Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
On this final day of the Liturgical Calendar, we prepare to enter the season of Advent. As today's scriptures remind us of end times, we may find ourselves reflecting on our spiritual life over the past year. Where have we made progress? Where have we fallen short? How do we begin anew? The Desert Mothers and Fathers advise us to be aware of the 'workshop of our mind'. What we think about mostly is how we will live our lives. Keeping Jesus present in our minds first and foremost and at all times is where we can begin our renewal.
Today's reading from the book of Daniel relates a prophetic dream full of terrible creatures and vivid symbolic images. These apocalyptic Scriptures may put us off, but they can inspire hope and remind us our Loving God is in control. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the end times, saying to his disciples, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy". Stay vigilant and pray always is Jesus' warning to us. This is a simple task that is hard to do! Our minds are taken in a thousand directions throughout the day. Interjecting Jesus, even just the name of Jesus, into our train of thoughts can gradually change our hearts. It is simply what is called 'The Jesus Prayer" and is one of the best ways to begin to think like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and act like Jesus.
Our mind is a powerful, indispensable gift on our spiritual journey. The Desert Mother and Fathers were keenly aware of how vital it is to control the 'workshop of our mind'. Staying awake, paying attention, not letting our guard down, and invoking the name of Jesus constantly throughout our day is the gist of what these ancient spiritual masters advise. It is a simple spiritual habit to establish once we decide to accept, in faith, that simply invoking the name of Jesus, continually returning our mind to Jesus, will deepen our relationship with God and ground us in peace and tranquility. Let us begin the Advent season with a renewal of our minds. Let us use the force of our will to transform the workshop of our minds. By the grace of God, may our minds be focused first and always on Jesus.
Gail Lyman