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 More Thoughts of Hope

Today I really sensed a profound connection with Jesus Christ. It began after my morning quiet time in the Sanctuary of Hope Chapel. We, the community and I, began to say Morning Prayer and I could just sense God’s presence in the psalms and canticles we were praying. It was as if each word carried a blessing with it and a presence. I sometimes imagine Jesus again praying these ancient prayers of the people and I can see Him honoring His Father and seeking His refuge as a man.

After Morning Prayer, we begin the Eucharist. When I listened to the readings they went thru me. I could just see that God is with us in spirit and what is in the heart is more important than any other exterior thing. St. Paul knew that it was the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection that brings true peace and salvation. He above all others could claim the circumcised flesh and being a Pharisee, but above all, he clung to his relationship with Jesus.

At the homily time, I could see how much God wants to find those who are lost. The shepherd with the loss sheep and the woman with the lost coin were all doing their utmost to find what was lost. God does this for you and me. It all begins as a little trickle, then before you know it; you are in a river so wide you can’t cross it. It is like the prophecy of Ezekiel. The stream that flows from the Temple of God Most High and then becomes a river that makes the salt sea turn into fresh water and brings forth trees that are healthy, full of fruit and herbs that bring healing to us. Yes, one begins with a trickle from God and finds an ocean!

I had a similar feeling, sense of God’s presence in a recent trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest. You see the Vltava River in Prague, the Danube Canal in Vienna and then you stand amazed at the full Danube River in Budapest. I began to realize that God is seeking to heal us all, no matter what epoch of history we live in. Being with God is a matter of sheer beauty and will bring us thru the greatest oppressions that humanity can endure. The people I met in Central Europe were truly alive with their faith and were working hard to help others not fall into the hands of any regime that would strip us of our faith and our dignity as human beings.

All through the Eucharist, I felt that Jesus was so close to us all. We were a small group, but the presence was as if we were in a large cathedral, like in Europe. I felt deep joy and the tears were there too. We ended with the song, “America the Beautiful”. Yes, how beautiful is America, how beautiful is the church, the Body of Christ, how beautiful is life, and how beautiful is one whose heart is centered on God.