If I were a wise man,
I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give him?
Give my heart!
I recently saw a profound presentation on the meaning of the Gospel and how that deep meaning is being obscured and corrupted by our modern, western culture.
I do not want you to be put off by the inflammatory title of this video. It is meant to get your attention, not to bruise your spirit. One could equally insert “the West” in place of America, or retitle the piece as “A Critique of the Prosperity Gospel”.
As the end of the age intensifies, we will all need to decide where our loyalties lie and what our priorities are. We see this already in the Middle East, but it is not yet certain how each of our own Western countries will act. Matthew 24 and Daniel 11 seem to indicate that there are nations that will oppose the Antichrist’s Empire, but, if true, that does not entail that those nations will be living in prosperity. The Gospel is the Christian’s first priority: in a poor economy, the Christian is not absolved of responsibility for the spread of Christ’s good news.
On a more personal note, this video has challenged me to think about my own view of my relationship with God. Years ago, at a home-group, we were discussing nature of love. I made the comment that I was concerned I loved God more for what He could do for me than for who He was in and of Himself. I still think about these things. My return to AATW after a self-imposed exile is not a sign that I have “arrived”. I am still working through a number of personal problems, and I thank you all for your sensitivity in respecting my privacy and “room to manoeuver” in this matter.
However, this video, along with some other forms of grace, has given me some intellectual resources to cope with the apparent disjunction between this “vale of tears” and our foundational belief that God is love and that He loves us. Much has been shattered and tested, but the faith is still there, glimmering like a little candle, and we can rest in Christ’s own assurance that He will not snuff us out.
All Along the Watchtower 
This is very difficult for for me to express because asking God for things has never meant much to me. Obviously in the Liturgy there are petitions and intercessions. which one prays.
I watched the video, but that isn’t my idea of God or how I should approach him.
The Eucharist and the Daily Office are the most significant acts of worship in a pastor’s life. This includes intercessions for one’s congregation. Lifting them up into the Divine Mercy is what matters. God knows their needs. I picture them before a crucifix.
The only request that I make to God is to ask for his Mercy.
“Lord Jesus Christ,Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Combined with one’s breathing, its a form of Christian Zen.
The heart of prayer is not asking. Its much more the case of listening of watting on God.
“Abandon your self to Him in longing love,
simply holding on to nothing but Him,
So you may enter the silence of Eternity
and know the unity of yourself with Him.
And if in the silence he does not answer,
he is still there. His silence is the silence of love.
Wait there in patience and in submission.
It is good to wait in silence for his coming.”
I don’t know ho wrote those lines but I found them years ago. They speak to me.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I agree with you on this. Over the years I have come to look at prayer not as way of getting anything. Rather, prayer is a means of becoming. Prayer has an ability to change ME and help ME become more like Christ. I think this is where my brothers and sisters in the Orthodox church have a far better understanding than those in the protestant wing of the church. The aim of a follower of Christ is not the possession of more and more stuff, while that in and of itself is not wrong. Instead, the aim is to become more and more like Christ. Prayer is perhaps one of the most effective ways this can happen.
LikeLiked by 4 people
The Eastern Orthodox Church has got it right.
LikeLiked by 4 people
A quick search uncovers that author of the above is anonymous.
You probably read this book: https://books.google.com/books?id=axu6BAAAQBAJ&lpg=PT51&ots=Yzn9hXiDn1&dq=Abandon%20yourself%20to%20Him%20in%20longing%20love%2Csimply%20holding%20on%20to%20nothing%20but%20Him&pg=PT50#v=onepage&q=Abandon%20yourself%20to%20Him%20in%20longing%20love,simply%20holding%20on%20to%20nothing%20but%20Him&f=true
LikeLike
scoop,
I do have the book by Benignus O’ Rourke. OSA. I also have Martin Laird’s “Into the Silent Land. He wrote the Foreward. .
Possibly Into the Silent Land was the better book. However “Finding Your Hidden Treasure”appealed to me more.
Those last two verses from The Womb of Silence were extraordinarily evocative.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Well penned… I hope you like my blog http://wp.me/p8g2rs-36
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I do like it. I’ve just looked at it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much ☺
LikeLike
Bless you monika
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well written, Nicholas. AATW is for all with an interest in the Faith, and is, I hope, a place where we can help each other. It is good to have you back posting, and the questions posed to you are posed to us all. As the great 3rd Marquis of Salisbury once said when asked to explain his faith: ‘God is love and the world is what it is. explain that?’
LikeLiked by 3 people
Indeed, well done, Nicholas. I wonder if some of this nonsense, and it is that, stem from how some are parented. Let me explain.
God is our Father, fine. But our fathers on earth, at least in my time were fairly hard taskmasters, expecting us to do many things including our duty. And even then, they were completely capable of saying “No”, or “Maybe, later” or even somehow not hearing our loud entreaty. Always dependent on what they knew was good for us.
Why would God be any different than that? Or do father’s these days automatically give their kids everything they want? If so, that may explain much.
In any case, I always pray for what I want, but I expect God already knows that, and will use His infinitely greater judgment, to determine whether it really is good for me to have it.
If I was a better man, I think Malcolm has it correct, but I am not. But, in any case, I think the phrase is, “Thy will be done”.
As the Rolling Stones said, “You don’t always get what you want”. I’m pretty sure that’s a very good thing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Our Lady’s response to the Angel Gabriel is beautiful.
“Be it unto me according to thy word.”
Mary was (is) the true contemplative and we cannot go far wrong if we take her as our example.
Hail Mary full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I completely agree. One of the things that brought me back in the last few years was Our Lady. That started with AATW, specifically Jess’ pilgrimage to Walsingham, which she wrote about so beautifully. Somehow it dropped out of most of my church, which is a shame.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, and I think it is compatible with Lutheranism and Anglicanism. Even if we are uncomfortable about the line, “Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen”, we can still say the rest of the veneration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The founder’s of both churches continued Marian veneration all their life. That’s good enough for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person