Stop running away from Me!
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Someday, maybe very soon, God will ask us to "Stop Running away from Me!" God wants to talk to us as a Father, Brother or Mother (whomever you need you reach deep inside of you and make that connection.) His love is simply overwhelming. It knows no bounds, and the more we suffer, the more He wants to tell us: "I will help you through this difficult time!" It is always a good time to begin looking at our inner self, to see why we keep running away.

Hey, I do it too... when I am deeply engrossed in writing a reflection or designing a webpage, I have, in effect, run away because I am not always paying attention to His lovely and consoling message. I’m doing my own thing. And, at the end of the day, I realize with sadness that I haven't allowed the Lord to be a part of my day. That's what He wishes us to do - allow Him to be a part of our life! Why? Because He loves us more than we can ever realize. 

There is a simple solution here - at the beginning of each day, please tell Our Lord that anything He allows us to do, during that day, will be for the intentions of His Mother, Mary.  There is always someone who needs prayer! The need is so great! Maybe you do not know anyone, who needs His help at that given point, so it is perfectly all right to ask Jesus to use your prayer for the purpose of helping up someone who has fallen! Jesus accepts prayer offered for those who need it the most. God will sort out who - do not concern yourself with that, just pray!

I used to think - 'Jesus has better things to do than to keep track of who needs help' - but people get healed, every day. That is a fact. We do not know, when someone close to us is healed, maybe after a bitter illness bringing much pain, if it was our prayer that did the healing, or the prayer of a good soul half-way across the world, and that isn't even important. God heals! He alone; we just bring the need to His attention through prayer.

Some people do not pray for others or for themselves because they think God knows everything, (which is perfectly true), so it would be insulting to Him if we asked for anything. Jesus was quoted in Holy Scriptures where He said: "Again I say to you, if two of

you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Mt. 18:19-20). So God is present where two or more people pray in the name of His

Son, Jesus. He wants to be there. He is there. We need to acknowledge His Presence among us! We should say "Thank You, Lord, for being with us as we pray." In numerous documented instances, in Scripture, God makes sure that we know how much He loves us all, and to assure us He will be with us throughout our difficult lives. So allow Him into our soul, into our head also by thanking Him for his loyal and caring presence. And even though God knows everything, communicate with Him. That is what He wishes us to do. Stop running away. Instead, swiftly run toward the Lord, first thing in the morning - in your prayer of thanksgiving as you realized you're alive and kicking for another day, say "Thank You." And as you are facing Jesus in the Tabernacle or on the Altar, breathe a silent prayer in your soul: "O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine."

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
July 27, 2021