- Facing Christ and meeting him means seeing the truth about ourselves as we truly are (think of Peter: "Leave me, Lord, I am a sinful man")
This was very profound for me. Sometimes, as ridiculous as it is, I try to make myself look better to the Lord than I really am. (AS IF he doesn't know the truth!) This is the reminder I need to lay it all out there trusting that He will not reject me for my faults and weaknesses. After all, even with Peter's weaknesses, Jesus still appointed him the head of the Church.
- We don't always know how to pray because we don't know the person we're praying to.
It is so important to get to know God through scripture. I think many of us trip up in our spiritual lives by looking at prayer as a wish-granting time, or a time to make our wishes known and expecting them to be granted the way we want. I am still learning that sometimes the best prayer is to simply ask God to do with us what He wills. He wants us to be happy and He knows best of all how to make that happen.
- Our longing is prayer.
Oh, how freeing this is! I have many times been caught up thinking that I have to form all of my prayers in perfect-sounding sentences, as if I'm taking a language arts exam! No, truly our desire is a form of prayer, and the longings that we unite with the Lord are ways of communicating with him.
I do not remember the priest's name, but I am so thankful for all he shared that day.
