Faith in God through Prayer: Living in Unprecedented Times

We live in uncertain times with the threat of COVID-19.

Being Carmelites who are called to life of prayer and contemplation, let us do our part in uplifting the spirits of our fellow brothers and sisters by our prayers and sacrifices: those who are ill and fighting for their lives; those in medical/healthcare workers who work tirelessly to give relief to the sick, the "everyday people" (market vendors, baggers, delivery men, police officers and the military) who risk their lives to ensure the safety and needs of everyone. Yes, we pray for ourselves and for our family members and friends, but we also should pray bigger and include others in our daily intentions--people who are incapacitated to pray, do not have time to pray, and who have lost faith in praying.

Watching the news and getting hooked on social media can distract you from prayer. And in this time of great uncertainty, all the more should we anchor our attention in prayer. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." - 2 Corinthians 4:16.

Words of encouragement

Let us reflect on the words of Fr. Bal Nonato to all of us:

BUNGA NG MGA ORAS NG PAGNINILAY SA PANAHONG ITO NG QUARANTINE: CONTEMPLATIVE MOMENTS:

What is your "essence"?

In my retreats with students, I use this short exercise. It went something like this....

When you squeeze an orange, what comes out? Orange juice, yes. And how about lemon? Lemon juice, yes that's right. With this reality, we can basically say then that the juice is the essence of the orange and of the lemon. When they are squeezed the juice that comes out of them is their "essence".

So what comes out of you when life's trials and tribulations squeeze you?

Stripping us bare

I've marveled at the way God is stripping us of our idols during this pandemic crisis. Sports, money, entertainment, food, comfort, the basic freedom to do what we want to do are all being stripped away... and it makes folks uncomfortable. You can tell what your idol is by what makes you the most uncomfortable when you lose it.

A Greater Good

God has the most wonderful way of bringing a greater good out of evil. It's a gift to discover our idols and have them stripped away--uncomfortable, but good. If we don't know we have an idol, we can't purge it out of our lives. God grants us a huge gift--a world-wide examination of conscience as it is, a gift of self-knowledge so that we can return to Him in humility and be reconciled.

So what is your "essence" then? Have you figured it out? What's been coming out of you lately through this world-wife squeezing of humanity?

It comes in the form of how you respond during this time of crisis as God reveals to you your idols and squeezes you. Are you lashing out at others? Condemning? Panicking? Hoarding? Losing your peace in some form or fashion? Spending hours scrolling the news and social media out of fear or curiosity? If so, God is granting you a gift of self-knowledge, an opportunity to take these to Him in one of those drive-through reconciliation lines and surrender at His feet.

Finding Grace

All is grace. God is in this difficult time and will never leave us orphaned. He is bringing good out of this terrible situation both collectively and individually. Let us not miss the opportunity to see the greater good He is calling His people to. Nothing is accidental. Don't miss what God is doing. Embrace it in humility and be reconciled to Him.