9781644135945

The Time After Pentecost
our will; that He may pray, fight, work, and suffer within us and through us, His members. “And
I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me” (Gal 2:20). “I will bless the Lord, who hath given me
understanding, . . . for He is at my right hand that I be not moved” (Offertory).
“I set God always in my sight,” not only as a model and example, as the teacher of truth, as
all-knowing, before whose judgment seat I shall some day have to give an account of my stewardship,
but also as the Lord who loves, protects, and guides me, who works, fights, and conquers
within me by the power of His almighty hand. Why do I fear the difficulties of my daily
life? Why do I get discouraged when I consider my own weaknesses, the power of temptation,
my passions, and my bad habits? If only we would lift our eyes more to the Lord and trust His
power to work within us, our lives would be happier, more joyful, more free, and more fruitful.
“I set God always in my sight” that I may serve Him, devoting myself to Him without
hesitation, and trying to discover His will, that I may fulfill it.
“I set God always in my sight” that I may go to Him with everything I have to face during
the day, thanking Him, confessing my helplessness before Him, and asking for His power and
assistance. Every problem of my soul should find its solution in a look upon Him, in a short
prayer to Him, in an act of thanksgiving, or love, or confidence, or repentance, or intercession.
“He is at my right hand that I be not moved.”
Prayer
O God, who hast prepared invisible goods for those who love Thee, pour forth Thy love into
our hearts, that loving Thee in all things and above all things, we may be worthy to receive Thy
promises, which exceed all our desires. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday
With the Church we pray to God that He may pour forth His love into our hearts, so that we
may love Him in all things and above all things. The Spirit of Pentecost, which we have received,
is a spirit of love. But in order to love God in all things, we must, first of all, see Him in all things.
We should see God in all things. Being engaged in many works and duties, we have to deal with
many different kinds of people; some of these are kind to us, some are indifferent, and some
are even hostile toward us. We are subjected to various sufferings, weaknesses, inconveniences,
ailments, trials, and temptations. Wherever we are, we encounter puzzling problems and disasters
that spell tragedy in our own life or in that of others. We enjoy health, nature, culture, the gifts
of the spirit, of the heart, of the body, and prosperity and grace; we mourn the loss of those
who are dear to us and of things that we treasure. We torture ourselves with the fear of evils
that may befall us, of inconveniences that may come upon us, of insults that may be inflicted
upon us, of work that may be too hard for us. We are anxious about our well-being, our health,
the development of our business, our relationship with other people, our reputation, and our
standing with those in high positions. We wish to enjoy the pleasures of life, those that are noble
and those that are less so, devoting much of our time and energy to them. But we do not see the
most important element, both in men and occurrences; we do not see God who operates in all
things. We overlook God’s plan, His all-wise, all-loving, and all-powerful providence; we fail to
463