The Internet is secular because it holds up a mirror to the world… but just like the world, there are lots of good people and faithful Christians here too.
The only victory over hate is love. The Gospel is really challenging, isn’t it?
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12, from today’s Mass)
In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. (John 16:33)
Offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. (Matthew 5:39)
Sure, there’s a double standard where many people will preach tolerance for everything except God’s word. Maybe it has to be that way. But just keep loving and don’t let them silence you! The only victory over hate is love… You might enjoy this too.
God bless you abundantly!
- Father Shane
Don’t worry! Everyone’s story is very different. Mine makes for easy telling. Some make for short telling. Others… are really long.
If you trust the Bible at all, then you can be sure that God definitely hasn’t forgotten about you, and that there isn’t anybody else on earth that he cares about more than he cares about you. And yes he’s guiding you, but perhaps in unexpected ways right now.
For example, “feeling” that you’re on the right path might happen. Or it might not. Sometimes recognizing that you’re on the right path happens more thanks to knowing (head) than by feeling (heart). You might not be comfortable with that, but since our feelings can very easily mislead us, God needs to get you to the point where you can walk straight even despite interior darkness and pain. Like… right now. His love is absolutely sure for you… it’s his will that you’re trying to discover. Have you talked to him — in a deep heart-to-heart way — about feeling his love?
I would suggest bringing this up with a priest in Confession or with someone who can help you out as a spiritual director. Lots of confusion like you’re feeling takes (1) prayer, (2) sacraments and (3) spiritual direction to sort things out.
Take it easy; let God work according to his pace and his rhythm.
May God bless you on your journey!
- Father Shane
What a great question! I think the key to the answer is in the nature of prayer itself: Prayer always means, as the Psalmist says, “seeking God’s face,” which means the same as seeking his Will and seeking his Love.
More than making demands on God, we discover who we are as created children of his, and we discover how he desires us to be. Prayer is transformational that way: Being in his Presence, we become more like him and our paths become closer and closer to the paths he has traced out for us (usually the “narrow” kind).
So “openness” is almost a synonym for prayer. It’s scary at first, since we feel so vulnerable and even naked before God, but the more we learn to let our guard down and drop our masks and just be in his hands, the happier we will be and the deeper our relationship will become. And the place he has for you will become more and more clearly evident to you.
So no matter what you “seek” (that you may “find”), that’s always the recipe. It’s not easy — prayer is a life skill — but we get used to it.
May God bless you abundantly as you seek his face!
- Father Shane
Well, you’ll get a whole lot of help with that come August, but here are some random ideas that might help you develop some sort of practical resolution:
- Read through the Bible according to one of the many good “reading plans” that are out there. Or just take parts of the New Testament. Or just take the Gospels and read them slowly, meditating on little portions day by day with the aid of a book like this.
- Have you been praying the Rosary often?
- Have you already visited all the shrines and special places of devotion in your area? Visits like that can be good opportunities to pray for your vocation and for all your future sisters (especially those who will be entering this year with you).
- Definitely keeping in touch with a spiritual director this summer will be essential, so that you keep growing and stay motivated. It can be a very difficult time, as the little things start tugging on your heart and the devil does what (little) he can to disrupt the process.
- Been spending time in adoration?
So those are very random things. The big picture is to grow in the natural spontaneous friendship with him, seeking to lovingly desire to do his will through the day. All of what’s above are just means to grow in that friendship.
God bless you, and I’ll pray for you at our Eucharistic Hour tonight!
- Father Shane
