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You will find the living God in the pages of the Bible. You will find [God] also just exactly where you are. When Jesus knew that he would not have much longer with his disciples he knew that they were sad at heart and he said to them: “It is for your own good that I am going because unless I go, the advocate will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send [the Spirit] to you… I still have many things to say to you, but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes [the Spirit] will lead you to the complete truth.” (John 16:7, 12, 13) Jesus does not break his promise. God has sent the Spirit of truth, [the Spirit] dwells in your heart. You have only to listen, to follow, and [the Spirit] will lead you to the complete truth. [The Spirit] lead you through all the events, all the circumstances of your life. Nothing in your life is so insignificant, so small, that God cannot be found at its [center]. We think of God in the dramatic things, the glorious sunsets, the majestic mountains, the tempestuous seas: but [God] is the little things too, and the small of a passer-by or the gnarled hands of an old man, in a daisy, a tiny insect, following leaves. God is in the music, and laughter and sorrow too. And the grey times, when monotony stretches out ahead, and these community time to steady, solid growth into God.

God may make the [divine Self] known to you through the life of someone who, for you, is an ambassador for God, in whom you can see the beauty and truth and the love of God; anyone from St. Paul and the apostles through all the centuries to the present day, the great assembly of the saints and lovers of God. It may be that there is someone who loves you so deeply that you dare to believe that you are worth loving and so you can believe that God’s love for you could be possible after all. Sometimes it is though tragedy or serious illness that God speaks to our heart and we know [the Presence] for the first time. There is no limit to the ways in which God may make [the Presence] known. At every turn in our lives there can be a meeting place with God. How our heart should sing with joy and Thanksgiving! We have only to want [God] now in this moment—and at any moment in our lives—and [the Presence] is there, wanting us, longing to welcome us, to forgive us all that has gone before that has separated us from [being present to the Presence]. “If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23) God makes [a] home in you. They are not empty words. It is true. “Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.” This is prayer. Isn’t this the answer to all our yearning, our searching, our anguish, to all the longing, the incompleteness of our lives and of our loving? Until we dwell in [God] and allow [God] to dwell in us we shall be strangers to peace.

—From Prayer by Mother Francis Dominica

Every year in the very beginning of my annual pilgrimage back into familiar Advent readings, these words from Mother Francis Dominica appear like a silky apparition from the murky depths of contemplative gold. A quick search online reveals that Mother Dominica is a specialist in hospice care. That in-and-of-itself must somewhat explain her insights into the ministering wings of Presence. I’ve read this piece several times this week already. I thought I had posted this before, but if I did, I can’t find where or when I did. So, I’m posting it anyway. I think it will be a blessing to us if we can remain still long enough to feel “the peace” in Mother Dominica’s words. It’s a great kickoff for the Advent season!

Love and blessings to you all!

Mike

LOVE LARGE!  It matters.