Prayer: Direct Communication with God

Sometimes we pray, and it seems that God does not answer, but yet He hears every word before we even conceive our supplications.

I have had much on my mind and heart lately, such a heavy burden to carry! The anxiety over my job, the anxiety over my papers (first time with academic anxiety - I don't like it), and anxiety over a talk I have to give on Wednesday to the RCIA class. Nothing major, but it was just another thing on my plate. Anxiety over tomorrow's trip to the Basilica with RCIA for the Rite of Sending has also been a source of anxiety because it is a big chunk out of my day, time I need to utilize for my class. And then anxiety over the winter storm that is now pummeling us with nearly-full force, which promises to cause ever more wreckage and anxiety come Monday, for bad weather makes my job even worse and adds exponentially to our workload. And the impossible demands of my employer.

And that brings me to today; this morning, I was speaking with one of our priests and I told him that I was hoping Jesus would speak very directly to me during Adoration this afternoon, and tell me what to say on Wednesday. He of course joked about me making demands of God, and I responded that I would not do that (anymore) but that God's direct answer to me would benefit the group of people I have to speak to!

Well, this afternoon's hour-plus with Jesus was indeed fruitful. He doesn't always assist me in such a way, but today, He gave me what I needed and then some!

Firstly, he helped to direct my studies for the paper I began this morning. Things are a little clearer now and I have a better idea of what I need to do to complete that one and the others.

Then as I read, I came across the answer as to WHY I hate my job so much! It's so obvious, and we've discussed this concept at work, but I didn't realize the theology behind our discontent. And because I know there are others of you in the same boat, I will share the passage that so enlightened me this afternoon:

But capitalism too, the capitalism of the first world, is guilty of a like fault, a like denial of the dignity of man. For advanced capitalist societies have turned people away from their authentic personhood to the consumerism of "a web of false and superficial gratifications" or have organized work so as to maximize profit with no concern whether the worker, through his labor, grows or diminishes as a person, whether he is treated, and then treats himself, as an end and not as a means.

A true and just society must take the dignity of man as its basis and its goal, and must serve man instead of making man serve it or things or profit.
("On Karol Wojtyla", Peter Simpson, p. 88)

WOW! That's my company in a nutshell!

And then my talk for Wednesday; I read over the scriptures I have to discuss, and the answer was right there before my eyes. Although I had read these passages already, I wasn't able to "see" what I needed to do, but suddenly, it became clear.

I looked up at Jesus, teary-eyed, and thanked him from the bottom of my heart for the graces of just an hour at his feet, the answers to questions, the answers to prayrs, the direction he provided to help me overcome the immediate hurdles in my life.

Unfortunately, He didn't tell me WHERE to look for another job, but given the passage I read, I know better where NOT to go, and that, sometimes, is a good portion of the battle.

Please go spend time with Jesus. Bring everything with you, put it in His hands, and give Him the freedom and permission to answer according to His will. Do not make demands, but rather, be open to what He wants to say. Sometimes Jesus will answer everything, sometimes he will leave you to ponder, and sometimes He seems to be silent. But even in His silence, He is with you, He understands you and your situation even more cleary that you do, and in those moments, He asks only for your faith and your trust.