Contemplation

We must always consider God's will and what He wants when we wish to enter into contemplation. Since we offend God in so many ways, we must constantly humble ourselves before God. We must acknowledge our unworthiness and pray that God heal our souls. We must ask for God's mercy.

After we do this, we should focus on the Spirit of God with great joy. We can then cease focusing on our unworthiness and the sadness it brings. We can begin to see that God's will rather than our own is in every way beneficial to us. We eventually learn to despise deviating from the will of God in any way.

We make progress in the spiritual life when we realize how thinking of ourselves brings frustration and sadness. However, when we think about God we are consoled in the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit. Our fear and humility gives way to hope and love.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching