I really love this sermon, and I thank Father for bringing it to us. I have recently tried to increase my prayers to our Father in heaven, because I seldom had formed any consistent habit--the Our Father in the rosary was about it, and the prayers in mass that are addressed to Him. I never had a father of my own. He was killed before he was twenty in WW2, even before I was born. My stepfathers had no interest in parenting and I had to meet all the challenges of growing up by myself except for the presence of my holy, kind parish pastor, whom I loved from a distance. And my concept of God the Father probably suffers from my experience, or lack thereof. When I set out, then, to find a picture for my little home altar, I found lots of old men with long beards looking somewhat stern and remote, and they didn't seem likely to help my cause. Until I stumbled upon one that is different. The flowing beard is there, and the dove upon the lap, but the eyes are looking directly into the viewer's. And what a look! This God the Father is neither remote nor --I hope I will not venture into the thickets here--unchanging. God looks almost worried. His eyes look a little anxiously into mine, as if concerned, really concerned, about my life and my problems and my temptations and the fate of my soul. His mouth is partly open, and He is not stern, no, His mouth is full of pity. In one light, one almost feels like consoling *Him, the One Who had to make that decision about how to save the world, Who had to bear the pain of the souls gleefully going to hell anyway despite the heroic sacrifice of His suffering, dying Son. I know this is a contradiction to the theology of the divinity. God is unchanging, and perfect. He is not hurt. I cannot console Him. But I try, I can't help it. He is a person even like ourselves, for we are made in His image. Needless to say, this picture has made a difference in my prayer life. And my whole life. I have a father. He is kind, and He loves me and worries about me (as He needs to!). If I ask for the right things, He will give them to me, as Father says here. And even if I ask for what might not exactly be the right things, like a more bearable job for a son, or even to win the lottery (which I do not in fact ever pray for), He understands. He knows my life and how hard it is to be good and do good in this cold world. I am not putting the link to this picture, which is in google images with the appropriate search term. There is benefit to looking at the very many pictures of God the Father, and in fact, a different one might serve you better than this one, for me. Or perhaps you do not need a picture. If we are to follow Father's advice here and ask for the right things, one will do better to ask them as the prodigal son did, to his good father. You may be lucky enough to have that concept from experience.
Who else wonders the graces we neglect to ask for to our blessed mother, as explained to St.Catherine Labourne when she asked why not all of Marys fingers were radiating rays of light. Mary explained these are the graces people neglect to ask for.
Pray for our priest. God bless them!
God bless the SSPX! Ave Maria.
I really love this sermon, and I thank Father for bringing it to us. I have recently tried to increase my prayers to our Father in heaven, because I seldom had formed any consistent habit--the Our Father in the rosary was about it, and the prayers in mass that are addressed to Him. I never had a father of my own. He was killed before he was twenty in WW2, even before I was born. My stepfathers had no interest in parenting and I had to meet all the challenges of growing up by myself except for the presence of my holy, kind parish pastor, whom I loved from a distance. And my concept of God the Father probably suffers from my experience, or lack thereof. When I set out, then, to find a picture for my little home altar, I found lots of old men with long beards looking somewhat stern and remote, and they didn't seem likely to help my cause. Until I stumbled upon one that is different. The flowing beard is there, and the dove upon the lap, but the eyes are looking directly into the viewer's. And what a look! This God the Father is neither remote nor --I hope I will not venture into the thickets here--unchanging. God looks almost worried. His eyes look a little anxiously into mine, as if concerned, really concerned, about my life and my problems and my temptations and the fate of my soul. His mouth is partly open, and He is not stern, no, His mouth is full of pity. In one light, one almost feels like consoling *Him, the One Who had to make that decision about how to save the world, Who had to bear the pain of the souls gleefully going to hell anyway despite the heroic sacrifice of His suffering, dying Son. I know this is a contradiction to the theology of the divinity. God is unchanging, and perfect. He is not hurt. I cannot console Him. But I try, I can't help it. He is a person even like ourselves, for we are made in His image.
Needless to say, this picture has made a difference in my prayer life. And my whole life. I have a father. He is kind, and He loves me and worries about me (as He needs to!). If I ask for the right things, He will give them to me, as Father says here. And even if I ask for what might not exactly be the right things, like a more bearable job for a son, or even to win the lottery (which I do not in fact ever pray for), He understands. He knows my life and how hard it is to be good and do good in this cold world.
I am not putting the link to this picture, which is in google images with the appropriate search term. There is benefit to looking at the very many pictures of God the Father, and in fact, a different one might serve you better than this one, for me. Or perhaps you do not need a picture. If we are to follow Father's advice here and ask for the right things, one will do better to ask them as the prodigal son did, to his good father. You may be lucky enough to have that concept from experience.
I know I am unworthy. I need many graces.Good priest pray for me
We are all unworthy. But you have received the grace of asking. Perseverance, never give up. That is our Hope!
I have learnt so much from this sermon
"We ask God who already knows our needs." "Prayer is a conversation between God and you." SSPX Priests are bringing us to Heaven.
Great insights!
Who else wonders the graces we neglect to ask for to our blessed mother, as explained to St.Catherine Labourne when she asked why not all of Marys fingers were radiating rays of light. Mary explained these are the graces people neglect to ask for.