waiting, monday

Monday, December 7

Opening Prayer: Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.  Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22)

Scripture: Psalm 33:13-22

Journal: How are waiting and trust related to each other in your life and heart?  Where are you waiting, in trust, on the Lord?  Where are you not?

Reflection:

 

Waiting is essential to the spiritual life. But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting. It is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we are waiting for. We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus. We wait after Easter for the coming of the Spirit, and after the ascension of Jesus we wait for his coming again in glory. We are always waiting, but it is awaiting in the conviction that we have already seen God’s footsteps. Waiting for God is an active, alert – yes, joyful -waiting. As we wait we remember him for whom we are waiting, and as we remember him we create a community ready to welcome him when he comes. (A Spirituality of Waiting by Henri Nouwen)

Prayer

Closing Prayer: From high in the skies God looks around, he sees all Adam’s brood.  From where he sits he overlooks all us earth-dwellers.  He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.

     No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength.  Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone.

     Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love.  He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

     We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need.  What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.  Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on. (Psalm 33:13-22, The Message)