happen if I dropped those walls?
—Patrice Critchley-Menor has been involved in Catholic social justice ministries for many years. She writes on living Catholic social teaching at Catholic in the 218. She and her husband, Dan have five adult children and live in Duluth, Minnesota.
Prayer
Ask your heart to show God and Christ to you. Grace makes this posible.
—Jerome Nadal, SJ, published in To Set the World on Fire: Praying with the Jesuits