Friar’s Corner: More of Jesus!

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Psalm 3-4, 5-6,12.13.17; Matthew 4:1-11

How can we be more positive during these forty days of prayer and penance? I want to be most positive. Cardinal Mercier said if daily for five minutes we keep our thoughts quiet, close our eyes to our surroundings and our ears to earthly sounds so we can go into God’s presence within our baptized center and say a little prayer to the Holy Spirit, then we shall find peace, joy and direction. I suggest this prayer, which is updated for clarity from his original text:

Dear Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul. I adore You. Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and give me the power to do it. I want to be submissive in everything that You permit to happen to me, only show me what is Your will.

Sneaky snake

There can be many different themes or objectives during Lent. The early Genesis stories speak about the beauty of God’s vast creation and that of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God gave only one command, not to eat of the fruit of the tree in the center of the garden. A sneaky snake told them they would get great benefits from eating that fruit, so they did and, booooom! Disobedience, sin and human punishment entered the world from, which we all inherit as descendants of our first parents. That act “undid” God’s initial plan for humanity.

But as St. Paul teaches us, God remedied that sin by sending his own Son into the world to “redo” God’s initial plan. Jesus Christ is the New Adam. He established a new kingdom and direction of blessings for those who accept his plan and kingdom.

We could also look at the three temptations of the devil to Jesus in the desert before his public ministry. Jesus won the victory by defeating Satan’s temptations. He offers us ways to defeat the evil controls that try to take over our lives and take us in the wrong direction away from God.

Many in the world have tried to take God and sin out of our dictionary and life. We see the effects of this in the world-wide havoc each day in our news. We see it in wars, killings, natural disasters, alcoholism, misused sex, drugs and negative power. God has a different plan to defeat temptations quickly and effectively, living close to Jesus and his plans as revealed by his Holy Spirit.

Deeper in love

A few days ago coming back from a convent Mass, I was listening to praise and worship music. I was searching for a more positive direction for this commentary. There was a 1996 song by Integrity’s Hosanna Music titled, “Deeper in Love.” It speaks about the confusion in our life and the world and where we can find peace and victory.

“There is a longing only you (God) can fill
A raging tempest only you can still
My soul is thirsty Lord
To know you as I’m known
Drink from the river
That flow’s before your Throne
(Revelation 22:1-2).

Chorus:
Take me deeper
Deeper in love with you
Jesus hold me close in your embrace
Take me deeper.

Deeper than I’ve ever been before
I just want to love you more and more.
How I long to be deeper in love.

Nine steps to Heaven

How does that progression happen? As I mentioned last week, and again here, from the Beatitudes in Matthew’s gospel. Our spiritual life’s journey to heaven can be seen in these nine points getting closer to God and his plans for us. You can imagine these as steps to a heavenward ladder. Our early conversion and intimacy with Jesus start with number one, by overcoming the major temptations and sins in our life. Keep climbing up the ladder guided each day by the Holy Spirit and he will enlighten and guide our way. The Pentecost Sequence gives us more insights as to how the Holy Spirit guides and comforts us.

The Purgative way, Blessed are:

1) The poor in Spirit means renouncing our sinful flesh and many possessions. Happiness in not there.

2) Those who mourn where we renounce the world and its power.

3) The meek where we renounce the devils and their works, our pride and prestige. God is the only permanent solution for our human condition.

The Illuminative way, Blessed are:

4) Those who thirst or hunger for goodness. This is a perfection of our gift of Faith.

5) Those who are merciful or loving. This is a perfection of our gift of Hope.

6) Those who are pure of heart. This is the perfection of our gift of love or charity. It involves an integration

of our human faculties and our inner child of God as we find true joy in becoming pure of heart.

The Unitive way, the highest stage, Blessed are:

7) The peacemakers. Those who make things work for good.

8) Those who are persecuted for being known as holy. These do the right things because this is God’s will.

9) Those who are persecuted because they are disciples (students) of Jesus. These are those who proclaim and die for Christ. They love others so much because God loves them so much.

Jesus, during this Lenten season, I want this theme and desire to be deep in my mind and heart. I want more of you and less of me. Holy Spirit, please, lead me deeper in your life for me.

A good and very simple book about growth in these stages is Primer to Prayer by Fr. Bartholomew J. O’Brien, published by Tan Books, about $4.50, ISBN: 0-9625975-8-9. This would be good Lenten reading.. God wants to use us to help him make this world a better place to live in. I pray for you in Jesus, holy Name. Have a wonderful week, closer to Jesus,

Blessings,

+  Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com

(© 2020 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)