This Lent, Listen in the Quiet

I don't believe anything in life is a coincidence.  I am currently reading C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, and am finding his words to be immensely profound.  In fact, he was a genius or divinely inspired or both.  The "letters" are supposed to be written from one of Satan's demons to another younger, more junior, demon.  He is giving him advice on how to turn a human being's heart away from God - or as he calls Him the Enemy.  They are fascinating because I see some of myself in them, people I know, and society at large.  We all go through periods in life when we purposely turn away from God or we turn away sprung from apathy or ignorance.

As a society, I see signs everywhere of more and more people turning away from Christ and his Church and towards a more muddled type of "spiritualism".  People are wanting to pick and choose what they believe.  And you can hardly blame the human being for wanting to do this, as we are programmed to desire freedom.  We, as Americans, grow up knowing our freedoms and rights and we will fight for them - as our ancestors did.  However, when it comes to Christ's Church, there is one...and we are called to submit.  That's a tough one for a lot of people, thus the venture into the murky waters of empty promises on behalf of preachers with no authority and new age "spiritualism".

Christ is always calling us.  He wants us to be near Him...spending time with Him.  How can we if we clutter our lives with the "busy"ness and the noise.  Think about how much noise we listen to during a day.  It may occur in the form of your job, the traffic outside, your neighbor's lawn care (or lack of it), your pets, your phones, your television, your computer, conversations with friends and family, etc.  How can we hear Christ's calling if we are listening to so many other things?  There is a bit in the "Letters" about how much Satan has a hard time when we as humans are in a quiet space and are giving ourselves completely over to God...just listening.  It is in the quiet that we hear God's answers and we feel Christ near us.

Where else better to be quiet with Christ than in adoration?  As Catholics, we are the only Christians on the planet lucky enough to actually sit with our Lord in adoration.  His presence is immediately felt the moment you walk into a church or chapel where the blessed sacrament is exposed.  The church will be silent. There will be others in there praying.  Jesus is wholly there for each of them...and for you.  I never walk out of adoration feeling more confused or sad or alone.  I always walk out feeling renewed, inspired, and not alone.  He is with us and He is always calling us.  It is up to us to use our free will to turn to Him and tune out the noise.  Demons want us to listen to the noise because it distracts us and pulls us farther away from our Father's home.  I ask that every Catholic find out the hours of adoration at your local parish and spend time with our Lord.  Spend time in the quiet.  Listen.  Listen to what's in your heart because God is there.  Jesus will be with you in that chapel or church - completely present.  What a gift our Church has for us - the followers of Christ.  Take the gift this Lenten season.  You will not be sorry.  In Matthew's account of the Agony in the Garden (Mt 26:36-46), Jesus brings his disciples with Him to watch over Him while He prayed.  When He was done praying, He found them all asleep.  He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?" Jesus is calling you to be awake, to be in the quiet, and to listen to Him.