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PRAYING THE DARKNESS AND STORMS OF OUR LIFE
Fr. Victor Baltazar, SJ
opening song
opening song
Grace that I seek:
That with God, I am able to face squarely the dark spaces and storms of my life and with courage and trust, I may engage in conversation this Jesus who continues to accompany me through these storms, protecting me and giving me strength to stay in course through the storm and into the light of the sun.
Composition from Sacred Scriptures
Abraham’s Test (Genesis 22). Journey with Abraham, our father of faith who hears God’s heartbreaking command for him to sacrifice his child of promise, Isaac. Accompany Abraham as he grapples with this dark turn in his life. How can a his God turn back on his promise and take back the promised child given to him and Sarah as gift.
The mother and seven children martyred (2 Maccabees 7). How can God allow the just and faithful person fall in the way of violence and martyrdom—why is fidelity to the Law “rewarded” with this violent martyrdom?
Jesus Calms the Storm (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8, 22-25). The image of disciples on a boat in high seas gripped in fear amidst the winds and waves of the storm.
Points for Reflection and Prayer
Reflect on the various faces of “storm” in your life. Recall details of your milieu and what often precipitates a storm for you? How would you describe yourself before, during and after the storm?
What do you find most difficult? threatening? destructive in the storms you have faced? Where did you find help or where did you draw strength to be able to live through your storms?
What face of God did you see? A God who radically recreates you? One who reshapes the world you are in? One who remains in your boat but “sleeps” through your storms? One who masters your storms and whose presence commands calm into your stormy world?
closing song
closing song
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