Yesterday was Friday — a day when St. Augustine Catholic Church and Student Center has adoration from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., then Benediction and Mass. I prayed. I prayed the good fight prayer. I call it “the good fight prayer,” because I believe I’m fighting the good fight through my conversations with the Lord, the Holy Spirit and with Abba, the Father.
I humbled myself to Him. “Lord, am I right or wrong?” I asked. He answered me. “It’s not a matter of right or wrong.” I questioned the answer, and took a step further. “Then, what is it? Please Lord, tell me what I need to do?” I waited, and can only share with you, the reader, that I was given to wait — that the answer would soon come.
Mass started...
The priest preached on the oil of the five virgins who were late for their Master’s arrival. When they knocked on the door, he told them to go away, that he did not know who they were. That’s because they lacked virtue. In their laziness, they neglected to bring with them enough oil to light their lamps — oil was representative of virtue.
Here we are...
I asked my Lord. I got a partial answer and was told to wait for the rest. I heard a sermon on the importance of virtue, and then I went home. I tuned into YouTube — as I’ve been doing for a few weeks — to listen to Bishop Fulton Sheen. The segment was on “Old Pots.” He quoted a passage from the Old Testament. Jeremiah 18: 1-6
“This word came to Jeremiah from the Lord. ‘Rise up and be off to the potter’s house. There I will give you a message.’ I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay, which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the Word of the Lord came to me: ‘Can I not do to you, house of Isreal, as the potter has done?’ says the Lord. ‘Indeed, like clay in the hands of the potter, so you are in my hand, house of Israel.'”
I understood that God is molding me into something new. Something that I am unaccustomed to. Something, that with God’s help, may, by His grace, turn out more pleasing to Him. I’m sure I have far to go.
What happened to me today…
Today I went to Holy Faith Catholic Church to view the movie “Breakthrough.” I cried from the beginning of the movie, all the way through to the end. Tears flowed, I think, because I was watching the Power of Prayer, in an indescribable journey from death, back to life, and all because of the incredible power of prayer.
I went into the church and cried to Our Lord. “Abba, please help me. Give me your will. Help me to follow it, in a definitive way, so that I may bring you the virtues I need to make my life a more living proof of your love.”
I had with me, the book, “Divine Intimacy.” I read the chapter on The Good Samaritan. Lines that stuck out to me were, on page 796. “There is not true religion without charity toward our neighbor, and above all toward a suffering neighbor.”
In another paragraph: “Unfortunately, even among Christians, there are found devout persons who are scrupulous about omitting a single exercise of piety but have no hesitation about abandoning those who suffer. They have not grasped the real inner meaning of religion, but have stopped at the exterior practices.”
And, in yet another paragraph, “…my God, help me to forget myself for others, and if need be, even give up my life as did many martyrs.”
And lastly, “O Christ, sweet Jesus, give me this holy charity, that I may persevere in doing good and never give it up…” Then came my one true final answer.
Ask everyone you know to pray for Father Marek!
At that moment, a women I’d known for years walked by and gave me a hug. She asked how I was and when she saw tears flowing she realized something was wrong. I asked her to pray for Father Marek and she said she would.
I was the last one to enter the confessional. I pulled the chair out some and said to Father John Phillips, “First time, Father.” I gave up all my sins and received absolution and penance. I prayed the Act of Contrition. Then, I told him the events of the last two days. I asked if he believed this was the word and work of God and he said yes. He responded, “Sometimes when we ask for an answer, it doesn’t seem to come across as what we are expecting.” I asked him to pray for Father Marek, and he said he would.
After Mass, another women passed me by who knows me. I asked her to pray as well, and she said she would. And here I put out a plea to all who read this blog entry. Please everyone, please pray the good fight prayer for Father Marek. I know God is listening to these prayers and will war on our side. Thank you and God Bless you Abundantly.
Peace!