Too sick to pray Lord..

I've been to sick to pray Lord.---Willie Nelson

 

We walk a narrow road, filled with joy, filled with woe. The punishing blows of loneliness are sometimes too much for us to bare. We become bitter and afraid, then we become angry and despondent. After this, we become numb, and the wound given to us by our hope seems fatal. We lose strength to do God's will and we don't even want to go to Mass or pray. Willie Nelson sings, "I've been too sick to pray Lord." I know how this feels. This is real, all of this, all of these emotions and crippling thoughts. What do we do? How do we go on? We must take a breath. In our tears and anger and sadness, we must turn to Mary for guidance. She stood by the cross with her fear, loneliness, and wounded heart. We look through her bloodshot eyes upon this mangled man hanging there gasping for breath. We find meaning in our confusion by meditating on His suffering. Instead of saying 'why me?', we can say with Mary, "Why Him?" This is the greatest mystery of life, and in doing this, we can be changed. We must fight, struggle, cry out, and learn to laugh at ourselves. In all of this is our redemption, suddenly, His cross seems more real than ever and our salvation, sanctification, and hope is secure in the Body broken, and in the Blood He shed. Mercy!

 

wkm