Tuesday, Fourth Week of Lent

TUESDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF LENT

Like a Breath of Fresh Air

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Perhaps the challenge of the Gospel lies precisely in the invitation to accept a gift for which we can give nothing in return. For the gift is the life breath of God himself, the Spirit who is poured out on us through Jesus Christ. This life breath frees us from fear and gives us new room to live. A man who prayerfully goes about his life is constantly ready to receive the breath of God, and to let his life be renewed and expanded. The man who never prays, on the contrary, is like the child with asthma; because he is short of breath, the whole world shrivels up before him. He creeps in a corner gasping for air, and is virtually in agony. But the man who prays opens himself to God and can freely breathe again. He stands upright stretches out his hands and comes out of his corner, free to boldly stride through the world because he can move about without fear. A man who prays is one who can once more breathe freely, who has the freedom to move where he wishes with no fears to haunt him.

Lord, accept my thanks in this moment of prayer – my thanks for the many times prayer has been a lifeline for me, for the many times it has been the way you sent your power into my life to bear me up when I was failing.

Henri J. M. Nouwen

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