Tomorrow is a big day in Cor Unum.  Someone is coming to speak through the grille of time on the subject of God’s guidance.  In true monastic fashion, let’s get ready!  Let’s take a few minutes today to examine our Opus Dei up to this point.  Is the work of God at work in us?  Let’s prepare our hearts for more, because more of God is our hearts’ cry.

Have we chosen points of “conversatio” to bring about small, definite changes in our lifestyles or our character?   Some may have . . . stopped biting the nails on one hand!   Some have started speaking to God in blessing and gratitude first thing every morning, speaking the words that roll through heaven, words of praise and adoration,”Holy, holy, holy Lord!”   Others have determined that they will pray for their spouses or someone in great need for at least one full minute each day, and some are fasting second helpings or desserts … or wasted time.

We agreed that what counts in this cloister is that we choose things we absolutely will do and then not turn back from doing them.

Have we determined to watch for opportunities to do little, often unobserved things, purely for the love of God, like answering the phone as if we were expecting a call from Him, taking an interest in others, or sending a letter to someone, as if they were utterly precious to Jesus Christ, because, of course, they are.

Have we settled into a more interactive Bible study, praying and worshiping as we read, asking our questions and keeping track of the things we see as we go along, letting the word of God change us as it so beautifully will.  Maybe, like the red bird in the frozen tree, we have warbled a song or two when all around us seemed bleak and unyielding, ourselves refusing to yield to despair or discouragement or even plain old distraction in the light of the love of God?

We have covered a little ground in Cor Unum, haven’t we?  Certainly we have not seen all the change we hope to see, but we are not the people we were when we came through the doors, either.  Tomorrow we will learn a lesson that changed many lives and does so to this day.

Abbey photograph