Resting in the Lord

At some point during the day, preferably in the morning, (though some do better later at night), it is important to step back and fall into a resting position "in the arms of the Lord", if you will. These moments can give is the verve, the zest we need, for we find our strength and energy in Jesus. As suggested awhile back, doing this in front of the crucifix is very helpful. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, (Edith Stein), whose memory we honor today,has this to say about such moments: God is there in these moments of rest and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need. Then the rest of the day can take its course, under the same effort and strain, perhaps, but in peace. And when night comes, and you look back over the day and see how fragementary everything has been, and how much you planned that has gone undone, and all the reasons you have to be embarrassed and ashamed: just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God's hands and leave it with him. Then you will be able to rest in him--really rest--and start the next day as a new life. Even as a Carmelite nun, St. Teresa's days went very much like ours. She offers a prayer that might be helpful to us. O my God, fill my soul wih holy joy,, courage, and strength to serve you. Enkindle your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new propect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace. In 1942, her road led to the gas chamber at Auschwitz, where, no doubt, she met it with peace. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us. Bro. Rene