When I thought I had nothing to rejoice at, my spiritual director encouraged me to cease all other forms of prayer and focus on constant thanksgiving. Gratitude back then felt like a heavy burden as I counted my blessings through heartbreak. (read more)
I remember the temptation to focus on nothing but my pain and the unwillingness to see the multitude of gifts offered to me each day. The prayer of thanksgiving seemed far away from my spiritual comfort zone.
Yet, Jesus encourages us in the Gospel this Sunday to recognize our blessings and experience gladness even in times of lack when we thirst, hunger, and mourn. God faces the poor, sick needy and afflicted and says happy and fortunate are you, for there is something more for you than the eyes can see and the mind can comprehend.
In the moment of need, God didn’t make me wait long for His grace, and already on the second day of my obligatory thanksgiving prayer, my heart delighted in pure, unconditional joy.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed is the experience of spiritual richness which we know comes from beyond us. When we rejoice, though, we know we didn’t have it in us just a moment ago. When we are filled with a merciful insight. When we find ourselves loved beyond limits and imperfections.
