retreat

I am in the process of making my annual retreat, and wanted to share a few reflections with you.  About thirty priests are gathered and are being led by Fr. Jim Conroy, a Jesuit.  We began with two sessions yesterday, and had another session this morning.  Fr. Conroy is from Pittsburg (a big Steelers and Pirates fan), served in Vietnam before entering seminary, and currently works with an initiative that is promoting the Ignatian Way among lay people so that these spiritual exercises might not become extinct even as the number of priests declines.

Yesterday's sessions focused on prayer.  And the one thing that popped out of his talks for me was the possibility that we have 'prayer' all wrong.  Our approach to prayer, at least I know that I usually approach prayer this way, is to come to God with our lists.  We have lists of things we are thankful for and lists of things we need.  And so we enter into prayer - both personal prayer and communal prayer - armed with these lists.  Really, we come to God with our agenda.

Perhaps another approach would help us achieve what we are looking for alot more effectively.  And that is to leave behind everything that is happening in our world, in our life, in our mind and heart, as we enter prayer.  And when we come into the presence of the Lord, simply acknowledge His presence, and feel His love holding us  and enveloping us.  Scriptures tell us we have been made in the image and likeness of God.  Therefore, we are love, just as He is love.

When we can truly feel this, then we can approach anything and everything in life with love.  Then, as I say in every homily, will we be on the road to true and lasting peace.

Today's morning session focused on the priesthood as a 'timely vocation'.  What he said to us priests is true of all disciples of the Lord.  God calls us to follow Him, and above all, be faithful to Him.  As in the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus will take whatever we have, no matter how much or how little, and feeds his people with it - IF we are faithful to him and allow him to do it.

Alot to think about and meditate on and pray with.  Internet access has been a problem, but I am hoping to blog again during the retreat.  Pray for me as I will for you.