As usual, the mid-time of this semester is just like the peak of the curve during the study cycle. A list of homework, papers, assignments and some other things need to be done before the teaching block which begin next month is waiting me. What a week then! Lord, have mercy. I trust in your kindness and faithfulness to deal with this all, forgive me my lethargy.
And this time, I want to try to get out of the crumple hours and silence my mind. It is always good and sweet to give thanks to Our Mighty and Good Lord in everything and every time, and yes, even now. He is so great and faithful and I fall in love with the Psalm I read last night, Psalms for 28th day: Psalm 132-138 expressing this all in a beautiful way! And I realize that in my weakness and limit, somehow I didn't recognize the mercy and helps from the Lord which are so abundant and rich in every single breath of mine and even much more than my hairs. Lord, have mercy on Thy servant!
The world and our passions tempted us to dominate over anything and to fulfill its desires. And unfortunately even in the slightest amount, this can be great block for us to response His Loving Hands. We see how people crave for popularity, prosperity and many things. When something has been given him even in a great manner, yet man is tempted to look for a higher one and forgetting what he has been granted for. This reminds me to the story of ten lepers with only one Samaritan who came back to glorify the Lord and to give Him heartfelt and joyful thanks.
Only in Him is our true blessedness, rest and shelter, that is our happiness! Awesome and Trembling is His Power and Love. There are at least two choice to respond to it and I would like to borrow C.S Lewis' terms for this, to look at Him and His love at a distance and say, 'well, yes that's beautiful, but what is that for me, I have my own business...' or to look along Him and His Wonder, which means giving up our whole being or to abandon ourselves to Him and His Love because its Beauty and Bliss captivate our hearts and souls and minds and strength and move us to love Him, Our Lord God and entering His Holy Body.
O happiness, the more man pursues you with their own way, the more you flee from him; but you pursue those who are thirsty and hungry for Lord's righteousness to be their rewards from on high!
Therefore, it is always good to praise and give thanks to the Lord every moment and together with St. John Chrysostom and our Holy Mothers and Fathers and all the saints proclaim: Glory to God for all things!
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)
ReplyDeleteYours are those feet, Yudhie my brother, for the good tidings you bring in this wonderful post.
Thanks brother Romanos, let's pray to the Lord that He might strengthen our faith in Him so He alone will be with us in the battle!
ReplyDeleteMaria: :-)
Ian: Thanks very much for your encouragement and prayers. My prayers with you too, brothers and sister in Christ!