Most of us know, from personal experience, that moments of crisis and difficulty can bring with them an awakening: to a newer level of faith and a new appreciation for the presence of the Lord in our lives. The Church as a whole experiences much the same whenever it is challenged to grow and change as the Spirit moves in our midst and God constantly renews us. Life itself challenges us to open our eyes and our hearts to see God at work in so many ways, drawing us closer to His embrace and challenging us to draw closer to His Good News. Trials and difficulties can be “turning points” where we are presented with a chance to grow in God’s grace or remain stuck where we are.
As we prepare to celebrate the Ascension of the Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit (this weekend and next), let us be sure to pray for all the openness we need to go where God calls us to go and to be the kind of people God calls us to be.
Let us pray. ““Loving God, we ask you to bless all the new beginnings that come our way. Though much is constantly changing in our lives, we know your love for us will never change. Please remind us of your presence in the kindness, patience, and guidance we encounter each day. May the light of Christ shine on us, in us, and through us, so that others will see it and give you the glory. In Jesus’s name. Amen.”
