May 9 Sat
How can I spend time with God?
“What do you consider more important,” asks St. Augustine, “the Word of God or the Body of Christ? The Word of Christ is no less precious than his Body. Take great care that the Word does not fall to the ground; gather it up in your heart.”
The Christian life is a partnership with God’s grace. Man does not fight alone; he has all the help of heaven. The Lord’s hand is present in the battles he must fight against the world, the flesh, and demons, which wage war against him both outside and within his soul. Man’s participation is necessary. If we do not walk the path with steps that require effort, we will not attain the prize the Lord has reserved for us at the end. Human contribution is absolutely necessary.
But when we pray, we need to underline the other side: God’s action within us. I would now like to highlight our attitude of listening to what the Lord is whispering into the ear of our souls.
A Christian’s inner growth is not so much the fruit of sweat as of grace.
Stop and listen to God, to that God,
• who is a Friend to you,
• who makes his home in your home,
• who accompanies pilgrims,
• who shares in your joys and sorrows,
• who reveals to you the mysteries hidden in his heart,
• who brings you his life, his fire, and his love.
What should your attitude be now in the face of these visits from God?
The first thing that comes to mind is to tell you—and to tell myself—not to be in a hurry.
Sit at Jesus’ feet; let love enter your soul. The time has come to listen to him. Cast selfishness, noise, and clamor from your soul, and decide to spend time with God.
How do I find Jesus in the Gospel?
If you grew up Catholic, chances are you've heard the Gospels hundreds of times. Familiar stories, familiar words — and maybe, if you're honest, a familiarity that has started to feel a little flat.
That's not a faith crisis. It's actually an invitation to talk to Him.
Because the Gospels were never meant to be information to absorb. They were meant to be encounters — and encounters, by definition, require presence. Yours.
The early Christians didn't just study what Jesus said. They entered the passage they were reading — and it changed everything about how they lived, worked, suffered, and loved.
The same is available to you. But it requires slowing down.
Practical application: The next time you read a Gospel passage, resist the urge to move quickly. Read it once for content. Then read it again and ask: "Who am I in this story?" Are you the one being healed? The one watching from a distance? The one who almost missed it?
Pray and read with your imagination, not just your mind.
Real encounters raise questions. And in prayer, questions aren't a problem — they're a doorway.