Journeying to Grace

I look forward to spending prayerful time in the Adoration chapel nearby, and my most recent trip did not disappoint. I mentioned in an earlier reflection that this small chapel has just two sections of a few short pews. I typically sit on the outside of a pew, two or three rows back. I’m tall, so I do my best not to block someone else’s view. But on this visit, many others were already praying in the chapel, and the only place available was in the first row. I quietly made my way to a spot which is directly in front of the altar and monstrance, so I was just a few feet away from them.

In preparation for a peaceful and hopefully spiritually revealing experience, it usually takes me several minutes to settle in, slow my breath, and clear the immediate thoughts from my mind. Finally, as I gazed ahead while kneeling, I remember acknowledging how close I was, and as I contemplated being in the presence of the Lord, I became aware of the invitation to ‘come closer.’ Though I was physically close to this beautiful setting of reverence and peace, this summons was a deep call to my heart and my being to be embraced in the quiet rest of God. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Mt 11:28) ‘Come closer’ is a gentle, loving call to all of us and reaches us at an especially optimal time. A week from now we will begin Lent, and in faith, we will do our best to prayerfully reflect on what walking this extraordinary mission with Christ will reveal to us. Before we engage on this incredible journey of repentance and healing, let’s consider how we can best respond to God’s invitation to ‘come closer.’

To me, hearing ‘come closer’ suggests there is more distance between the Lord and me than I’d like or realized. Though we are people of faith, we still get stuck, stumble backward, or simply just fall down. The Lord knows this, and though we work hard to be near Him in those moments, His invitation to ‘come closer’ asks us to consider the times we have been a little too far away.  What obstacles, hurts, or frustrations keep us from being closer to Him? When we do fall away, even a little, we can imagine the Lord extending His hand to us and saying, ‘come closer, let Me help you.’ It is the constant invitation of love and grace that picks us up again and again.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8)