Meditation Monday – April 26, 2021
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Do you ever feel like you should get a D minus or an “F” if there was such a thing as a Spiritual Report Card? That you just do not have it together despite your desire and concerted effort to love and honor God? All of us at one time or another has wrestled with discouragement and/or disillusionment. In fact, one of the greatest obstacles in the spiritual life is discouragement. (Disclaimer: If you have never felt this way, this meditation will not be helpful, and you might want to stop reading)

God is not asking perfection of us nor does he expect us to have grandiose spiritual expectations of ourselves. He simply wants us to be present and do what He has given us to do today. Our failings should neither surprise nor discourage us. It is part of being human. I find the following counsel from the Venerable Bruno Lanteri’s to be helpful when I am discouraged. It is my prayer and hope that you they will encourage you as well.

“It is very important that we understand deeply how good God is and not measure him by our own limitations or think that he tires of our wavering, weakness, and negligence.  Our God is not such. Let us think of him as he truly is, filled with goodness, mercy, and compassion, and let us know him as the loving Father he is, who raises us when we have fallen, who never tires of forgiving us, and to whom we give great joy and honor when we seek forgiveness.”

Bruno Lanteri