It is time for us to deliberately give praise to God:

It is time for us to deliberately give praise to God:

How often we quickly run through our prayers, making sure that we cross the T’s and dot the I’s.  It isn’t as though if we miss a time element or forget one or more prayers that the effort is somehow lost.  But rushing through any type of thanksgiving in order to meet a required obligation can become words spoken without the praise that we should have towards our God. 

A certain manner of thanking God through our designated type of praying should be done in a quiet and contemplative silence that is known only to God.  Common prayer with a group is essential where two or more are present and Christ is there among them.  However, getting into a personal conversation where God is the prime element of discussion and from there we will find a monologue is better when our Lord has the opportunity to speak alone.

Man’s faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge of the existence of a personal God.  But for man to be able to enter into real intimacy with him, God willed both to reveal himself to man and to give him the grace of being able to welcome this revelation in faith.  The proofs of God’s existence, however, can predispose one to faith and help one to see that faith is not opposed to reason.  (CCC 35).

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him…For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.  And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.”  (CCC 2012).  

That puts us in a very responsible position when the actual premise of God is so personal that we cannot forget or even side-step what it is to become one with God as we are one with him.  “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that the world may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”   (Jn 17: 22 - 23).  (The priest’s prayer before his Passion).

God's love is “everlasting.”  “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you."  Through Jeremiah, God declares to his people.”I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”  (CCC 220).

We can read about our God and his everlasting love, but to become one within his essence is another truth that is needed to share in a personal manner that no one can explain; just accept this reality as intimacy with the Lord that has no explanation.  

Ralph B. Hathaway