Easter lasts 7 weeks, for 7 weeks the Altar frontals and hangings are white, and the Readings tell us more about the Resurrection appearances, tells us more about Our Risen Lord and Teacher preparing the seedling church for the great Day of Pentecost. Just as it takes time for a seed to germinate and put out its green, so it takes time with all spiritual growth.
Sometimes the Heavenly Gardener sows fresh seed into our hearts, carefully preparing the soil first, removing old planting, yes, it maybe that He received a good return on the first, second or even third planting, but He has a new work for us to do, now. Something, the Holy Spirit is nudging us, moving us forward to do, something new, but we are just not sure what.
At times like these we need the Teacher’s time, His personal attention so we ought to devote more time to seeking His attention in prayer, waiting. Listening for His answer.
Perhaps we might use the following prayer
Most High glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of my heart
And give me true faith, certain hope,
And perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord
That I may carry out
Your holy and true command
St Francis prayed this prayer, kneeling before the crucifix in the little Church of San Damiano. It was around 1205/6 early days in his Christian calling and Francis knew God was asking him to do something, but what? In the stillness of that place Francis heard Jesus, our Teacher saying, “Francis, go and repair my house, which is falling into ruins” Francis did just that, gathering stones, begging materials as he went to repair the little church. Now we can see, what Francis could not see, Jesus meant THE CHURCH.
From time to time, the Church, and all of us do need repairing, restoration and renewal takes time… whether in the greater body of believers or just in me or you) and it takes time, from the first seed, the first whisper of the Spirit for the full sense of God’s Holy Spirit, His Holy and true command to come to flourish in our hearts and in what we carry out with our hands and feet in the world.
All of us need to be prepared, to take time, and allow ourself to be set aside, to find each for his/herself what the Teacher wants us to do….next.
To ask for light to see the way as it is pointed out,
for true faith, in the One who is speaking to us,
hope which nothing can shake,
love which will still be love for all, no matter what the enemy of our soul throws at us,
sense … nothing stands us in better stead in undertaking a new work of faith then sense. Sense such as Francis had, when hearing ‘Go and repair’ he immediately began to do so with his own hands and little else. All new ventures all have to begin, so let us begin and have faith that God will complete His work in us.
And yes we need knowledge, whether it be knowledge gleaned from the Scriptures or a Word of Knowledge to help us on our way, God will provide it. For our part we need to wait and ask in prayer…. The Teacher will show us what comes next.
(The Prayer is commonly called ‘The Prayer Before the Crucifix’)
Fresh Whispers 